Clarkston News Staff Writer
Clarkston Schools do not participate in the Open Enrollment program, but that might change slightly.
The Clarkston School Board is expected to vote on opening the Oakland Science Math and Technology program to additional school districts at the Feb. 13 board meeting.
The action comes after discussion held at the Jan. 23 workshop meeting.
OSMTech was originally run by the Oakland Intermediate School district. When the program’s future came into question, the Clarkston School district took over operations.
The program now operates out of Clarkston High School, and brings in 90 students from grades 9-12 from four school districts: Clarkston, Holly, Brandon and Lake Orion. If OSMTech becomes an open enrollment program, students from additional districts would have the ability to apply for the program.
‘Our long range vision when we went down that path was that (OSMTech) would become an open-enrollment program at some point in time,? said Dave Reschke, deputy superintendent of Clarkston Schools.
As reported in the Jan. 11 issue of The Clarkston News, the program experienced rejuvenation since moving to Clarkston, and officials believe the time to expand the program is at hand.
‘The bottom line of this is we do have capacity… for open enrollment,? Reschke said while discussing possible scenarios for the program’s future.
Reschke estimated the program has room for an additional 15-20 students, and said adding additional students at this time would have a minimal effect on facilities, as there is currently extra room at CHS that could be converted if needed.
Reschke also recommended to the board that if they choose to open the program up, to do so in small increments that will keep the student population balanced between the grade levels.
School Board Vice President Stephen Hyer asked if there were any reasons why the program shouldn’t be opened up, to which Reschke replied there was only one major one.
An articulation agreement between Clarkston and Brandon schools would be superceded by the open enrollment program, meaning Brandon students already enrolled in the program might lose their places if a large number of students apply for the program next year. Reschke said he had no problem allowing currently enrolled Brandon students to be ‘grandfathered in? to the program next year to ensure they can finish, but he was concerned other people may not like that idea.
‘I think the other thing the board should be aware of before they even consider a vote is that it is likely that whatever we do with the open enrollment program… there will be a lottery. I’d be really surprised if we didn’t have more applicants than we had spots,? said Superintendent Dr. Al Roberts.
Ultimately, Reschke said Clarkston gets the final say on who is excepted into the program, so it would be unlikely for a Clarkston student to lose their spot.
After discussing the different possibilities to adjust to the open enrollment program, the board took no action. However, Roberts is expected to formally recommend that OSMTech become an open enrollment program at the next board meeting, at which point a vote must be taken on the matter.