Dalton looks at out-of-district policy again

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February 22, 2012

Rachel Brown rachelbrown@daltoncitizen.com The Dalton Daily Citizen Wed Feb 22, 2012, 07:34 AM EST

They call it the “Dalton difference.”

In essence, it’s the idea that Dalton Public Schools has something to offer that no other local school system has. It’s the idea of “excellence” in everything from football to graduation rates to swimming to reading scores to the International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.

Board of Education members have often said they want the system to provide “schools of choice” for area residents who live out of district who believe in the idea of Dalton being different-better. That they welcome high-performing students because they and their families enhance the school district.

Now they’re looking again at ways to make it easier for at least some of those with good things to offer to get in with a tuition break. Board members have discussed — though not actually proposed — allowing, for example, talented athletes and musicians or kids with high grade point averages who live out of district to come to school tuition-free. There may be legal roadblocks to actually doing that though. They’ve also discussed giving employees’ kids a tuition break if they live in Whitfield County.

Board Chairman Danny Crutchfield said he wants to be able to tell families “yes” when they want to transfer to a Dalton school, and he wants to attract people who will “add value” to the school system.

Board member Rick Fromm said he differs slightly with Crutchfield’s philosophy.

“I agree we want to be a school (system) of choice... but you can’t overextend your resources,” he said.

The school board sets out-of-district tuition each year — this year it’s $1,000 for the first child, $750 for the second and $500 for the third and subsequent child. Employees pay $650 for the first child, $400 for the second and $300 for the third and subsequent child each year. For non-employees, the amount is designed to approximate the residential property tax the average city homeowner would pay.

Crutchfield said the board will likely decide at its March 14 meeting where to set tuition and whether to propose any out-of-district policy changes.

Human resources director Craig Harper said he was advised tuition policies could not be discriminatory. Waiving tuition only for IB kids, for example, might be interpreted as indirectly discriminating against students with disabilities since so few are in the program.

Superintendent Jim Hawkins said principals already consider academic and discipline records before admitting out-of-district students, and students are admitted only when there’s space available in each school and grade. Even tuition-paying students can be asked to leave if they behave badly. If the district begins waiving tuition for gifted students, there are many questions that would need to be answered, said gifted program coordinator Lisa Hackney. One is the question of space and whether students would have to reapply each year based on space. Currently, once they’re in, they’re in.

“We’re very proud of our challenge program, and we would think a lot of people would want to come to us if this did happen,” Hackney added.

The board would also have to consider the possibility of financial loss.

Deputy Superintendent Don Amonett said the district’s tuition-paying families brought in $301,068 this school year. Of that, $70,818 is generated from staff members’ children. Students in the gifted program, which may include staff members’ children, pay $89,833. If the school district were to waive tuition for IB students, it would be a $27,500 loss.

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