RUMOR: IS APPS OPENING UP
SCHOOLS OF CHOICE 2nd SEMESTER?
Superintendent Darga stated “I feel we have done our due diligence in exploring the option to open Schools of Choice for second semester. After careful review of the elementary class counts and middle school class counts, I feel we are at the desired class size in most K-8 classes; therefore, I will not be recommending any openings for Schools of Choice for second semester.”
Message to APPS Staff – Schools of Choice Option
Participation in the Schools of Choice option, which allows parents to send their children to schools in communities other than where they reside, is an annual decision made by the Board of Education.
In the interest of continuously exploring sources of revenue for Allen Park Public Schools, Central Office Staff and Building Principals have been discussing the possibility of reopening the Schools of Choice option for second semester. Initial conversation also included the possibility of 15 openings at the 9th grade level for second semester in an effort to adjust for the Allen Park High School students who are reassigned to the Allen Park Community School to further boost enrollment at the high school level. Additionally, counselors met to brainstorm strategies for handling mid-year registration, orientation and mentoring for new students in the event the district went in this direction.
With that said, we know that class size is an important determinant of student outcomes. Administration and the Board of Education, place great value and pride in maintaining appropriate and desirable class sizes at the lower elementary, upper elementary, middle and high school levels. Class size reports by building and grade level have been closely examined and given the current enrollment, at this time we will not be offering Schools of Choice as an option for second semester. We will maintain our current enrollment for the 2018/2019 school year.
We will continue our efforts to do our due diligence in exploring additional revenue sources for Allen Park Public Schools.
Mike D.