The hearings on the proposed Fees and Charges Regulations have passed.  There is still time to offer your comments to the Board of Education regarding the language of the proposed regulations. The Board of Education will continue to receive public comment through July 26 on proposed amendments to the Regulations Governing Local School Boards and School Divisions (8 VAC 20-720) and Repeal of the Rules Governing Fees and Charges (8 VAC 20-370). Public comment should be e-mailed to Michelle.parker@doe.virginia.gov.  Letters/fax may be sent to:  Office of Policy, Virginia Department of Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA   23218, FAX:  804/ 225-2524. The important issues are: school boards and divisions having the option to charge fees, if they so choose and the changes to the language of the regulations as noted in item G, numbers 5 and 10.  The changes suggested in item 10, in particular, will impact ALL Fine Arts disciplines and other elective classes where materials and supplies are necessary. Below is a sample letter: Dear Members of the Virginia Board of Education, I support that school boards and school divisions may charge fees.  In addition, I recommend the following changes to the language of the proposed REGULATIONS GOVERNING LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS AND SCHOOL DIVISIONS 8VAC 20-720-80  Student fees and charges, to read:  G.  Local school boards may charge fees for the following:        5.   Musical instruments and equipment required for instructional activities:      10.  Consumable materials such as workbooks, writing books, drawing books, and fine arts materials: however, in accordance with 22.1-1-243 of the Code of Virginia, the local school board shall develop a policy ensuring that consumable materials such as workbooks, writing books, drawing books, and fine arts materials are furnished to students who are unable to afford them at a reduced price or free of charge; Why do I believe the regulations should be changed?  Allow me to cite several examples of the impact of strictly limiting fees: 1.  The economic conditions facing school boards and school divisions have forced drastic cutbacks in programs and personnel.  Likely, the recovery will last for several years, perhaps resulting in more cutbacks.  Schools will be unable to assume the full funding of Fine Arts programs under these conditions. 2.  If the proposed regulations are finalized as initially approved, the strong potential exists for funding for Fine Arts programs, already being supported by parent organizations, to be further pushed outside of the responsibility of the school division. 3. With the elimination of student fees, coupled with drastically reduced local school budgets, music, visual arts, theatre arts, dance arts and other elective programs will struggle to meet the Standards of Learning expectations; an issue to be shared across the curriculum. 4.  The source of funding for maintenance, repair and replacement of musical instruments and all fine arts equipment must come from somewhere or the equipment will soon fail.  As the equipment fails and funds are unavailable for replacement or maintenance, the quality of our offerings deteriorates.  5.   Musical equipment is very expensive; too expensive for most students to purchase until they are confident they wish to pursue advanced study on the instrument.   School divisions and booster clubs have purchased these instruments to make them available to students, often only for a maintenance fee.  6.   Fine arts equipment is very expensive; it is impractical and too expensive for students to purchase much of the equipment.  7.  Without fees, or funding from the school boards, it will be difficult to provide many consumable materials for fine arts classes; thus, diluting the quality of offerings for the students. Please keep in mind the long-term impact of the proposed regulations for fees and charges.  While asking school divisions to fully fund the equipment, maintenance and consumable supply needs of our schools is laudable and desirable, in today's budget situation, and it appears the future, it is not practical.  Increasingly, local school boards and school divisions will face severe choices regarding what to keep and cut from their budgets.  Regrettably, this may well become the norm for a number of years.  The end result is a net loss for our students. Sincerely, Questions about this issue may be directed to: Stephen E. King, Ed. D. Virginia Leadership Coalition for Fine Arts in Education 5250 Keffer Road Catawba, VA 24070-2122 (540) 384-7449 (H) seking42@verizon.net (O) stking5@vt.edu