RCS to implement tuition policy
For current Russellville students who reside outside the school district limits, the coming academic year will see an end to bus transportation and, for many of them, a tuition requirement to continue attendance.
In a unanimous vote at Thursday’s Russellville City Schools Board of Education meeting, a policy was approved to allow the implementation of enrollment criteria that will have the likely impact of decreasing the number of out-of-district students in Russellville City Schools.
“It was a challenging decision but also makes absolute sense,” said Superintendent Heath Grimes. “Right now we’re transporting about 400 students on our buses from outside the district … We’re probably the only school system in the state that transports students outside our district.”
The new policy will help to address overcrowding in the school system as well as budgetary concerns.
Grimes said the system spends $1,750 in local dollars per student per year. For those students who come from outside the district, there is an imbalance between incoming funds and outgoing funds; families of students within the district pay property taxes.
Grimes said 900 students attend RCS from outside the district. Under the new admission guidelines, those students will be charged tuition of $600 a year to be admitted. In addition, disciplinary problems, academic performance and attendance record will be contributing factors in a student’s eligibility.
“What we’re trying to do is make sure we uphold the reputation of excellence we’ve always had,” Grimes said.
Current out-of-district students entering 8th through 12th grades will be grandfathered in – they will not have to pay tuition, but they will not receive transportation.
