GENERAL POLICY- Our goal is to continue the timeliness of registrations for returning families for school year 2010-2011. We must be able to effectively plan the budget for our school based upon the number of actual registrations. In today’s economy, we can not plan a realistic school budget without knowing the number of students to expect.
Returning families need to file their registration for 2010-2011 no later than Thursday, April 1, 2010.
We plan to communicate the 2010-2011 enrollment numbers by class on a periodic basis.
Please read this policy carefully as there are some changes to the registration process this year.
For school year 2010-2011 families can pay their tuition by one of two methods:
Tuition can be paid in full no later then Thursday, July 15, 2010 or arrangements can be made to finance the amount due over a period of ten months with interest and applicable fees.
Acceptance letters for all processed registrations will be mailed beginning after April 12, 2010. (Spring break is April 2-11.)
No student may br registered for school year 2010-2011 unless all tuition payments for school year 2009-2010 are current to Tuition Management Systems.
New for 2010-2011: Registration will take place on line on the school EdLine web site. Both new and returning families can register by clicking here. If you receive the St. Thomas More School EdLine home page, go the Contents listing on the right side and Click on REGISTRATION 2010-11. Click on the appropriate section for Returning or New families.
THE REGISTRATION PROCESS &
REGISTRATION FEES (In-Parish and Out-of-Parish) - After careful consideration of all the anticipated operating costs of our school, the Parish Finance Commission has set the fees for 2010-2011. The final budget will not be completed until late spring 2010 and will be finalized base upon the number of confirmed registrations.
The Registration Fees for each family will be $350 and is due 72 hours after the registration forms are processed on line. Registration forms processed without the full deposit amount will NOT be processed. Checks are payable to St. Thomas More (we prefer a check to save on credit card processing fees). The registration fees may also be processed on a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express without a processing fee. Please complete the credit card form if you wish to charge the registration fees. Put the form in an sealed envelope and send it in to the school office to the attention of the Business Manager.
The family registration fee secures the reservation for every child and is non-refundable if the family later elects not to attend St. Thomas More School and enroll in any neighboring school. Families that physically move out of the area and change their address will receive a full refund.
The Registration Fee is not a deposit on the tuition. The tuition is due in full as noted.
TUITION SCHOOL YEAR 2010-2011
Registration Fees & Tuition
1 Child-In Parish K-8
$350 PER FAMILY plus
$2,995 Tuition
2 Children-In Parish K-8
$350 PER FAMILY plus
$5,795 Tuition
3 Children-In Parish K-8
$350 PER FAMILY plus
$8,195 Tuition
4 Children-In Parish
$350 PER FAMILY plus
$9,495 Tuition
Out of Parish-Ea Child, All Day K-8
$350 PER FAMILY plus
$4,595 Tuition per child
NEW IN PARISH TUITION FOR ALL DAY KINDERGARTEN:
$350 PER FAMILY plus
$2,995 Tuition per child
DEFINITIONS -
“In-Parish” is defined as a registered family of St. Thomas More Parish who regularly attends Sunday Mass at our parish as measured by the use of Sunday envelopes dropped in the collection basket. Each family is required to attend Sunday Mass at St. Thomas More at least 27 times and contribute during the year in order to continue to receive in parish tuition as noted by the use of the Sunday envelope deposited during the Offertory.
“Out-of-Parish” is defined as any school family who is not registered as members of St. Thomas More Parish, including non-Catholic families. Families will have their status changed from “In-Parish” to “Out-of-Parish” status only for school tuition based upon not meeting the Sunday Mass attendance and contribution standards during 2009.
Letters determining each returning family’s status for 2010-2011 were emailed in early February 2010.
TUITION PAYMENT SCHEDULE - The registration fees are payable at the time of the registration. A school registration will not be valid until the registration fee has been paid in full and all arrangements have been made for tuition payments.
Tuition may be paid in full by July 15, 2010, (Option A) or through a 10-month payment plan (Option B) through Tuition Management Systems.
