Franklin County Board of Education members hope to generate more revenue from out-of-district students next year by raising the cost of their tuition $1,900, an increase of more than 600 percent.
Since 2000, students who attend school in Franklin County but live elsewhere have paid $300 a year in tuition. In the fall, that cost will jump to $2,200.
This year, 21 students attend Franklin County Public Schools out of district. Superintendent Harrie Buecker said she can’t be sure how many will enroll next year.
If the number stays steady, the district could earn approximately $40,000 more. Board members unanimously approved the change Monday.
District officials anticipate losing more state funding for extended school services, textbooks, school safety and preschools next year. Buecker said they have “ruled everything else out” as possible revenue sources, including raising lunch prices.
“We’re looking wherever we can to find the revenue to shore up some of the areas where we have the greatest need,” she said.
Buecker said the increase will bring Franklin County in line with nearby school systems. Out-of-district students in Frankfort Independent Schools pay $1,700; Bourbon County, $2,000; Jessamine County, $2,322; Woodford County, $3,100; and Fayette County, $4,000.
Students whose parents work for FCPS do not pay tuition.
Board members also accepted personnel actions Monday, which included 25 pink slips for teachers and certified employees, and 15 for classified staff members.
Wayne Dominick, communications coordinator for FCPS, said some of the cuts came from revised staffing allocations approved by the board in March, which eliminated 6.7 certified teaching positions and 2.8 custodial positions.
The move will save the district $300,000 in personnel costs, Buecker said in March.
The staffing allocations – reduced because some schools were overstaffed based on enrollments that were expected to rise, but didn’t – went to school councils for action.
Some of the pink slips were also based on performance, Dominick said.
Employees could be brought back as revenue becomes clearer, he said, most likely to teaching aide positions.
In Kentucky, public school employees must be notified by May 1 if their contracts aren’t being renewed.