LAKE DALLAS — A tuition-free open enrollment policy for Lake Dallas schools will take effect this fall.
The Lake Dallas school board this week unanimously approved a new policy that will allow students outside the district to apply for enrollment. Another policy will allow district elementary students to transfer to a campus outside their current attendance boundary.
Eligible students in kindergarten through 12th grade will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis where campus space is available, according to district officials.
The district will accept online applications for intradistrict transfers and children of district employees throughout March.
Students outside the district can apply online for enrollment the entire month of April. Those admitted for enrollment should be notified in June.
“Enrolling additional students allows Lake Dallas to retain more of its state revenue,” Marci Malcom, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, wrote in a prepared statement. “The Texas school finance system is based on enrollment. As enrollment increases through our open enrollment program, the district earns additional revenue that will be used to enhance the educational experience.”
The district is “landlocked,” Malcom said. Current enrollment numbers are declining and open enrollment is the only way the district can boost student numbers, she said.
Board President Sandra Drusch said it is a change from the Lake Dallas district she remembers from 15 years ago. At that time, the district had so many students “we couldn’t build schools fast enough,” she said. Since then, Drusch said, student growth has slowed and state funding cuts have made open enrollment the only viable option for increasing district revenue.
“This is like a whole different era, but it’s the way to survive these days,” she said.
Superintendent Gayle Stinson said she’s happy to share the district with students accepted as a result of the open enrollment policy.
“It’s a great opportunity for our district and our community to highlight what we do so well,” she said.
Academic, attendance, behavior and test records will be considered during the application process, district officials said.
Students must reapply for enrollment annually, Malcom said, and a student’s enrollment can be revoked for reasons including poor attendance, grades and discipline.
Under the policy, school board members will have the option each year to implement tuition, if they so choose, for students enrolled from outside the district.
Students enrolled under the policy must make arrangements for their own transportation to and from school.
For more information, call 940-497-4039. Malcom said more information about open enrollment will be available via the district website, www.ldisd.net, on Monday.
BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com .
IN OTHER ACTION
Also this week:
• Lake Dallas school board members approved the 2012-13 school calendar.
• Board members approved action to increase the mileage and per diem amounts reimbursed to district employees from 35 cents per mile and $30 a day for meals to 55.5 cents per mile and $46 per day for meals. It is the first change in the rates in about a decade.
• Wes Eversole, the district’s deputy superintendent and chief financial officer, told the board Monday that the district completed the refinancing of $9.36 million in bonds from 2001 and 2002 last month at an interest rate of 3.69 percent. Through the refinancing, the district should expect to save $2.16 million over a 25-year period that begins next year, he said.