Option A – Payment in Full - A family may elect to pay the tuition in full no later than Thursday, July 15, 2010. Families will be invoiced for the tuition payment. All payments are to be made through the Parish Finance Office.
St. Thomas More will accept a check for the full amount due, or with as many installments that equal the total amount due by July 15, 2010, or charged on a valid Visa, MasterCard, or American Express credit card. If a credit card is used for payment, a 3% processing charge will be added to the total amount charged to cover the processing fees incurred. ACH payments will also be accepted with no service charge. Specific payment information will be included with the invoice that will be mailed in the late spring time frame.
Option B - Payment Over 10 Months - Families may elect to pay the tuition due over a period of ten months. Families may elect to make a down payment on the total tuition amount due and finance the balance.
Families that utilized the 10 month plan through Tuition Management Services during 2009-2010 and wish to do so again for 2010-2011 may enroll in the Rapid-Renroll Program provided there are NO changes to any information. This includes address, payment date, bank account, credit card number, or credit card expiration date.
All families who elect the payment plan this year that did not do so in the past or have changes to any information must complete all required sections of the St. Thomas More Payment Plan Enrollment Form from Tuition Management Services. Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 must be completed in full. If choosing to pay using your checking or savings account, please attach a voided check. (Use a voided deposit slip for savings accounts).
The Finance Office will complete the final amount due and a copy will be mailed to the family with the acceptance letter. A Payer’s Signature is always required. If you need additional copies of the TMS form, you may download if off the Internet our web site. The ten-month Tuition Management System payments begin in July 2010 and are completed in April 2011.
Families are to select one of two monthly payment dates: the 5th or the 20th of each month (Section 2). A $38 one time Tuition Management Systems processing fee is applicable and an interest rate of 5% will be added to the total balance due. The monthly payment will be the total amount due, plus 5% interest, and the $38 processing fee divided by ten months. A family may also choose to process their monthly payment on Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover credit card with an additional 3.0% processing fee added to amount due.
Families registering after the cut off date for the first payment will have their total balance due divided by the number of months remaining in the program.
Monthly payments are electronically processed each month from a designated checking, savings account, or credit card.
Any checking, savings account, or credit card transaction returned due to insufficient funds, inadequate credit limit, or use of an invalid card, will be reported to St. Thomas More as delinquent. Each return for insufficient funds or low credit limit will be liable to pay all the bank and late fees ($40 each) in addition to the tuition. The family will have 14 days to correct the problem and bring the account into a current status including payment of all fees.
Monthly invoice billings are not available.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE - Tuition aid is provided based upon the parish’s ability to do so to families who are active participating members of the parish and who meet income requirements. A Tuition Aid application (PSAS) must be completed and submitted by April 15, 2010 as directed with a copy of the family's 2009 federal income tax return. The aid application is then processed and a recommendation provided by late May to the parish. Families wishing to apply for aid should do so at the time of registration. Registration will not be completed until all financial arrangements have been made. TMS contracts will not be processed or invoices mailed until a financial aid decision has been rendered. PSAS applications must be obtained from the Business Manager in the Finance Office. All approvals for financial aide must be approved by the Pastor. Please go to the Financial Aide Information page on the parish web site for more information.
REFUNDS - Registration Fees are not refundable except as previously noted.
Students families who are physically relocated out of the area served by the parish may request a refund according to the following schedule:
- Before July 1 100% Refund
- Before December 1 50% Refund
- Before February 1 25% Refund
- After February 1 NO REFUND
- Students who are withdrawn for any other reason are responsible for the entire tuition, but they may request a review of their case by the Pastor. School records are not released for such transfers until the entire bill is paid and all other outstanding financial obligations have been satisfied.
OTHER - Registrations of existing students for the coming year are due in school office no later than April 1, 2010. A $100 late fee will be charged for registrations submitted after April 1, 2010.
The registration numbers by class will be posted on the bulletin boards in the back of church on a periodic basis on a secure Ed-Line site.
All questions or concerns related to fees, tuition, or payments should be directed to the Finance Office; 513-753-2543.