School District No. 73 announced that online payment service fees through SchoolCash Online have been reduced to 2.5%, and the majority of refunds owed to families have already been processed. The update was presented to the Board of Education at the December 15 public meeting.
Secretary-Treasurer Harold Cull reported that the reduced fee rate, which aligns with Payment Card Operator regulations, was implemented on December 5, 2025. By December 6, finance staff and schools had recreated fees for all students, and families were able to pay online at the new rate starting December 8. Of the approximately $29,900 in refunds owed to families who had paid higher fees earlier this school year, $25,500 has already been refunded, with the remaining amounts expected to be processed shortly. Cull thanked finance and school teams for completing the work ahead of schedule.
SchoolCash Online was first introduced in September 2021 to provide a secure and convenient digital platform for paying school fees for courses, field trips, sports, clubs, and other student activities. Families were encouraged to register through sd73.SchoolCashOnline.com, with assurances that student privacy is protected under BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
The system offers several benefits for families, including the ability to make secure payments 24/7 from home, manage multiple payment methods, keep children from carrying cash or cheques, track payment history in one place, and manage fees for up to eight students at different SD73 schools through a single account.
The fee update and refunds were presented as an information report at the December 15 board meeting. Trustees raised no questions and expressed appreciation for the work completed to implement the changes and reimburse families promptly.
