OPEN ENROLLMENT: MONEY ISSUE OR OVERCROWDING?

Over the years, Open Enrollment has been a hot topic, not only in the Northeastern School District, but every district in Ohio. Open enrollment is one of those issues that if used for what was intended, it is good, if used for what it allows, then the scenario can be controversial.

I would like to address this issue as viewed by a school board member who looks at issues from different perspectives, mainly fiscal responsibility to a district. Although there are many who will disagree with my views, when it comes to educating kids, it is all about financial responsibility, not necessarily popularity. I've always believed that my decision making is based on "what is right, not who is right".

As we digest this issue, there are certain facts that people should know. First, all of the money the district receives for a student goes with the student when the student uses Open Enrollment to go to another school district. Many think only the states' portion goes and the local portion stays in the district. This is not true. The entire amount is taken out of the district.

In Ohio the base formula has $5780 is allotted to each student, of which a percentage comes from the state and the difference from the local share. In the Northeastern Local district, the split is about 49% from the state and 51% from the local share. In dollars and cents it amounts to $2832 from the state and $2948 from our local share.

Open Enrollment was initiated as a means for students in poor performing district to take advantage of the educational opportunities in higher performing districts without having to move into the high performing district. At the outset, only district's adjoining one another could benefit from students from other districts. As an example, students in Northeastern could go to Clark-Shawnee through Open Enrollment, but could not go to Northwestern or Tecumseh because neither Northwestern nor Tecumseh adjoin Northeastern.

In the beginning, the intent of the program was good, however, what it allows has turned out differently. Unfortunately, today, Open Enrollment is used by those to take advantage of better athletic opportunities and/or other extra-curricular programs. The intent has been abused in some cases thereby causing many to be disgruntled and obviously angered by the program

In our district, Open Enrollment is a money issue that can be, and is, used to our advantage. Below, I have listed some data that will show the fiscal side of Open Enrollment:

OPEN ENROLLMENT…

$5780 per student leaving our district and coming into our district
2009-2010 school year there are 117 students going to other districts
2009-2010 school year there are 211 students coming into our district
$676,260 out of the district. 117 x $5780
$1,219,580 into the district. 211 x $5780
$543,320 net positive. 94 x $5780

Pro: hire 10 teachers with $543,320
Pro: no overcrowding in classroom
Pro: selective of incoming students
Pro: get $5780 for students of our faculty, staff and administrators
Pro: 10 new teachers hired are at no cost to the district

Con: cannot stop kids from leaving
Con: eliminating extra-curricular programs will drive more kids out of the district
Con: eliminating Open Enrollment will cost district $1,895,840 annually. (approx. 4-1/2 mills)
Con: stop Open Enrollment and eliminate 37 teaching positions


I have listed the Pro’s and Con’s of the Open Enrollment system as it pertains to the Northeastern Local School District. But let’s explore the system in a logical manner and you may judge for yourself if Open Enrollment is good for the district or not.

It is important to understand that those living in the district opposing Open Enrollment generally will fall into three categories: those who don’t understand the system, those who have been adversely affected by the system, or those who work in another school system which has been negatively affected by Open Enrollment.

Further, it is important to understand that Boards of Education make decisions based on financial facts and data, whether the program is mandated or not and any local state and federal laws pertaining to a particular issue. Emotion, misunderstanding and popularity cannot always be the guiding factor. What is popular may not be right and what is right may not be popular. Decisions are made with one basis in mind: “what is best for kids”. As we venture through this issue, please keep in mind that the board is making decisions based with this one premise in mind - what is best for kids.

It should also be kept in mind that my views on Open Enrollment may not be that of other board members. It will be necessary for the reader to get the views of other board members on this issue. Finally, I’m not going to cite a lot of data on Open Enrollment. In this article you will get a “common sense” approach to the issue while trying to show the purpose and benefit of the program. I encourage everyone to continue to learn about the program, ask questions, and seek better ways to properly control the misinformation being presented by many people.

What is Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment is a program made available by the Legislature of the State of Ohio and implemented at the local level with the intent of providing a means for students in low performing schools to attend high performing schools in adjoining school districts for academic purposes without having to move into the adjoining district. Simply put, it is a system whereby public school districts would no longer have to charge tuition for students coming into the district from other districts. Also, with Open Enrollment, we now get full funding for children of our faculty, staff and administration, who used to come to our district “tuition free”. It is important to know that with each child coming into the district, we received at least $5,780.00, full funding from the State Legislature. In some cases more if the student falls within the guidelines of Title 1 or IDEA.

What is the history of Open Enrollment in the district?

We started the Open Enrollment process in the early 1990s’ when the process began. At the time, there was a great demand for students to come into the Northeastern Local School system due to our quality educational system. Like many districts throughout the state, we accepted the majority of students wishing to come into the district, but quickly found the need to “screen” students in various areas. These areas were in disciplinary issues, grade points, purpose for coming into the district and other areas. One main concern in the early part of the program was the students coming in to participate in sports, therefore “stealing” the positions from those local students who have gone through our educational system. This negative part of the program was quickly dealt with and strong emphasis was placed on educational needs of the incoming student.

