Tuition and Other Payments

While most school districts, including public and charter schools,  may be given five to eight thousand dollars per pupil per year for operation, as an independent Christian school, Faith depends on school fees, contributions, and fund-raising to support it's operations.

There is no church to depend upon for monthly support. To-date, there has been no endowment, and no scholarship funds to augment meager school income or to offer parents financial assistance.

The IMA (Interdenominational Ministerial Association of Dover and Vicinity, under it's great president and leader, Pastor, Dr. Richard M. Avant, has over the same period, donated more to the school than the combined total of other major funding sources. The primary source of school funding beyond modest monthly tuition paid by parents, continue to be voluntary individual and local organization gifts and fundraising. 

It is presumed and required that parents who register their child (ren) is (are) able and committed to make regular and prompt payments unless the account is paid out in advance. We are sincerely sorry to say that parents who cannot pay their tuition installments in a timely fashion may not enroll a student(s) in FEMS. The staff  is dedicated people who make unheard of sacrifices. We cannot add to their load by asking them to teach students for whom we cannot expect regular compensation.

Parents are expected to be responsible for a total of $3,500.00 in tuition advance or installment payments. Currently, parents are required to pay two advance installments of ten for tuition prior to the student's entrance to class ($700.00). The remaining eight installments for tuitions will be required monthly on the first day of the month. A ten percent discount ($315.00) is offered for a second student. The third student of a family is given a fifteen percent discount ($297.50).

PRIMARY PAYMENT PLAN

ROUTINE INSTALLMENT PAYMENT PROGRAM

TUITION FOR ALL STUDENTS

It is preferred that student tuition be paid in advance for the year ($3,500). Nevertheless, recognizing that some parents may not be able to complete a full total advance payment for the year, partial advance payments are encouraged, but not required (with the exception stated above regarding the first and tenth installments, the initial $700.00). The minimum requirement is that a new parent and a returning parent pay $350.00 per month for eight successive installments after the initial $700.00.  See the chart below.

TUITION PAYMENTS ARE DUE ON THE FIRST DAY OF EACH MONTH, AUGUST 1  - April 1. Paying the first and tenth tuition payments up-front and in advance, leaves eight additional monthly payments to be made September 1 - April 1, or October 1 - June 1, 2009. The parent may choose after the initial first two payments of $700.00.

Payment Forms Effective 

July 1, 2008 and Onward

The preferred forms of payment at the beginning of the 2008-2009 term are cash, money order, or cashier's check.  The School will accept personal checks until a first check is returned for any reason. In the event of a return, a $50.00 fee will be charged, including a $30.00 late payment fee and a special handling fee or bank returned deposit fee of $20.00 for the inconvenience and risk of a returned payment. Again, In the event of a returned tuition payment no future personal checks will be accepted on the account .
 All Parents are Expected to Participate in Most School or PTO Sponsored Fundraisers. A special fundraising contribution will be accepted from parents who prefer not to participate in fundraising or whose schedule will not permit participation. Failing this, the PTO may restrict participation of the student in some activities for which the activity is funded as an award or token of appreciation to students whose family actively participated in a given fundraiser.

 DONATION OF DELAWARE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT REIMBURSEMENT 

This year the Transportation Department of Delaware's Department of Education may  issue a family transportation reimbursement amount for students registered in private schools by September 30, 2008. The amount of reimbursement usually  varies slightly each term, when we are able to meet the reporting deadline. In the past the reimbursement amount would sometimes be near $200.00 per eligible household.

 Eligibility consist of having a student enrolled who will be or was five years old on his or her birthday, the deadline for such birthday being September 1, 2008. We will make an honest effort to meet the deadline. We are requesting that each family who will qualify for an reimbursement amount will donate it to the school to assist in meeting operational costs.  The donation will be tax deductible for this reporting year. Nevertheless, qualifying parents will be issued a notice stating that the reimbursement will be their funds to be handled as the parent decides and designates on a school form to qualifying parents.

  BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL CHARGES

CHILD CARE WILL BE BILLED AT A HOURLY RATE

·         FIRST CHILD, $4.20 (.07 PER MINUTE)

·         SECOND CHILD, $ 3.00 (.05 PER MINUTE)

·         THIRD CHILD,  $1.20, (.02 PER MINUTE )

·         FOURTH CHILD $1.00 (.01 PER MINUTE)

·         FIFTH CHILD AND ABOVE WILL NOT BE CHARGED

 PAYMENT IS EXPECTED WITHIN 15 DAY AFTER ISSUANCE OF A STATEMENT.

 CHILD CARE IS CHARGED FOR TIME BEFORE AND AFTER STUDENT'S REGULAR SCHOOL DAY.

LATE PICK-UP COST IS $1.00 PER MINUTE.

********* MORNING CHILD CARE SERVICE IS OFFERED:

7:00 A.M. - 8:45 A.M. DAILY, MON.-FRI. AFTERNOON CHILDCARE SERVICE IS OFFERED: AND, 3:16 P.M. AND 4:31 P.M. 5:00 P.M. MONDAY-THURSDAY, AND UP TO 5:00 P.M. ON FRIDAYS.

LATE CHARGE FOR P.M. CARE WILL BE $1.00 PER MINUTE AFTER SCHEDULED CLOSING TIMES. 

THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY

Early Childhood Program, PS - 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.

Elementary/Middle School, 1 - 6 - 8:00 A.M. - 3:15 P.M.

(Child care is charged for any time a student is on school property before or after the times specified above). Most students arrive at school 7:45 A.M.-8:13 A.M.

NO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION IS PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL

STUDENT LUNCH ARRANGEMENTS

Student Lunch money should be paid to the student’s teacher in advance when possible, but no later than the day of purchase.

Student lunch is $2.00 per serving. Cash, money order, cashier’s check payment form is preferred. Personal checks will be accepted until the first check is returned for insufficient funds. The parent will pay the check amount plus a returned check deposit fee of $15.00. No personal check will be accepted after a first occurrence.

It is required that students bring their lunch from home or bring money to purchase lunch items from available vending machines, unless the parent will deliver lunch.

A $5.00 fee will be charged when a member of staff has to leave the campus to purchase lunch for a student in addition to the cost of the lunch..

Bag lunches should be simple, nutritious, and ample, but not wasteful, or time-consuming to prepare for the student. Items that require more than 2-3 minutes microwave time should be left at home. Suggested lunch staples may include: a sandwich, piece of fruit, small bits of raw vegetables or fruit, nuts, or chips, cookies, or small snack cake now and then, and a beverage (hopefully, not one with high sugar content).

No school breakfast program is provided by the school.

Teachers are not authorized to extend credit for lunch, and the office will only do so on a one-time  emergency basis.