Catholic schools fees to increase next year; schools look to combine common fees

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on March 15, 2025.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

Fees at Catholic schools in Medicine Hat will rise next year due to increased costs related to facility rental fees and transportation costs.

Trustees approved the fee increases during a public board meeting earlier this week, mainly affecting option classes, extracurricular programming and field trips.

Secretary treasurer Greg MacPherson told trustees some division schools are looking to combine fees for activities into a one-time fee that would be charged to parents at the beginning of the year.

“Rather than charging parents five or seven times throughout the year,” explained McPherson.

If an activity is cancelled throughout the year parents will be reimbursed. Schools have also expressed interest in having flexibility to offer field trips after the fee schedules for next year are approved.

“So some of the schools have included a field trip busing fee,” said McPherson, who explains this fee would cover any additional transportation costs that occur throughout the school year.

Examples of fee increases include transportation costs for field trips like skating, visiting the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre, Butterfly House, bowling and Christmas and winter events.

Fees for student athletes in certain programs are also seeing an increase due to transportation costs.

Several high school option programs at Monsignor McCoy High School, including sports medicine, mechanics and cosmetology, will cost $5 dollars next year due to an increase in the cost of consumable and a need for replacing and maintaining equipment.

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