Chairman David Syfan said it was time for tuition families to match the tax increase city school property holders have to pay.
"I tried to look at what was the tax increase for a residential family in the city of Gainesville and then tried to come up with a proposal that would give us a similar increase the tuition families," Syfan said.
Tuition is set for $585 a year for the first tuition child with $495 for each additional child.
Board member Sammy Smith was opposed, saying the new fee does not reflect Gainesville's education quality.
"This figure does not reflect the value that I believe comes from a year's experience in our schools," Smith said. "The value of being with us for a year has a price, and this ain't it."
Superintendent Dr. Merrianne Dyer advised the Board not to raise tuition to the point where tuition students would leave the system.
"I am sensitive to the taxpayers and I do know that we need to raise our tuition to reflect their sacrifice and commitment, but I will put it in the hands of the Board to be cautious," she said. "The worst thing that could happen to us fiscally, taxpayers and otherwise, when we've got to pay our teachers, is that we lose FTE money."
Dr. Bill Morrison did not get the tuition hike he wanted from the Board; he said unless tuition was raised $4,000 a year per student, the program would continue to lose money and cost taxpayers.
"We just need to charge what's fair," he said. "If it costs $4,000 for everybody then everybody ought to pay their fair share."
"That would eliminate the subsidy that the city residents are paying for the out of city students."
"If the Board's figures are correct, we're losing a million and a half dollars a year on the tuition program; over four years that's six million dollars."
OBAMA ROOF MONEY?
Dr. Dyer said she hopes stimulus money proposed by President Obama might be one source for fixing leaky school roofs.
So does Centennial Elementary School Parent Laura Sumner, who told board members during recent rains water poured into regular building and modular classrooms.
Dr. Dyer said bond money was earmarked for repairing Centennial's building roof; modular roof money has to come from state and possibly federal sources.
"Should the federal dollars come down from the federal stimulus plan we've everything in place on go," She said.
Dyer said she's meeting Friday with state officials to discuss tapping capital outlay funds.
A LETTER FOR THE NURSES
Gainesville School Board members voted to send a letter to local legislators urging them to saving the funding for the school nurse program.
Chairman Syfan got a unanimous vote.
Superintendent Dyer said local support to keep nurses in Gainesville schools was tremendous.
Thirty million dollars for the program is on the chopping block because of the state's two billion dollar deficit.
Chr. David Syfan with Supt. Dr. Merrianne Dyer
Dr. Bill Morrison said unless tuition was raised $4,000 a year per student, the program would continue to lose money and cost taxpayers
http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/1/217239