By SUZANNE MARINO
Staff Writer
MARGATE – The Margate Performing Arts Center was filled Tuesday night as the Board of Education voted on the implementation of its controversial tuition policy that would bring students into the Margate Schools at a reduced rate to better utilize school facilities.
But despite pleas from the public to reconsider the policy, motions made to delay its implementation were defeated by the school board.
Though the district has had a tuition policy for out-of-town students for years, the cost of bringing the students in was based on the annual cost to educate a Longport or Margate student, which is currently about $15,000 per student.
The revised policy sets a fee of $4,500 per out-of-district student. That $4,500 figure enraged many.
The other half of the tuition policy that is ruffling feathers is the board’s decision to set up a framework to determine which students may or may not be accepted into the district based in part on academic performance.
Joseph Sayegh, vice president of the Margate school board, said that the policy to change the amount of money charged to an out-of-district student was revised upon the suggestion of the Margate long-term planning commission as a way to fill schools running well under capacity while the city continues to watch the population trend in the schools.
Board members were peppered with questions from the audience about the tuition policy. District Superintendent Dominick Potena has said previously that Margate is looking to add approximately 15 students districtwide to the current student body.
Adding students to classes where there is room will not cost the district anything additional, according to Potena.
Residents questioned that, asking how adding students to the schools at $4,500 when the cost to educate a Margate student is three times that amount is not going to increase the cost.
Board President Barbara Perskie fired back that the tuition policy is a pilot program and that bringing in a limited number of students will not lower cost per pupil, and that they would not accept so many students that it would result in going above the district suggested class size.
Mary Garvin, a Longport resident and member of the Longport Borough Commission, requested that the board delay action on the policy until after a facilities study is completed, a proposal that was echoed by fellow Longport Commission member George Baumgardner.
“I am very concerned about the proposal. Longport has passed a resolution asking for you to delay implementing the policy,” Garvin said.
Garvin went on to ask why so many people are coming to the normally quiet board of education meetings.
“All governing bodies when they are elected or appointed have a duty and an absolute responsibility to respond to all questions from their constituents. Not all of the public is here, but if we need them to be here then we will bring them here,” said Garvin.
Scott Abbott, a Margate resident and local attorney, said, “I object to this policy. As a taxpayer and a resident I am opposed to it.”
He added that he is concerned that the Margate School District is opening itself up to discrimination litigation if the district proceeds with a policy that picks and chooses who will or will not come into the Margate School District.
Though not present at the Board of Education meeting, Atlantic City Councilman Craig Calloway has already said publicly he would like to see kindergarten and first-grade students from Atlantic City attend Brigantine and Margate schools, as both are looking to entice out-of-town students to their schools.
He has also alleged racism if those two districts did not open their doors to Atlantic City students.
Several motions were put on the floor to vote to delay the plan until after a facilities study is completed.
Requests for Proposals for that study are currently being prepared.
Both motions to delay the implementation of the policy were defeated.
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