Preston school board solidifies high school choice list
Preston — The Board of Education on Monday approved a list of seven high schools in the region to which it will provide both tuition and transportation for town students, but delayed action on a policy governing elementary and middle school magnet schools.
The board has discussed the two policies, and a third policy on bus transportation routes, since August, debating whether to expand the list of specific high schools or broaden the list to generic types of schools — magnet or agri-science for example.
The board unanimously approved a policy that retains Norwich Free Academy as the main designated high school, stating that all Preston high-school-aged students are eligible to attend the academy with transportation provided.
The policy also includes a list of six high schools where Preston would pay tuition and provide transportation if local students apply and are accepted. The schools are: Ella Grasso Technical High School in Groton, Norwich Regional Technical High School, Ledyard High School’s Agri-Science program, the Marine Science Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut in Groton, the Science and Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut in New London and Ledyard High School regular program.
Preston students also would be allowed to transfer from one of the listed high schools to another on the list, provided they apply and are accepted at the desired school, the policy states.
The policy governing magnet elementary schools will be discussed again at the board’s Nov. 14 meeting. Board Chairwoman Jan Clancy said Tuesday that the policy only needs technical wording changes to be acceptable.
The proposed policy broadly states that Preston would pay tuition, where applicable, for any Preston student in preschool through grade eight who chooses to attend a magnet or charter school.
But starting in the 2017-18 school year, the Board of Education would not pay transportation to any regular education preschool-eight grade charter or magnet school. The transportation restriction would not apply to special education students.
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