Open Enrollment Ends March 1st!

          Open enrollment ends March 1^st. I’m not going to go into all the reasons why you should open enroll your children out of Valley if you’re able to right now, but if you’re on the fence about it, I highly recommend that you fill out the forms and submit them before the March 1^st deadline. This allows you the option of having your children go elsewhere if you want at a later time. Since so few details have been worked out between North Fayette and Valley at this point, there may be something that you don’t like happen after March 1^st, and if you haven’t submitted an open enrollment application, it’ll be too late to switch. You’ll be stuck at Valley for at least a year. On the other hand, if North and Valley hammer out an agreement that you like, you can always choose to keep your kids at Valley. Just because you file the open enrollment papers doesn’t mean that you HAVE to open enroll them elsewhere. It just opens the door for you and gives you the option should you feel the need arise. I personally think it sends a strong message to the school board and administrators and puts them on notice that they better do what’s in the best interest of your child or else you’re leaving, and taking your tax dollars as well.

            For those who are low income, there is transportation assistance available. Check the appropriate box and send in proof of your income. Generally, if you receive free or reduced lunch, you should qualify for this assistance. Make sure to fill the forms out completely. Make sure you fill out a form for EACH child. You must file the forms with both schools, the one you’re leaving (sending district) and the one you are considering sending your child to (receiving district). You may also choose more than one receiving district and choose which school you want to send your child to later. Currently, my wife and I are considering Central and Starmont for our children. Both are really good schools. Starmont has about 650 students and is about the same distance away as Valley is from us. Central has about 450 students and is about a mile further away than West Union from us. Valley currently has about 440 students and North is in the 800 student range. Our middle and high school kids will be in class sizes approximately the size of those found in the Oelwein School district, which currently has about 1280 students. This is one of the reasons that I’m not in favor of this WGS and eventual consolidation plan.

            Below you will find a link to the open enrollment form that you’ll need to fill out and submit for each of your students. Remember, March 1^st is the deadline. After that, you cannot open enroll out for the next school year. I highly recommend that if you have any doubt – fill out the forms and leave yourself some options. A lot of details have yet to be worked out over this new arrangement. You might not like some of the details and you might just have to live with it if you don’t take this opportunity now.

Click Here for the Open Enrollment Form (You need Adobe Acrobat to open this file)

(If the above file is buggy, try opening it in Firefox. The file is the same one that is found on the Iowa Department of Education website, and has been buggy for me in IE, but works fine in Firefox)