Schools asking employees to help pay utility bills

[proud2BlibKansan]

They take my coffee pot and fridge away? - I'm outta there!

Schools limiting personal appliances
Officials: Power for mini-fridges, coffee pots busting budgets

Wednesday, November 30, 2005


ST. PAUL, Minnesota (AP) -- Teachers in budget-stressed schools are accustomed to shelling out for paper, glue and pencils. But the staff here wasn't ready for this: a new fee for having coffee makers, microwaves and refrigerators in classrooms and offices.

While school districts around the country are placing limits on personal appliances in an attempt to hold down energy costs, St. Paul's pay-for-plug approach appears to be unique.

In announcing the policy this month, interim Superintendent Lou Kanavati described the $25 per appliance annual fee as one in a series of steps to save money. He said the district's energy costs this year could exceed $6 million -- far more than the $3.6 million officials budgeted for.

For now, the district is asking for voluntary payment before deciding how to enforce the fee. People who pay it will get a sticker to affix to their appliance.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/11/30/school.appliance.fee.ap/index.html