Most towns sending students to NFA will save some money this year despite tuition hike

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

The NFA Board of Trustees Tuesday unanimously approved the $29 million combined regular and special education budget, the first presented by new Head of School David Klein. The budget reflects a 2 percent spending increase over the current year. Tuition rates will increase 3 percent to new rates of $10,920 for Norwich and $11,020 for other towns.

But NFA enrollment is expected to drop by at least 159 students, as the predicted dramatic drop in NFA enrollment comes to fruition, NFA Comptroller Rich Rand said. NFA had 2,451 students in 2007 and 2,315 at the close of last school year. NFA officials project an enrollment of 2,156 this fall.

Norwich, still by far the largest of the eight partner towns with 1,518 regular and special education students, will see tuition expenses decrease by $328,305, reflecting the enrollment drop of 58 students. Norwich's total bill will be $18.9 million next year. As the host city, Norwich pays $100 less per student other towns to cover city services.

"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."

Preston will see a $119,815 drop, making its bill $2 million, reflecting a drop of 12 students.

Only the town of Canterbury is expected to see a tuition bill increase, totaling $17,460.

Overall, the budget retains current programs, sports and the approximately 70 student clubs. With fewer students, class sizes will be smaller, Rand said.

The budget cuts two certified staff positions and one other position, Klein said, none of them classroom teachers.

Klein said NFA shouldn't cut teachers even with declining enrollment, because the school has to prepare for increased state high school credit requirements for the 2018 graduating class.

Students will need 25 high school credits - NFA now requires 22 - and all students will have to produce a comprehensive thesis or project at the end of their senior year.

"If you eliminate a lot of positions, you'd only have to hire teachers two years down the road," Klein told the trustees.

As part of an effort to "make new sources of revenue for ourselves," NFA is adding two new special education programs.

A transition program for older special education students would help them progress from school to adulthood and jobs.

Some special education students receive services paid for by their hometowns until age 21.

Local towns contract with outside agencies for the services previously not offered by NFA.

Some towns also pay for summer special education programs so students don't fall too far behind. NFA will start offering summer programs in July.

The academy also has been successful in marketing NFA as a private tuition high school for residents in towns outside the area. Last year, NFA had nine private tuition students, and this year the number jumped to 21 students paying $800 more than the non-Norwich tuition rate. The students come from eastern Connecticut towns ranging from East Lyme to Brooklyn, Rand said.

c.bessette@theday.com