Washington Local Schools will join the ranks of area school districts admitting out-of-district students next school year under an open-enrollment policy its board of education has approved.

The new policy, which the board endorsed unanimously and without discussion Wednesday, is intended to offset about $879,000 the district sends annually to other districts that enroll Washington Local students in their schools.

Superintendent of Schools Kadee Anstadt had told the school board Jan. 20 that while no space currently exists in district primary schools, admitting 30 to 40 open-enrolled students in each of Whitmer High School’s four grades would avert future staff and program cuts that would otherwise be likely.

“We have great people. We have great programs. But if we can’t figure out a way to increase revenue, we’re going to have to start cutting some of those programs,” Ms. Anstadt said.

The policy reserves the school board’s right to deny any and all applicants as well as terminate open enrollment at any time, except that non-resident students will not be removed mid-year solely because of such a termination. Applicants will be required to have appropriate numbers of credits and be age-appropriate for the grade level at which they wish to enroll.

Ms. Anstadt said Wednesday that applications will tentatively open March 19 and close May 21. While late applications will be accepted thereafter until the second Friday of July, those applications will only be considered for space left over after all timely, qualified applicants have been admitted. All applications must be submitted in writing.

Ohio law allows districts to establish priorities for open-enrollment admissions as long as those priorities are not discriminatory. Washington Local’s policy will give priority to applicants who:

• Have a parent or guardian on the district’s faculty or staff.
• Were enrolled the previous year.
• Are siblings to a current student.
• Are grandchildren of Washington Local district residents.
• Are children of Washington Local alumni living in Ohio.
• Have a parent or guardian working within the district’s boundaries.
• Have a parent or guardian who owns property in the district.
• Submit their application sooner than others.

Ms. Anstadt said administrative guidelines and application forms are forthcoming. 

First Published February 18, 2021, 1:32 a.m.