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P-T board wants to offset lost revenue By DAMIAN MANN PHOENIX - School board members Thursday pondered whether rebates or fees could help offset revenues lost from students who decide to transfer to other districts. Board member Loretta Nordquist wondered if Phoenix-Talent School District could ask for a transfer fee or possibly a rebate to help offset the financial drain to the district, which loses about $4,000 for each student who leaves. The district is faced with a $300,000 shortfall next year, forcing it to cut 6.5 teaching positions. Part of the budget problem is because of 234 students who transferred out of the district, primarily to Ashland and Medford. But 117 students transferred into the district, providing a net loss of 117. The board, eager to finalize a transfer policy, decided to wait until after Superintendent Dave Willard meets with other superintendents to discuss the possibility of a countywide transfer policy. "We've been beating this into the ground so much, but we need to make a decision on this," said board member Craig Prewitt. He doubted that all the superintendents could reach consensus on this controversial and costly issue. "It is unlikely that we all will have the same policy in Jackson County," he said. Whatever the outcome, the board is eyeing more stringent requirements in the future to curtail transfer requests. The board is also requiring parents of children who now have transfers to attend one of three meetings in May before receiving a waiver that will allow them to continue going to another district. In a letter that will be sent to parents, Willard said, "The school board has recently spent several months discussing this issue and the implications it has on our district. While we understand your desire to continue educating your children where you want, and while there are many legitimate reasons to transfer, the financial consequences to the district are devastating." Nordquist said any decision made by the board would also have consequences for other districts. "The Ashland district depends on these students for their budget." But Willard said, "We will have to find out if that is legal." He also said the district does receive tuition from about six Japanese students. Curriculum Director Tim Mobley said the district does receive a percentage of tuition from charter schools, which could possibly indicate a precedent for a rebate. But with other districts facing similar financial problems, there could be a reluctance to give up any funds. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.