Norwich Free Academy trustees approve budget, tuition increase

Norwich – Despite slight spending and tuition rate increases, the new 2012-13 Norwich Free Academy budget provides good news for most financially strapped towns that send students to the academy, as shrinking enrollment lowers their tuition bills.

The NFA Board of Trustees today unanimously approved the $29 million combined regular and special education budget, which reflects a 2 percent spending increase over the current year’s total. Tuition rates will increase 3 percent to new totals of $10,920 for Norwich and $11,020 for other towns.

But the predicted dramatic drop in NFA enrollment is coming to fruition. NFA had 2,451 students in 2007 and had 2,315 at the close of last school year. NFA officials project an enrollment of 2,156 in fall, a drop of 159 students. Seven of the eight sending towns will see a drop in tuition bills as a result.

Norwich, still by far the largest of the sending towns – now called partner towns – with 1,518 regular and special education students, will see a tuition decrease of $328,305, reflecting the enrollment drop of 33 regular education students and 25 special education students. Preston will see a $119,815 drop in its tuition bill.

“We appreciate that our tuition bill will be going down,” Norwich Superintendent Abby Dolliver said. “Any savings is a help with our anticipated costs for next year.”

Only the town of Canterbury is expected to see a tuition bill increase, by $17,460 in the new NFA budget.

Overall, the budget retains current programs at NFA, sports, extra-curricular activities and the approximately 70 student clubs. With fewer students, class sizes will be reduced, Rand said.

The budget cuts two certified staffing positions and one other staff position, Klein said, but none are classroom teachers. Teacher salaries have no raises this year.

NFA is adding two new special education programs that would be offered on a contractual basis to any interested town starting this summer. A transition program will be offered for special education students at least 15 years old to help them transition into adulthood. Some students receive educational services from their resident towns until age 21, and local towns contract with outside agencies to provide the services that were not previously offered by NFA.

The same is true for summer special education programs that some students receive to help them keep up with school work during the two-month break. NFA now will offer those programs.

Klein said the programs would help the current partner towns offer a fluid educational program for special education students, rather than having to contract with private agencies, some of them distant.

c.bessette@theday.com