Community educator warns School Committee expansion of school choice could strain resources

Cara Ripley, speaking as both a community member and an educator during the public-comment portion of the March 25 meeting, urged the Newburyport School Committee to carefully weigh the fiscal and operational consequences of expanding school choice.

Ripley told the committee that in Massachusetts the school-choice tuition cap is $5,000 per student but that the actual cost to educate many students is “significantly higher,” leaving local taxpayers to cover the difference. She highlighted that once the district accepts a school-choice student, the student typically has the right to remain through graduation, creating long-term enrollment commitments that can reduce flexibility if resident enrollment rises.

She raised specific capacity concerns: special education increments often do not fully cover service costs; students may enter with previously unidentified needs that increase caseloads; intervention groups have limited capacity and adding students can delay services for resident students; and some students require behavioral supports such as paraprofessionals. Ripley also warned that rival districts’ athletic opportunities can drive choice enrollment and create pressure on team sizes and playing time at the high school level.

Ripley noted there are "almost 200 students already choosing into Newburyport," and urged the committee to assess whether expanding choice is financially sustainable and whether it could limit flexibility to serve resident students.

The school-choice topic was also the subject of an information item earlier in the meeting when Assistant Superintendent Lisa Furlong and Finance Director Ethan Manning reviewed five-year choice trends and current enrollment breakdowns; the committee indicated seat-availability for next year will be discussed at the April 8 meeting.