The Board of Education on Monday decided not to accept any new choice students from Hartford into the local system.
The vote was unanimous and it was consistent with the board's intentions in recent history.
The state Department of Education has requested that Vernon take on 25 new students for the 2013-14 academic year, Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway said. There are 10 choice students in the system right now and half of them are seniors at Rockville High School, she said.
The state pays a fee for each student accepted. If a school system accepts choice students up to 2 percent of its population, it receives compensation of $3,000 per student. In the case of Vernon, that would be 69 students, Conway said.
If a system accepts 2 to 3 percent of its population, in Vernon's case 70 to 103 students, the compensation is $4,000 per student.
If a system accepts 3 percent or more of its population, in Vernon's case 104-plus students, the compensation is $6,000 per student.
Board of Education member David Kemp moved to deny the state's request. It was seconded by board member William Nicholson.
During the discussion, board member Michelle Arn said, "The money does not seem to begin to pay for the cost of the students."
