Canton City Schools has approved 'open enrollment' for upcoming school year

 

(Canton Mckinley High School in Canton City School District. Photo: Ryan Leow)

CANTON, OH--Beginning in the upcoming school year students outside Canton City School district will be able to attend in what the board describes as a application process, as there will be deadlines, and limits for open enrollment including class size and building capacity.

Students from any school can apply to attend school in the district, prior to this ruling Canton City did not allow students to attend if Canton City was not there home district under certain circumstances.

Mckinley was one of four in Stark County that did not allow 'open enrollment' that was including Jackson, Plain, and Lake school districts.

"If I felt this would impact us in a negative way, I wouldn't have brought it forward," said Canton City Schools Superintendent Jeffery Talbert. "I've spent the last few months looking at this and honestly I have changed my mind."

Until now the only way a student outside the district could attend Canton City Schools was to pay tuition or a superintendent agreement was in place, that could put some families in a financial constraints depending on size of family or multiple siblings wanting to attend another school outside of their home district. 

One factor was outlined by Talbert, they cannot deny students based on their academic performance, athletic ability, behavior or other factors.

It was also stated that this decision by the board was not based on athletic programs, "It's not about sports because changes to rules make that unnecessary," said Talbert. "It's about giving people who want to choose us a way to do so."

The board agreed to open up enrollment applications sometime in late April or early May and will close in July.

"This could be a great opportunity," he said.