Kendall votes to join Urban-Suburban program with Rochester

KENDALL – Members of the Kendall Central School District Board of Education have voted to join the Urban-Suburban program, in which students from the Rochester City School District attend schools outside city limits.

The program is marking its 50th anniversary this year and is funded by the New York State Education Department and the Rochester City School District.

“Five districts have joined this year,” Kendall School Superintendent Julie Christensen said.

Two of those districts include Hilton and Spencerport.

Joining the Urban-Suburban program is part of non-resident enrollment options Kendall will utilize in the upcoming school year to combat declining student numbers.

Christensen said current enrollment at Kendall is 718 students, down from 759 a year ago and 724 just last month.

The April 15 Kendall School Board of Education meeting was the third meeting where the board sought public input on the issue.

“This is a win-win for everybody,” Board Vice-President Chris Gerken said.

One parent in the audience said she felt the program is “fabulous” and provides opportunities for city students which they might not otherwise have.

Kendall can determine how many students it will accept and students can be removed from the program if the district so decides. The district can also opt out of the program if it wishes.

Gerken said he is “100 percent for the program,” but proposed that board members “discuss it next year” to access if the program is working in the district.

The district estimates that Urban-Suburban will bring $12,000 in aid per each student that is accepted.

Kendall is also offering enrollment to non-resident staff children and non-resident, non-staff committee approved children whose families would pay tuition to attend school in the district.

The Board approved non-resident tuition rates which will be 50 percent of state recommended tuition for the first student; 30 percent of state tuition for a second student and 10 percent of state tuition for any additional students.

The state recommends tuition of $2,440 for grades K-6 and $5,051 for students in grades 7-12. Special education tuition rates are significantly higher.