2009-2010 Textbook & Book Consumables Program

As part of our continuing education of the new program we are committed to give periodic updates and reminders to families during this transition year.  Since the announcement of our 2009-2010 textbook and consumables program, we have received good feedback.   In response to your feedback and other factors, the school has made some modifications improving the program.  One change involves the 8th Grade Earth Science textbook; the school will repurchase this textbook and will use it one more year.  Another change relates to returning for credit second sets or duplicate textbooks not currently being used.

The frequently asked questions document is being updated regularly.  In order to spot changes, we have dated and flagged the questions with updated answers.  This list is posted on the “Parents” page of our website.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.      What is the Textbook & Book Consumables Program?

Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, families will pay a set non-refundable fee per student for textbooks and book consumables.

2.      Why is Prep making this change?

The school has been seeking ways to reduce incremental costs for parents.  With the costs of textbooks escalating, we sought a way to help stabilize this cost to our families.  We investigated several options, and this model fit our goals of stabilizing costs for families and the school.  Also, the school now has space available to house the textbooks.  The former cafeteria serving area is being converted to a textbook storage location.

3.      What are Book Consumables? (Updated 3/25/2009)

Book consumables are workbooks and paperbacks that are required for a particular class curriculum during the regular school year.  Prep provides the first copy of these items; however, there will be an additional charge for replacement of lost workbooks or paperbacks.   Summer reading books are not part of this program.

4.      What is the Textbook & Book Consumables Fee?

For students in grades 7-12, the Textbook and Book Consumables Fee is $240 per student.  For students in the sixth grade, the Textbook and Consumables Fee is $125 per student.

5.      How does this compare to what parents have been paying for books historically?

Book costs have typically varied by individual depending on the specific courses being taken by the student.  The average cost for books purchased each year in the book line historically has ranged from $350 to $600.  This set fee will stabilize this cost for families.

6.      Are “art fees” and “calculators” included in the Textbook & Consumables Fee?

No.  Only textbooks, workbooks and paperback books are included in the fee.  You will still pay for art fees and calculators in the book line at the beginning of school.

7.      Will Jackson Prep buy back my student’s textbooks? (Updated 3/25/2009)

In this transition year, the school will give a book credit for books on the “Textbook Return List”.  On textbook buyback day, will accept one copy of the textbook for each class on the student’s schedule with the exception of books that will not be used next school year.  This is consistent with how we have handled this in past years.  At this time, we know of only 2 textbooks not being used next year:  8th Grade History, and Geometry.   The final copy of the approved “Textbook Return List” will be posted on the web in April.

8.      How will the school handle the “book return?” (Updated 3/25/2009)

There will be two events.

1.      TEXTBOOK BUYBACK DAY:  On textbook buyback day, will accept one copy of the textbook for each class on the student’s schedule with the exception of books that will not be used next school year.  As in previous years, teachers or department chairs will approve the “condition” of textbooks prior to this day. In this transition year, the school is issuing textbook voucher receipts to be applied to the 2009-2010 Textbook & Book Consumables Fee for returning students.  The business office will keep a copy of the voucher.  The voucher receipt issued will be for the parent’s records.  Books will be returned for credit on the last day of school as in the past.  Seniors will have an earlier return date to be determined.   For example, if the student returns 4 textbooks and receives $35 per textbook, a receipt for a total of $140 will be given to the student.

2.      ADDITIONAL BOOK RETURN:  This is a new event scheduled prior to the “Textbook buyback day.”  Some families have duplicate sets of books and/or other books on our buyback list which are no longer of use due to the school’s new program.  The school has a desire to adequately stock its inventory by offering additional credits to the family/student.  In response to these two factors, the school is offering the following: 

a.     We will only take back a limited number of textbooks currently to be determined.

b.     This is a first come, first served program.

c.      The school will publish a form the last week of April, 2009 to be used during the turn-in process.  

d.     Graduating seniors and students enrolled for the 2009-2010 school year may participate in this event.

e.     The dates of this additional book buyback are Monday, May 4th – Thursday, May 7th

f.       Broadly speaking, graduating seniors and students enrolled for the 2009-2010 school year with “additional books” may print out the form, fill it out, and then place the additional book(s) and the form in a plastic bag and drop it off in the Jr. or Sr. High Offices.  The offices will “process the books” and forward to the business office the information regarding books accepted and credits to be issued.  The textbooks not needed will be returned to the student’s locker. More details will follow. 

9.      I will be out of town on book return day, so when may I return my books?

As in previous years, we will only return books on the designated day.  You will need to make arrangements with someone you know to handle the returns for you on that day.

10.  What if I want to keep all or some of my books at the end of this year?

That is fine; however, credits for textbooks will only be issued for those books that are returned.   All students will still be required to pay the book fee each year. 

11.  My student is a senior.  Will I receive cash or a voucher receipt?

The school will offer cash to seniors for their textbooks.  However, parents may choose to have the senior’s textbook credit applied to the voucher of a younger sibling.

12.  What if I did not buy the textbook I am currently using in class from Jackson Prep in the fall of 2008?

If the teacher approves the textbook for repurchase, then the school will issue a credit for that textbook.

13.  What will I do with the voucher receipt I receive?

The voucher is for your records.  The business office will have a record of your individual credit amount to process in August 2009 at the time set aside for textbook distribution.  For this transition year only, the voucher amount will be subtracted from the amount of the fee.  (For example:  The Textbook and Book Consumables Fee is $240.  The amount of the voucher may be $140.  The amount owed by this parent would be $100 instead of the historical $350 to $600 paid in the past.)

14.  How will books be assigned to students in 2009-2010?

Each individual textbook will be uniquely identified and assigned to a specific student.  Books will be randomly assigned to the students as they go through the book line to pick up the textbooks.  At year end, textbooks will only be credited back to the individual that was assigned the book, not the individual that returns the book if this were to occur.

15.  Once we have paid the Textbook Fee and are in the 2009-2010 school year, what happens if my child loses a book during the school year and needs another book?

Students will be required to purchase a replacement book from the school at the cost of a new book.  

16.  At the end of the next school year (2010), what will be the process of returning books? 

For the spring of 2010, the process will be much the same.  Teachers will “approve” textbooks.  Those “approved” textbooks will be returned after exams.  The students with “not approved” or lost textbooks will be assessed a fee covering the cost of a replacement textbook. Please note that specific books will be assigned to specific students. 

17.  Are books used in Summer Reading included in the program?  (Updated: 02/24/2009)

Books for summer reading are not covered in the program.

18.  What if I would like a second set of books to keep at home? (Updated: 02/24/2009)

Contingent on available inventory, the school will offer a program to lease a second set of books for $200 (excluding consumables) annually.  This option will be available the week after the initial book distribution day so everyone has a chance to get their first set of books.  The timing is consistent with how we have handled this in the past. These extra books will be treated like the others and specifically assigned to the child and would be returned back to the school at the end of the school year.   We will not lease individual books only the complete second set.  We will provide the ISBN numbers if a parent would like to purchase individual books from other sources.