BROCTON - Brocton Central School has had a no-tuition policy for quite some time. A concerned parent questioned if this policy could be amended.
Kristin Zappie, an elementary teacher at Brocton and a Fredonia resident, approached the board at a recent meeting asking if the policy could be changed. Zappie would like her daughter to be a student in Brocton and the board to make an exception to the policy.
"As you know, my husband James and I submitted a request to the board asking an exception or amendment be made to your current no non-district residents admittance or no tuition student policy. In our letter we asked for a humanitarian exception be made to this policy," Zappie said.
The original letter was denied by Superintendent John Hertlein and a request for a private meeting was also denied, according to Zappie. Zappie, along with her husband, decided to bring up the issue at the meeting. Zappie explained the history of the original proposal which was voted on by a previous board as well as research she has conducted on the subject.
Zappie explained in 2009, the New York State Department of Education passed an amendment stating boards could determine non-district residents attending school on a case-by-case basis. This amendment could allow non-district students to attend Brocton but keep the policy intact.
"New York state has put it in the board (of education's) hands. It is you alone that have the power to review it and make allowances on a case-by-case basis through a vote," Zappie said.
Zappie said that many districts do not encourage tuition paying students since the district does not receive aid for them; the aid goes to the district the student resides in. However, since each school district is getting aid for students who attend out of district, Zappie believes the aid will even out.
"Tuition that children would pay makes up for state aid and New York state currently allows attendance aid to each district," Zappie said. "So, in my research, the cost would be minimal."
The board will look into Zappie's request and will make a decision at a later date.
The board also approved the tax warrant in the amount of $4,399,586 with tax collection dates being set from Sept. 10 through Oct. 10 without penalty. School meals for breakfast and lunch were increased by $0.05 with reduced priced meals having no increase.
David Claybrooke and Kailee Colburn were recognized as August 2012 graduates. High School Principal Jason Delcamp and Board of Education President Thomas DeJoe presented each with a Regents diploma.
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