Committee Reject School Choice for Algonquin

The Regional School Committee again voted to reject to adopt the School Choice program, after holding a public hearing last Wednesday.

No one offered feedback during the public hearing, and the committee unanimously voted to reject School Choice.

School Choice allows a fixed number of students outside the district to apply to attend Algonquin, would also garner up to $5,000 per student from the state if implemented. Charles Gobron, superintendent of schools, said the expenditure per student exceeds $13,000.

Concerns over class size, as well as the inability to approve or reject which students could attend the school, weighed into the decision.

The enrollment has never been higher than it is presently at Alqonguin.

Butka, last year, was the only one who voted in favor of trying School Choice, stating, " I find the math impossible to even calculate. I think both of our communities are all over us in ways to save money. If we picked up five or six or 10 kids, we show an alternate source to pick up income other than from the taxpayers' pockets."

Butka was not present at the meeting.

"The eventual vote showed that a majority of committee members were not in favor of school choice," said Superintendent of Schools Charles Gobron. "Special education services are also required, but the additional costs are charged back to the district. If we declare there is space, we do not have a say over the students we accept; decisions are made by a lottery, and we are obligated then to keep them to the twelfth rade."

If School Choice is not voted on by June 1 each school year, it is automatically enrolled in the district. Algonquin has historically rejected it, as it did Wednesday.