Fulton Independent School Board action could result in loss of thousands for students

In a three to one vote during special called session of the Fulton Independent Board of Education this evening, with a recommendation from Superintendent Dr. DeAnna Miller, board members Bill Robertson, Debbie Vaughn and Carol Bransford approved non-resident contracts with surrounding school districts for the 2019-2020 school year, thereby determining the amount of Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funds to be transferred for students living in the Fulton Independent School District, who are enrolled in neighboring districts.

In the background information provided by Dr. Miller, board members heard that in the past the Fulton City Board of Education has released SEEK ADA funds on students who reside in the district to the Kentucky district which agrees to educate the student. The Fulton Board also has requested the release of such funds from Kentucky district which have students that attend FIS.

In short, the proposed contracts with Carlisle County, Fulton County, Graves County, HIckman County and Mayfield Independent reflect designations for each of those districts proposed by FIS, not "Any/All" as has most often in recent years been the case, but now will be "One for One" (after 10 students.)

What that could mean to those families residing in the City of Fulton, which include children who attend neighboring districts, is that the $4,000 per student the state allots for ADA funds to help educate those students, would not be transferred to neighboring districts where the student attends. The money would not be funneled into the Fulton Independent School District either. Those funds, estimated according to Dr. Miller, total $88,000 and that money would simply go back to the state.

Approximately 50 people were on hand for the emotionally charged meeting, with an allotted time of five minutes per person offered by the board for the public to speak, before the actual vote took place on the non-resident contracts.

PaTrice Chambers, Assistant Superintendent of Fulton County Schools, and Allison Whitledge, Board Attorney for the Fulton County Board of Education, spoke to the board, but directed most of their prepared statement, toward the number of parents present for the meeting, who live in Fulton, but have children who they have enrolled in the Fulton County School System.

Chambers stressed "school choice" and offered assurance the students currently attending Fulton County Schools would remain there, and the district would welcome any students.

The Current was provided a copy of a letter sent home with students who attend Fulton County Schools, and reside in the City of Fulton, earlier this week, signed by Fulton County Superintendent Aaron Collins, which read in part, ""Fulton Independent Schools has stated that their plan is a new contract in which only approximately 23 of the current 52 Fulton Independent School's students will be permitted to attend Fulton County Schools. It is Fulton County Schools' understanding that this new contract will be proposed and voted on at a Fulton Independent Board meeting Thursday, Nov. 8......we desire to continue to be your school of choice and we will honor your choice to attend Fulton County Schools."

Whitledge first informed the board that Fulton County Superintendent Aaron Collins was not able to attend the meeting, however, speaking on his behalf, she stated Collins planned to recommend to the full Fulton County School Board to reject the contract proposed, which would not release ADA funds for "Any/All" students.

Collins had indicated when asked by The Current, his thoughts were his and "align with the board's. In whatever decision is made by the Fulton Independent Board, the Fulton County School Board will continue to operate as a district of choice and will not limit the ability for families to join the Fulton County Schools nor will we create a tuition system."

Whitledge noted there were currently 52 students attending Fulton County Schools whose families chose to transfer out of the FIS district, but who reside there.

"What benefit will Fulton Independent School district derive from changing this contract?" she asked, referencing that if ADA funds were not released by the state to "follow the student" to their school of choice, that money would not benefit Fulton Independent, unless students returned there.

A number of parents spoke to that matter, leaving no doubt that would not happen.

Jamie Mattingly, Jane Zickefoose, Vonda Driver, Ashley Burton and Thomas Cabral, parents or guardians of students attending Fulton County Schools but who live in Fulton, voiced concerns over the anxiety their children experienced over the possibility of not being able to continue going to school there.

Each one of the adults who spoke emphatically stated "no matter what happens" we will not come back to Fulton Independent.

Cubb Stokes, who retired from his position as Fulton City Manager in July of this year also addressed the board.

"Five years ago, the city came to this board for a plan for the future of Fulton Independent School system, and asked the board to work with the city. That never happened. This proposed non-resident contract is about money, not about kids. We have as many as 53 students from here in Fulton, who attend Fulton County. We have others here in Fulton who have attended Hickman County, Graves County, South Fulton, Union City, Obion County, Mayfield...what's wrong with this picture? But this money is not going to fix it," he said, citing the economic impact of thousands of dollars being returned to the state, going unused because neither school system would be provided with the funds, Fulton County because of the FIS contract not in agreement to release the funds, nor Fulton Independent because those students have chosen to not return to the FIS district.

FIS Board member Sam Hancock, who cast the lone nay vote against the proposed contract, and who will no longer be on the board in December, encouraged board members to continue with a longtime practice by the board to advocate for school choice.

"Schools in this region need to work together," he said.

"We are making changes in this school system, we are on the way back up, but it takes time," said board member and longtime educator Bill Robertson.

"If we don't pull together, these two schools, the factories will not come here. There are factions who want this school system to consolidate. It may happen, but not today," he said, adding that Fulton County's school system and school board were to be commended..

As to an issue of money attached to the reason for not contracting "Any/All" students funding with neighboring districts, board member Carol Bransford said "We are fine with money," adding "you can take your kids any where you want them to go" to school, adding they should also "live there."

Bransford made the motion to accept Dr. Miller's recommendation for the contracts, with Robertson and Vaughn voting yes.

At that time, a number of parents in the audience exited the meeting, as regular agenda items continued.

However, just prior to the motion made to adjourn the meeting, Stokes addressed the board once more, asking if he could ask a question.

Board member Sam Hancock told Stokes he could ask.

Stokes said he wanted to be clear he understood "what just happened" as it related to the ADA funding.

"So you as a board have just said that this county will have taken away, $200,000 in ADA funds because Fulton County will not get the funds for students going there, and Fulton Independent will not get the funds because the students are not going to return to Fulton Independent? I just wonder if you all realize what you have just done?" he said.

Following the meeting, Board member Bill Robertson and Debbie Vaughn were asked why they voted yes for the contract change. Both said that they did because the Superintendent had made that recommendation to the board, and she was hired to do so.

When asked why she made the recommendation, Dr. Miller's response was "I was asked to."

Robertson also stated that in the event Fulton County School Board rejected the contract proposal from FIS, the contract would then be forwarded to Kentucky Department of Education, who would come to a decision on the matter.

Also clarified by Dr. Miller, was that while there were 52 students who lived in the FIS district and were enrolled at Fulton County, some students were children of teachers in the Fulton County District, 10 students would be counted one for one, as that number of Fulton County students could attend Fulton Independent, which would reduce the total dollar figure of funds being returned to the state, to $88,000 instead of $200,000.

The complete school board story will be published in the Nov. 14 edition of The Current.