Hamden doesn’t “begrudge” New Haven for seeking to shore up its finances, but doing so by charging suburbs tuition for educating their students would “devastate” Hamden.
So argued Hamden State Rep. Mike D’Agostino in a letter sent to the state education commissioner, urging him to reject a renewed request by New Haven for permission to charge tuition for non-resident students attending city-based magnet schools.
Hamden’s mayor and schools superintendent made the same request in their own separate letter to the commissioner, Migueal A. Cardona.
The text of their letters follows. Click here to read a story about New Haven’s request and the arguments for it.
D’Agostino Letter
Dear Commissioner Cardona:
I am writing to you regarding a second request by the New Haven Board of Education seeking authorization from the Department of Education to charge tuition for non-resident students who attend New Haven Magnet Schools. I am strongly opposed to this proposal and believe the department was correct to deny the original request and would ask that you also reject New Haven’s latest appeal.
As of right now, Hamden currently has 705 students who attend school in New Haven at an Inter-district Magnet school or as a part of a school choice program. Special education and transportation costs for these students is already paid for by the town. If New Haven’s request were granted it would result in a tremendous financial burden to the town, as much as $1,586,250 ($2,250×705) a year. To absorb this cost the town would be forced to significantly cut services, personnel, before and after school programs, and also increase class size to the detriment of students. As you know, given your background at Meriden, the state has chronically underfunded Hamden and similar districts, failing to fund ECS fully and more recently, taking away any state support for magnet school transportation.
I do not begrudge the New Haven BOE for trying to find additional revenue sources. As a former member of the Hamden BOE for 13 years, I would do the same if I were them. But the impact to Hamden would be devastating. The state BOE cannot allow one district to be pitted against the other in this manner. If the state is going to allow New haven to charge tuition, then it should also allow Hamden and similar sending districts to prevent its students from attending out-of-district magnet schools, so long as space is available in district (as it is in Hamden).
Like you, I want to do more to address the disparities that exist in education funding for all of communities. That effort, however, cannot be at the expense of one municipality over another.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I would be more than glad to speak with you more about this issue at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Representative Michael D’Agostino 91st House District
Mayor, Superintendent Letter
