The Radford College board has unveiled a new fee restructuring plan aimed at easing parental concerns over potential future fee hikes. The announcement was made by board chair Vicki Williams ahead of a parent-organized town hall scheduled for Monday, November 24, at the college located in Bruce.
The new financial strategy involves removing an additional increase required to offset financial miscalculations in 2024 from tuition fees and incorporating it into a non-indexed levy. This decision comes after the school reported an unexpected $840,000 deficit in 2024, contrary to the anticipated $1.7 million surplus.
According to Ms. Williams, the newly introduced levy, set at $1050 per student, will remain unchanged. “The aim being to review the levy annually and adjust it downwards as our financial circumstances permit,” she stated in an email to parents.
Understanding the Fee Restructure
The restructuring means that the revised increase in tuition fees will range from 11.18 percent to 17.88 percent, depending on the student’s year level, with Year 7 and 8 students facing the largest hikes in 2026. Despite these changes, the total cost to parents, including tuition, the new levy, compulsory capital levy, camps, and resource fees, will remain consistent with earlier projections made in November.
“This fee restructure will reduce the compounding impact of the fee increase on families, whilst also enabling the college to maintain a position which is revenue neutral to that previously advised and move into 2026 supporting the basis of the required increase,” Ms. Williams explained.
Financial Missteps and Parental Backlash
The financial adjustments were necessitated by a series of accounting and loan calculation errors discovered in February 2025. The college only recently communicated these issues to parents, leading to significant backlash over the lack of transparency and communication regarding school fee increases.
Parents have voiced their dissatisfaction with the fee announcement, criticizing the school’s communication strategies and the opaque nature of its financial decision-making processes.
Future Financial Strategies
In response, Ms. Williams announced that the school board, along with the principal and finance team, will conduct a thorough review of finances to minimize necessary fee increases for 2027 and beyond. Previously, Ms. Williams had indicated that fees could rise between 9 and 12 percent in 2027.
To address these challenges, the finance and risk committee will expand to form a working group tasked with identifying potential cost efficiencies. Ms. Williams has invited staff to participate in this initiative.
Commitment to Transparency and Community Engagement
Radford College is committed to enhancing transparency by reporting financial updates to the school community at the end of each term. The college also plans to present its 2025 annual report following the completion of an audit expected in May 2026.
Ms. Williams urged parents to consider the potential reputational damage that ongoing public disputes could inflict on the college. “Please consider that the way the meeting is conducted has the potential to perpetuate the public view of a divided community and I ask that consideration be given to whether that is in the best interests of the students and Radford more broadly,” she appealed.
Looking Ahead
As Radford College navigates these financial challenges, the focus remains on maintaining educational quality while ensuring financial sustainability. The upcoming parent town hall will serve as a crucial platform for addressing concerns and fostering a collaborative approach to the college’s future.
The situation at Radford College underscores the broader challenges faced by educational institutions in balancing financial management with transparency and community engagement. As the college moves forward, its strategies and decisions will likely be closely watched by stakeholders both within and outside the educational sector.
