OAK PARK CA SCHOOL DISTRICT CAPS OUTSIDE ENROLLMENT

Oak Park Unified School District, in Oak Park CA, is a "District of Choice". What this means, is that parents from other districts can have their children enroll in Oak Park Schools without having to obtain approval from their own district. Many districts are unwilling to release their students to an out of area school because it will mean less funding for that school.

Oak Park now has 1338 transfer students, or 33 percent of enrollment. The Oak Park school board voted at the September meeting to cap out of district students at 35 percent. With all schools in California feeling squeezed financially because of less state funding, the District of Choice designation helps school districts increase revenue, as public schools receive funds based on size of enrollment. Schools receive $5953 from the state per student.

Superintendent Tony Knight said the transfers generate almost $8 million for the school district. This is offset by the expenses that total $4.7 million. This leaves $3.3 million in additional revenue, or 12 percent of the total budget. Many parents want to know if the cap is enough to offset the more crowded classrooms, or why there is not enough to keep the misc program in full swing.

"We cannot have all the programs we've had in the past and also have no cuts to anything." School board member Marie Panec said. "We are trying to balance maintaining programs is some shape or form, with cuts and increased class size."

Without funding from permit students, Knight said, one of Oak Park's three elementary schools might have to be closed. Counselor-to student- ratios would be worse, and fewer course offerings would be offered at the middle and high school levels, include advanced Placement and honors courses.

Many Oak Park parents feel that Oak Park schools should be for Oak Park children only, especially because of the taxes we pay for bond measures voted in to improve our schools. While this may be an ideal, we have such a small school district, to do so would be short sighted, especially in these days of California's budget crises. The funds generated by the out of district students keep our district financially viable, and we are able to maintain the high ranking of our schools.

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