School Fees Skyrocketing

School District "fees" have risen dramatically in Illinois for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that there is no "cap" on them and they're not subject to referendum. Here, for your hair-curling pleasure, are the top school busing fees in Illinois for "public" education:

RANK DISTRICT STUDENTS REQ. TO PAY* BUS FEE
1. Northfield 225 All who ride (1) $675 
2. Glencoe 35 All who ride (2) $650/500 
3. New Trier 203 All who ride $545 
4. Park Ridge 64 Under 1.5 miles $495 
5. North Shore 112 Under 1.5 miles $465 
6. Deerfield 109 Under 1.5 miles $454 
7. Avoca 37 Under 1.5 miles $425 
8. Valley View 365U Under 1.5 miles $400 
9. Wilmette 39 All who ride $395 
10. Des Plaines 62 Under 1.5 miles $384 
11. Schaumburg 54 Under 1.5 miles $375 
12. Lake Forest 67 All who ride $365 
13. Winnetka 36 All who ride $344 
14. East Maine 63 Under 1.5 miles $340 
15. Arlington Heights 25 Under 1.5 miles $340 
16. Mt. Prospect 57 Under 1.5 miles $325 
17. Kirby 140 Under 1.5 miles $320 
18. Palatine 15 Under 1.5 miles $310 
19. Lake Forest 115 All who ride $310 
20. Addison 4 Under 1.5 miles $310

The source is the Chicago Tribune.

Remember that school in Illinois by constitutional law is to be "free":

Article X; SECTION 1.  GOAL - FREE SCHOOLS
  A fundamental goal of the People of the State is the
educational development of all persons to the limits of their
capacities.
    The State shall provide for an efficient system of high
quality public educational institutions and services.
Education in public schools through the secondary level shall
be free. There may be such other free education as the
General Assembly provides by law.
    The State has the primary responsibility for financing
the system of public education.
(Source: Illinois Constitution.)