Mishawaka school district is still suing parents during the pandemic over unpaid book fees

This story was co-published with ProPublica, an independent, non-profit news organization.

When Hannah Watts received a reminder notice in the mail in January for the $701.56 she still owed for her childrens’ textbook fees from last year, she decided to use her tax refund to pay it off in the spring.

But two months later, the coronavirus pandemic shut down Indiana. Watts is a dental assistant, and her hours at work were slashed. She had no choice but to use the refund to cover household expenses.

Watts says she didn’t hear anything else about the bill until Aug. 7, when a notice appeared on her door. School City of Mishawaka, the district her three children attend, had filed a lawsuit against her.

Watts called the law firm representing the school district. She made arrangements to pay the balance in two installments using money she had saved to buy school clothes for her three high school students.


https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/mishawaka-school-district-is-still-suing-parents-during-the-pandemic-over-unpaid-book-fees/article_041e064a-3be7-11eb-915e-73b1533bde50.html