The Alexander City Outlook

School tuition increase unfair

Dear Editor:

I am writing in reference to the May 12 article on how the cost may rise for non-city students. My husband and I are both Benjamin Russell Alumni and unfortunately due to the rising cost for non-city students, our two children will not be able to attend the Alex City School System. Our driveway is approximately 1.7 miles from the Alexander City limits. When we purchased our property seven years ago, there was not a restriction on children attending Alexander City School System. There are several issues I would like to cover:

School Location – As I mentioned, my driveway is 1.7 miles from the city limits. I will have to drive through the city limits to take my child to Horseshoe Bend. I think you should be allowed to attend the school system you live closest to which in our case would be the Alexander City School System. I would have an additional 22-mile drive roundtrip to take my child to Horseshoe Bend while I pass the Alexander City Schools heading to work.

Business Owner – Both my husband and I work in Alexander City. In fact, he is a business owner who owns property for his business within city limits. Can our children not even attend when we have a business in the city limits? We work and shop in Alexander City. Do we now need to stop supporting our community since our community is telling us that our kids can now not attend school without a price?

Alumni – As stated, we are both Benjamin Russell Alumni. There should be an omission or a reduction in tuition for Alumni that live within a certain distance to the city limit.

Lake Communities – I was told these lake communities such as Willow Point, Windermere and River Oaks have been annexed in. I know that means a more substantial property tax but these are also families that I would assume could afford to send their kids to school. Look how far Windermere is to the city limits.

Resident Verification – It is difficult to believe there are only 56 students attending Alexander City schools who live outside the district. What procedures are in place for verifying student’s residences? It seems a stricter verification process would alleviate more of the financial burden placed on the system than doubling the tuition.

Teachers – I know several teachers that live outside city limits and yet their children are able to attend Alexander City School System without having to pay tuition. I understand that it is one of the perks to teach in the school system yet it costs the school system money for their children.

Exceptions – I know of a family who lives outside the city limits that refused to pay the tuition and yet their child goes to Alexander City schools. If there are going to be exceptions for some, then there should be exceptions for others.

We want a good education for our kids and we would like them to have an opportunity to attend the school we did. Unfortunately, we are just middle-income folks and cannot afford to pay $4,500 a year for our two children to attend the Alexander City School System. We were willing to pay the $1,000 per household. I think it is just really unfair and the school system is abolishing some really good children.

M. Brown, Kellyton