System faces $465,000 drop in state funding for removing students whose Fayette residency couldn’t be verified; highest numbers at Bennett’s Mill Middle, Whitewater and Fayette County high schools
The Fayette County Board of Education on Dec. 12 on a split vote approved the withdrawal of 100 students whose residency could not be verified after repeated attempts.
The vote was 3-1-1, with Chairman Marion Key and board members Barry Marchman and Diane Basham voting in favor of the withdrawals, board member Leonard Presberg opposed and board member Dan Colwell abstaining.
The number of students whose residency has not been verified currently stands at 100, down from 193 in mid-November. The school board earlier in the year required that residency be verified, something that had not been done since 2011.
Even if withdrawn, students can be re-enrolled if parents supply the necessary documentation proving residency.
Supporting the withdrawals, Basham said, “The school board has a fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers to educate the children of this county. We didn’t rush into this. We’ve done what we need to do.”
Presberg in response said, “I think we’re losing sight of what we’re here to do,” adding that students should not have to be penalized for the actions, or lack of action, of their parents.
Colwell after the meeting said he abstained for three reasons. Though he is completely in favor of verifying residency, Colwell said withdrawing students would not save money and would hurt the graduation rate if those students are not re-enrolled, adding that verification and withdrawal should be done in the spring, near the end of the school year, so that teachers and students would not be disrupted.
Asked at the meeting about the financial impact to the school system, Assistant Superintendent for Finance Tom Gray said the impact from state funding for 100 students would be $460,000 because the school system receives $4,600 per student. Gray said that decrease would not be felt until next school year.
Superintendent Jody Barrow said he was conflicted about the decision.
“I don’t want students negatively impacted, but I know there’s a concern in the community and we’re sensitive to that.”
Speaking about the 100 remaining unverified students out of an enrollment population of 20,000, Presberg said. “I think it’s been proved to the community that it’s not the problem some thought it was.”
Prior to the vote, Student Services Director Audrey Toney said repeated attempts had been made to verify residents through means such as home visits, letters and emails.
The most recent data provided by the school system showed 100 students whose residency is still unverified as of Dec. 12. A breakdown by high school feeder pattern shows the number of unverified students:
• Fayette County High — 12
• Bennett’s Mill Middle — 18
• Cleveland Elementary — 0
• Fayetteville Elem. — 5
• Spring Hill Elem. — 1
Total— 36
• McIntosh High — 3
• Booth Middle — 4
• Crabapple Elem. — 0
• Huddleston Elem. — 0
• Kedron Elem. — 0
• PTC Elem. — 0
Total — 7
• Sandy Creek High — 7
• Flat Rock Middle — 5
• North Fayette Elem. — 10
• Burch Elem. — 0
Total — 22
• Starr’s Mills High — 7
• Rising Starr Middle — 2
• Braelinn Elem. — 0
• Oak Grove Elem. — 1
• Peeples Elem. — 0
Total — 10
• Whitewater High — 15
• Whitewater Middle — 6
• Inman Elem. — 0
• Minter Elem. — 3
Total — 24
• Mainstay — 1
District total — 100
