Out of Town Students in City Schools

dave · 06-15-2005

Browsing through the Sat. edition of the Times, I caught the editorial sent in by a "B. Rowser" entitled "City schools not for entire region". Here's the letter:

	Quote:
	How long are the citizen's of Demopolis going to allow students from surrounding counties to attend our public schools? Some of these folks are coming from private schools. If they want to attend public schools they should stay in their own county! Boys are coming here to play ball so that they can get scholarships-which means our kids won't get scholarships. Last year several boys came here from other counties and played on our championship football and baseball teams. Their parents do not live in Marengo County and they do not pay property taxes. These kids are going to cause overcrowded classrooms and take attention away from our kids. All of the surrounding counties have very nice public schools. Why don't these students attend school in their own county? We need to find out why they are coming here. These are the questions we need answered. B. Rowser

From my experience, when you register your child for Kindergarten, you are required to show a phone bill or something similiar with your current address. What are the rules for students from other counties attending Demopolis City Schools? Do any of these allegations hold water?

whatudeserve69 · 06-15-2005

	Quote:	dave
	From my experience, when you register your child for Kindergarten, you are required to show a phone bill or something similiar with your current address. What are the rules for students from other counties attending Demopolis City Schools? Do any of these allegations hold water?

	Quote:
	All of the surrounding counties have very nice public schools

I think that is probably the only allegation that won't hold water. The public schools in Greene and Sumter County are a joke. Just look at the test scores. I know there are children that come from Sumter County, and I knew some that came from Greene County several years ago.

Mustang65 · 06-15-2005

I Live in Sumter County and both of my kids attend school in Demopolis. And contrary to what this letter says, very nice public schools do not exist in this county and the private school also leaves a LOT to be desired. I was born and raised in Demopolis and am a 1990 graduate of DHS. BTW - I actually resided in Greene County. My wife is a 1989 graduate of DHS and has lived in Sumter County since 1981. My children go to school in Demopolis because this school system offers the best education that you can get in this area. Sure it is nice for them to be able to participate in extra curricular activities, but EDUCATION is the reason for school not athletics. Right? When an out of county student wants to go school in Demopolis they are put on a waiting list. After all the students from in the county are put in classes and there is still room for more students, then the out of county students are enrolled. Hope this helps clear some things up.

onehotmama · 06-15-2005

I was going to say about what mustang65 said. I knew that a lot of the awards things we get for publication show students from other areas as Demopolis students. But I agree with mustang65 in that typically the reason for putting a student in a school other than their home county is for education reasons. Also, I know that they don't take just anyone, though I wasn't sure how they decided, mustang65 cleared that up.

Scott · 06-15-2005

Actually as long as Sumter County and Livingston City Schools remain on academic probation the children of Sumter County may attend the closest public school to their homes. Many of DHS's best athletes and students have come from Sumter County.

Eagle101 · 06-15-2005

When school starts, stop by them and look at the car tags on the vehicles. I really believe the Demopolis school admins want these out of system students. They receive state funds based on a formula of the schools attendance. Greene county loses funding for every student that attends the Demopolis system which naturally gives them less funding. Same for Sumter county. Don't forget those who attend Demopolis schools from Linden and other parts of Marengo County.

I would also like to bring up again that Essex HS should be converted to a vocational school with those students attending the Demopolis system. The county could operate Essex as the vo-tech school. Also part of Essex could be used as an Alternative school for problem students.

AUFAN · 06-15-2005

Ok, This is another one for Demopolite to look up. About 10 years ago or less a Judge ruled that if a child from another county or city wanted to come to school the school board or school system could except them. This is also appiles to demopolis school children going to John Essex. They have a choice. I think Mr or Ms. Rowser must be bored or he or she is must be tired of seeing Demopolis City Schools doing so well. This my opinion for what its worth

Graybeard · 06-15-2005

Demopolis City Schools have always had a good school system and hopefully will continue to be just as good or better in the future.
That said, you cannot blame a parent or child for wanting the best education they can get.

dave · 06-15-2005

	Quote:
	We need to find out why they are coming here. These are the questions we need answered.

Obviously a town native, probably has a child on the football team not getting enough snaps.

When my daughter started kindergarten, we lived in Providence. We sent her to Demopolis for the same reason everyone does--it's the best school system in West Alabama. If the surrounding counties could emulate what's going on here in Demopolis, what would be the state of the "black belt"?