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Possible Tolland student to apply to Westfield Technical Academy; tuition ~ $21,000
Summary
An email informed the Board that an 8th‑grade student may apply to Westfield Technical Academy; if accepted, Tolland would pay about $21,000 tuition and transportation costs remain a regional budget item. A drop in the town’s required local contribution could offset the cost.
An email to the Board of Selectmen reported that an eighth‑grade student from Tolland may apply to Westfield Technical Academy next year; the Southwick‑Tolland‑Granville Regional School District (STGRSD) said it will know whether the student is accepted later and will confirm next year’s tuition rate in late April.
The minutes record tuition at Westfield Technical Academy as about $21,000 for the current year; towns directly pay tuition for vocational students who attend either Westfield Technical Academy or Smith Vocational. Transportation for vocational buses is currently assessed within the regional school budget and the region would assess Tolland for its portion of the bus route per the Regional Agreement.
Town staff also noted Tolland’s required minimum local contribution to the school district will decrease by $27,459 next year, which the minutes say would make the net fiscal effect of one tuitioned vocational student essentially cost‑neutral for the town.
Why it matters: vocational placements can create multi‑thousand‑dollar tuition obligations for small towns; the minutes indicate the town’s reduced contribution may offset that cost but final tuition and acceptance are pending.
Next steps: STGRSD will confirm acceptance and next year’s tuition rate in late April; the town will pay tuition directly if the student is accepted.
