West Hartford Taxpayers Association

P.O.Box 270201

West Hartford, CT 06127-0201

 

March 16, 2008

 

Chairman Terry Schmitt

West Harford Board of Education

50 S. Main St.

West Hartford, CT 06107

 

 

 

Dear Chairman Schmitt:

 

 

The West Hartford Taxpayers Association is making the following FREEDOM OF INFORMATION request in regard to Open Choice student enrollment in West Hartford. West Hartford is now host to 87 Open Choice students (see attached spreadsheet from the State DOE), up from 58 in the ’05-06 school year, and according to the new budget proposal this number is slated to go to 91 in the Fall of ‘08. This represents an increase in 33 students in 3 years. We have asked several members of the Board what these students are actually costing West Hartford over and above the partial reimbursement we receive (~$2600/student) and they did not know. This request is an attempt to find out what, if anything, this program is costing the Taxpayers of West Hartford.

 

The Open Choice students are registered in 11 schools, with the majority (70 students) concentrated in 4 schools. Three of these schools are considered over crowded by the Administration and they have been slated for expansion. We would like to now what grades these students are in and the size the classes they are in? We would also like to know the total number of classes per grade and size of these classes.

 

What special services, if any, are these children in need of? This includes, but is not limited to, students in need of special ed., remedial services, ESOL, Play for Pay assistance. Are any of these students receiving free/reduced price meals? What is the approximate cost per student of these services? Do we receive additional State or Federal funding for these services and if so how much is the reimbursement per student?

 

Is West Hartford paying to bus the children into West Hartford? If so is what is the cost and is the Town reimbursed for it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally what is the effect of the Open Choice students on the Towns performance on the Mastery Test and CAPT results?  How would we have done if the Open Choice grades were not included in the results?

 

Thank you for your assistance with this request. We would appreciate your response by April 18th.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Elliot Check DDS

For the WHTA