Litchfield Approves 2026-2027 Student Fees, Mandates Shot Clock Workers in New Officials Pay Scale

Litchfield Community Unit School District #12 Board of Education Meeting | March 19, 2026

Article Summary: Preparing for the upcoming academic and athletic seasons, the Litchfield School Board authorized the 2026-2027 student fee schedule and officials’ pay scale. The updates address a shift away from touchscreen student technology and accommodate a new state mandate requiring shot clocks for high school varsity basketball.

New District Fees and Pay Scales Key Points:

• The district is transitioning from touchscreen Chromebooks to standard models, adjusting the replacement cost to $275.

• Middle school athletic admission fees were lowered to $2 for students and seniors to establish a clear differential from the $3 high school rate.

• The district added a designated shot clock worker position at $34 per event to comply with new state varsity basketball regulations.

• Pay rates for several high school varsity officials, including football and basketball, were increased by $10 per event.

The Litchfield Community Unit School District #12 Board of Education on Thursday, March 19, 2026, unanimously approved the 2026-2027 student fee schedule and a revised pay scale for athletic officials, accommodating both technological shifts in the classroom and new mandates on the basketball court.

Superintendent Dr. Kelly McClain presented the updated student fee schedule, noting a strategic shift in the district’s 1:1 technology deployment. The district is transitioning away from issuing touchscreen Chromebooks, moving back to standard non-touchscreen laptops.

“There is less cost, of course, to go to a non-touchscreen, and we’re about the only district I know that currently has a touchscreen device,” Dr. McClain explained.

As a result, the student fee schedule was updated to reflect the new hardware. A full Chromebook replacement is set at $275. Damage fees include a $50 charger replacement, $100 for a damaged touchscreen replacement, $30 for a non-touchscreen replacement, $40 for keyboard replacement, and $25 for defacement or case replacement.

The board also finalized out-of-district tuition rates. In accordance with the Illinois School Code, the district will charge nonresident students based on its audited Per Capita Tuition Charge, which updates the 2026-2027 tuition rate to $13,405 per pupil.

In athletics, the board addressed spectator admissions. To differentiate between grade levels, middle school athletic admission fees were formally rolled back to $2 for students and seniors and $4 for adults. High school varsity events will remain at $3 for students and seniors and $4 for adults. McClain noted that the athletic conference is currently holding broader conversations about standardizing admittance fees across all member districts.

On the operational side of athletics, the board unanimously passed the 2026-2027 Officials/Miscellaneous Event Pay Scale. A notable addition to the payroll is a $34 per-event fee for a “Shot Clock” operator. The addition was required following a state mandate dictating the use of shot clocks in all high school varsity basketball games. The district has already installed the hardware in both of its gymnasiums to accommodate the rule.

To remain competitive with neighboring districts, pay rates for several varsity officials were also increased. Varsity football officials will see a $10 bump to $100 per game, while varsity boys’ basketball officials will increase from $85 to $95. At the middle school level, volleyball and basketball official rates were increased by $5, pushing them to $80 and $85, respectively.