MONROE - Monroe public schools' new district administrator will be able to directly approve some enrollment requests rather than bringing them to the school board for approval at regular meetings.
Rick Waski asked the board Monday for the authority to act on alternative open enrollment requests - ones that aren't part of the regular open enrollment period from February through April - that would normally have to be voted on by the board. He called the change "a more expedient approach," which would allow him to find out why parents decide to pull their students from the district and speak with them possibly before they've made final decisions.
"It just seems more efficient and more customer-friendly," Waski said.
He noted most of the requests can't legally be denied. Public schools don't have the authority to turn away students who want to attend their district unless the district doesn't have the capacity to accommodate them, Waski said, and schools can't deny a request by a resident family that wants their student to attend elsewhere.
Waski said he could give the board quarterly reports on the requests, including on any trends he sees. Board member Jim Plourde said he wants to be kept informed on why families decide to pull students, because it's an ongoing issue the board has discussed before.
Attending members unanimously granted Waski the new authority; Bob Erb and Amy Bazley were absent from the meeting.
Regular open enrollment requests will still have to be approved by the board every May, according to state law. Currently, the Monroe school district provides to the public the names of students making those requests every year - something member Dan Bartholf asked the board to consider changing.
"I don't think it should be the world's view on where other kids go in Monroe or something like that," Bartholf said, suggesting they instead list initials or another alternative. "I don't think it should be a public thing."
Rick Waski asked the board Monday for the authority to act on alternative open enrollment requests - ones that aren't part of the regular open enrollment period from February through April - that would normally have to be voted on by the board. He called the change "a more expedient approach," which would allow him to find out why parents decide to pull their students from the district and speak with them possibly before they've made final decisions.
"It just seems more efficient and more customer-friendly," Waski said.
He noted most of the requests can't legally be denied. Public schools don't have the authority to turn away students who want to attend their district unless the district doesn't have the capacity to accommodate them, Waski said, and schools can't deny a request by a resident family that wants their student to attend elsewhere.
Waski said he could give the board quarterly reports on the requests, including on any trends he sees. Board member Jim Plourde said he wants to be kept informed on why families decide to pull students, because it's an ongoing issue the board has discussed before.
Attending members unanimously granted Waski the new authority; Bob Erb and Amy Bazley were absent from the meeting.
Regular open enrollment requests will still have to be approved by the board every May, according to state law. Currently, the Monroe school district provides to the public the names of students making those requests every year - something member Dan Bartholf asked the board to consider changing.
"I don't think it should be the world's view on where other kids go in Monroe or something like that," Bartholf said, suggesting they instead list initials or another alternative. "I don't think it should be a public thing."