Click here to contact key Topics employees. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The first few weeks of school may be exciting for students beginning classes and reuniting with friends, but they are no picnic for parents when costs begin piling up. Although public schools are funded by tax money, the cost of books, school pictures, field trips and fund-raisers can put a drain on parents' wallets when they pop up all at once in the first four weeks of school. It's just one of those things you have to work into your budget.
Schools realize the expenses can pile up.
To prepare for a trip to Camp Tecumseh, Westfield teachers send letters in the spring and encourage children to earn money during the summer, said Cynthia Keever, principal at Westfield Intermediate School. If a family is having problems paying for something, we will try and work out a payment plan with them. Bob Harvey, principal at White River Elementary School in Noblesville, has seen a few schools set up payment plans. Brenda Armie of Noblesville said the costs haven't been a problem for her family. The mother of two began paying book fees in April.