By Crystal Hayduk
Superintendent Julie Helber presented information about School of Choice as an option for the Chelsea School District (CSD) at the board of education meeting on May 21.
She included results of research about open enrollment, along with factors that had been discussed at the school board’s work session on May 14.
“What we do must align with what we say we do,” she said as she began her presentation.
Helber explained sources of school funding. The primary source of operational (day-to-day) funding is from the Foundation Allowance (FA). The FA is an amount of money per pupil provided to the local school district by the state government. The amount varies among school districts. (For example, Chelsea’s current FA is $7,664, but Ann Arbor’s is $9,290.) Eighty-nine percent of operational money pays district staff, leaving only 11 percent for programming. Total FA income fluctuates based on student enrollment.
Other sources of funding include bond proceeds, which are designated for specific capital projects; and sinking funds, which can only pay for construction and repair of buildings and facilities. Title I, IIa, III, IV-IDEA, and Act 18 are grants to cover specific needs related to students. Building leases are another small source of revenue for the Chelsea District.
Two challenges the district has faced in the last ten years involve reduced FA and declining student enrollment. Helber said that even as costs to educate students have risen, the FA dropped from $7,650 in 2008 to $7,180 by 2011, and has risen only gradually since then.
A lower FA multiplied by fewer students in the district – due to decreased birth rates, as well as job loss (causing families to move away) and lack of available and/or affordable housing (preventing families from moving into the district) equals a significant loss of revenue.
However, the State School Aid Act permits schools to enroll students who do not reside within their district through Section 105 (students who live in the same intermediate school district) and Section 105c (students who live in contiguous intermediate school districts). School districts can choose to participate in either or both sections.
Currently, Chelsea is the only school that does not participate in School of Choice, with the exception of children of staff, which accounts for an additional 27 students.
Helber said that a district may choose limited or unlimited open enrollment. Limited enrollment allows the school to dictate how many students to accept and at what grade levels. A district can also close open enrollment at any time but must continue to educate students already accepted until they graduate, unless they are expelled for disciplinary reasons.
If Chelsea were to become a School of Choice, it would permit only limited enrollment.
Specific protocols must be followed, regarding publication of intent and application procedures and timelines. Potential students may be refused if they have ever been expelled, or if they have been suspended in the previous two years.
Transportation would be the responsibility of the family and not the district.
CSD lost $1.1 million in revenue this year because 147 students who live in the district choose to attend school elsewhere. With School of Choice in other districts, students come and students go. “This is more about replacing lost revenue [through students who desire to attend here] than about making money,” said Helber.
Helber went on record to say that philosophically, School of Choice is something that she struggles with, as students with the means to enroll elsewhere leave districts in a dire situation, noting the closure of Willow Run School District as an example.
However, practically, the district “needs to be on offense,” she said, with concern for the district’s financial stability over the long-term. “More revenue secures our fund balance while being able to make wage increases and improve and stabilize programming to benefit students.
“The intent is not to fill classrooms to their maximum capacity, but to help improve stability year to year and help teachers to be maintained at the same grade levels,” she said.
The school board will continue to discuss this subject at its next meeting on June 11.
For more information from Helber, see related story (https://chelseaupdate.com/chelsea-board-of-education-to-discuss-limited-school-of-choice-option-at-next-two-meetings/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChelseaUpdate+%28Chelsea+Update%29).
Visit (https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Schools_of_Choice_Definitions_Rev_427882_7.pdf) for more information on Sections 105 and 105c.
In other board news:
The school board approved the bid from American Office Solutions for the purchase of copiers, using 2016 technology bond funds, at a cost of $346,425.21.
The board also approved the renewal of the food service contract with Chartwells for the 2018-19 school year.
Chelsea High School was recognized by U.S. News and World Report for the fifth consecutive year. The rankings include 19th best high school and 13th best public school in the state.
Principal Mike Kapolka wrote in his board report, “The level of individualized attention we are able to provide our students, along with the scope and depth of programming, is a unique and special blend that is not common in most districts our size. This is a testament to the hard work of every staff member, student and parent that encapsulates our K-12 school community.”
The board commended the following:
The team of Connor Gilbreath, Zach Barhite, Jeremy Burby, and Riley Lukomski (under economics teacher Matt Pedlow) for winning the national championship in the Personal Finance Challenge in Lincoln, Nebraska on May 11.
Beach Middle School global studies teacher Mike Lott, for being selected by the SEMMLAA Academic Honors Night students as the school’s honored educator of the year. He will be the keynote speaker at the 8th grade Farewell Ceremony.
Kelly Bertoni, Class of 2016, for being the University of Michigan’s first drum major from Chelsea. (Related story here: https://chelseaupdate.com/introducing-in-her-first-year-as-the-woman-up-front-from-chelsea-mich-kelly-bertoni/)
Helber for receiving a highly effective rating at her evaluation on April 23.
Upcoming dates:
There is no school on May 28 in observance of Memorial Day.
Chelsea High School graduation will be at 2 p.m. on June 3 in the gymnasium. Doors open at 1 p.m.
The next school board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on June 11 at the Washington Street Education Center.
The last day of school is June 14; one-half day for students.
Question.. meanwhile Dexter is expanding it’s schools and An Arbor has made all or most of it’s schools include an IB focus and is well attended I understand. Seems like Chelsea could figure out a nitch. Granted.there is more building in the Dexter area.. not sure about new homes in the Chelsea area. Seems like school of Choice is a good option especially given the Manchester experience seen recently (previous article?). Question on the cost of copiers.. does a service plan come with them? And for how many copiers? Thanks!!