Norwich — The Board of Education Tuesday approved adding Bacon Academy in Colchester and Ledyard High School as schools of choice for Norwich students starting in the coming school year, although there is no discernible cost savings and as-yet unknown costs of transportation and special education. 

The board voted unanimously to approve an agreement with Ledyard High School for up to 10 students per year to attend Ledyard High School in addition to the agricultural science program already open to Norwich students.

The board voted 6-3, however, to allow up to 15 students to attend Bacon Academy next school year, with Chairman Aaron “Al” Daniels, Angelo Yeitz and Margaret Becotte voting against the addition.

Both schools plan to allow up to 40 Norwich students — about 10 per grade — over time.

Tuition was only one factor in the discussion on whether to expand the growing list of high school choices for the city's estimated 2,362 high school age students in the coming year.

Tuition at Bacon Academy is $14,254, more than $2,000 higher than the anticipated Norwich Free Academy tuition for the coming year of $12,066. Ledyard High School regular education tuition next school year is expected to be $10,663.

Bacon Academy would accept up to 15 students next year by lottery, while Ledyard High School would use an application process to screen applicants, Norwich Superintendent Abby Dolliver said.

Initially, Bacon had planned to allow 10 Norwich students next year, but Dolliver said there was strong interest by Norwich middle school students during a recent high school choice visit, so Bacon added five more spots.

The potential costs of special education and transportation remain major unknown factors in the new arrangements, school officials said, leading some board members to question the financial feasibility of the plans.

Norwich already sends a bus to Ledyard for the 17 students now enrolled in the agri-science program, but there are no buses going to Colchester.

Dolliver and school Business Administrator Athena Nagel said they are considering revamping the entire bus transportation schedules, which have been the source of continuing problems this school year.

According to a spreadsheet provided to the Board of Education Tuesday, preliminary anticipated high school tuition totals next year would be $21.865 million without Ledyard and Bacon in the mix.

By removing 35 students from the expected NFA enrollment and adding them to Ledyard and Bacon, it would bring the anticipated total to $21.884 million.

Special education tuition would be lower at Bacon Academy if some of the 15 students require special education services. Dolliver said Bacon calculates special education tuition by dividing specific classroom costs by the number of students in the class.

Norwich pays set special education fees at NFA, and the city school district must provide individual staff support per student. Dolliver said that adds about $2 million in costs to NFA not factored into the listed costs.

According to the spreadsheet, Norwich students now have about a dozen high school choices, including magnet schools, technical high schools and parochial schools in the region.

c.bessette@theday.com

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