West Valley JROTC: Saved from cuts, not $75 semester fee
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WEST VALLEY, Wash. -- Parents successfully fought to keep the Junior ROTC program at West Valley High School, but now they need to pay for it.
Some parents said they were never told it would now cost $75 a semester for a student to be in the program.
The District says it decided on the fees at the end of last year and it was the instructors' responsibility to let parents know.
One parent said she never got that message.
"It's extremely frustrating," said parent Sarah Martinez. "It's one thing when I know going into a year that I'm going to have to come up with $300. As opposed to oh, it's a free class. It's always been a free class."
JROTC gets some of its funding from the federal government. Because of low enrollment, West Valley says even the fees don't go a long way.
Some parents said they were never told it would now cost $75 a semester for a student to be in the program.
The District says it decided on the fees at the end of last year and it was the instructors' responsibility to let parents know.
One parent said she never got that message.
"It's extremely frustrating," said parent Sarah Martinez. "It's one thing when I know going into a year that I'm going to have to come up with $300. As opposed to oh, it's a free class. It's always been a free class."
JROTC gets some of its funding from the federal government. Because of low enrollment, West Valley says even the fees don't go a long way.
Well at least they didnt cut it. I still see kids interested in the program today. It really bothers me how West valley can blow all their money on FANCY buildings and etc but cant afford to continue a program for students that want to prepare themselves to fight for EVERYONE in this country and lay down there life! Id be upset too when the program has always been free. To look more on the positive note at least its not 100.00 or 150.00 fee. Its too bad there wasnt something the army can do or someone can do to help support these kids or a type of fundraiser.. This kind of program should be free!! Really hope that the fee does not discourage students from their desision to enter the Junior ROTC or keep going to the program.