King Can Now Sign Off on CCSD Transfers

RISON - Superintendent Davy King can now sign off on School Choice transfers without having to call a special school board after the Cleveland County School Board approved a resolution Monday night giving him that authority.That one was one of several items addressed on an lengthy agenda at the Cleveland County School Board’s regular monthly meeting Monday night.Under the state’s revised School Choice Act guidelines, parents/guardians can now request a School Choice transfer anytime between Jan. 1 and May 1, and the receiving school district must answer that request within 15 days of receiving it as to whether they wish to start attending school immediately or wait until the start of the next school year. Failure to respond in 10 school days nullifies the request.Currently, the school board is required to approve those requests. However, King pointed out that means he would have to call a special school board meeting should the 15-day window not fall within a regular school board meeting date. King noted that school boards can pass a resolution giving the authority to approve School Choice transfers to the superintendent. The Cleveland County School Board approved such a resolution Monday night.Under the resolution, the superintendent can only approve a transfer but can not deny it. King said denials of any School Choice requests will be brought to the school board, and he will keep the board updated on how many transfers have been accepted.The only circumstances that a receiving school district can deny a School Choice transfer is if the additional student would require the district to hire additional staff to stay within the state-mandated student-to-teacher ratios, or if there is not enough space to accommodate the transfer student. In a related matter, the school board did approve three School Choice transfers during its meeting Monday night. King said those requests were for two kindergarten students from the P...