South Carroll board backs policy that sales‑tax revenue should "follow the child" for virtual students

The South Carroll Special School District Board of Education voted Feb. 18 to support a proposal that sales‑tax revenue tied to virtual students be allocated to the students' home counties rather than to the district hosting the virtual program.

Director of Schools Dr. Lisa Norris told the board that she supports the idea that "the money should follow the child," and said the district will meet with counsel Davis Huss to better understand the fiscal implications. The board record shows 680 students currently enrolled in the district's virtual and Clarksburg School programs.

The agenda item cited a recently introduced bill by "Senators Stevens" that board members said targets the district by limiting whether virtual students may be counted for local sales‑tax compensation. The board passed a motion to support the principle that funds should follow the child's residence. Motion: Dr. Christy Blount; Second: Mr. Colton Moore. The motion is recorded as passing; the transcript does not provide a roll‑call tally.

Supporters on the board framed the vote as defending funding that follows students' county of residence; no formal legal opinion was presented at the meeting, and the board directed staff to seek counsel and fiscal clarification at an upcoming meeting with Davis Huss.

The board took no formal step at the meeting to change local policy or reallocate funds — the action recorded is the board's formal position supporting the allocation principle and seeking more information on the bill's fiscal effects.