During the mid-nineties, there were a lot of complaints about Open Enrollment. At the same time the district was trying to pass a Bond Issue Renewal and Operating Levy. The Board of Education kept the Bond Issue Renewal and the Operating Levy on the ballot after promising the voters we would place a moratorium on Open Enrollment as long as it would not negatively affect our financial situation. The voters passed the levies and the moratorium was put on any new students coming into the district on Open Enrollment. We did keep those students who were already in our system as they posed no increase in the overcrowded buildings.

As graduation began to erode those numbers of Open Enrollment students who were originally in our system, the number of students leaving the district on Open Enrollment and the number of students coming into the district began to equalize, therefore the dollars we were getting was equal to the dollars we were losing. Within a short time thereafter, the number of students leaving the district surpassed the number of students coming in. This caused a deficit in our financial picture, and a need to return to the voters for additional dollars. At the time, the sentiment for new Operating Levy was very negative. As a result, the board stated that if the public wouldn’t support an operating or PI Levy, we would have to re-implement Open Enrollment. The voters rejected the levy and the board reinstated Open Enrollment. Even though Open Enrollment was reinstated, the board and the Superintendent established guidelines to better control the influx of students into the district.

Why Open Enrollment?

As stated above, Open Enrollment began as a means of allowing students in low performing school districts to attend higher performing school districts which were adjacent to the low performing school district. This action by the State Legislature has been in existence since the 1990’s. Initially, the intent of the program was good, however, what the program allows and what people have been utilizing the Open Enrollment program for has been problematic and a source of misinformation. Many districts today view Open Enrollment as a “double edged” sword. It can be a financial benefit to a district or it can be a detriment to the financial side of a district. In either case, the program is here to stay, as dictated by the State Legislature, so it is important to understand it and work within the confines of the program. Simply put…..it is a money issue.

What is our situation?

The Northeastern Board of Education currently supports Open Enrollment. There are a select few districts in the state that is not under the provisions of the program due to the transient nature of their students. An example is a district which may be part of a military post in which many of their students come from military families who move around occasionally due to changed in duty assignments. Also, those districts located in an area of transient or migrant workers who are moving from one growing climate to another.

The Northeastern School District is one which is mandated as an Open Enrollment district and is required to submit to the processes of the Open Enrollment system. This means that we cannot stop students from leaving. We can only curtail those wishing to come into the system…in other words we can put a moratorium on incoming Open Enrollment students, but cannot impede on those who wish to leave.

As shown in the data above, we currently have 117 students who have chosen to leave the district for various reasons, and 211 students coming into the district. Doing the calculation, you would find that we net a grand total of $543,320 favorable funding. We use this money to hire additional teachers, purchase educational materials and to support the educational process of the incoming students as well as our own.

You may think that 211 students is overcrowding our schools, however, this is not the truth. When you understand that of these 211 incoming students, 117 will fill the vacancy left by those who have chosen to go to other districts. This nets a total of 94students who we will take to fill positions in classes not having many children.
Understanding that we have 5 buildings and 7 schools (2 high schools, 3 elementary schools and 2 middle schools) the average number of students in each building is 19 students, therefore finding space in a classroom is not difficult or overcrowding for a teacher or a building. The Principals of each school reviews their classroom totals, type of class and teacher workload annually to determine if they can accept Open Enrollment students. The Superintendent is notified and the process of filling the vacancies is started.

What is the selection process?

Each year Open Enrollment students, whether new applicants or return students, must apply to be considered for attending our district through Open Enrollment. Basically, the selection process is “first come, first serve” with provisions. First priority, by the contract, goes to those students who have parents employed by the Northeastern Local School District. Second priority are those students who have attended the previous year, reside in an adjacent district and are in “good standing “ with the district, that is no disciplinary action, no attendance problems, maintain an acceptable grade point average, and if there is space available. Third priority will come to those previous students from districts not adjacent to our district meeting the standards of discipline while at their previous school and if space is available. Final priority will be those “first time” Open Enrollment applicants.

Why is it a money issue and not an overcrowding issue?

Open Enrollment is not so much an overcrowding issue since the Principal and the teacher look at the numbers of students in a class to determine if there is space available. The district does not openly accept all students into the district. Each year we have over 300 or more students applying for Open Enrollment status. Taking each one would not only cause serious overcrowding problems, but serious disciplinary problems which we don’t need.

It is definitely a money issue considering the cost of teaching Open Enrollment students is far less than the $5780.00 each one brings in. In addition, they are bringing their local tax dollars with them as well. Just as those students who leave our district take the local share with them, we are getting full funding for those coming in. Also, consider the 94 additional students (211 less the 117 going out) we generate $543,320 from which we can hire 11 teachers at no cost to the district. There is no cost for additional rooms for 94 students,

Conclusion:

Like it or not, Open Enrollment is here to stay as far as allowing students to leave the district. Although, the board can place a moratorium on incoming students, it is not financially a wise decision. It is important that the people in the district look very hard at the process, how they are affected by incoming students and the impact the program has on the individual. It is time to get the facts and see how it affects you.