Lee to accept MCLB students

LEESBURG, Ga. — The Lee County Board of Education unanimously approved an admissions policy change Monday that will allow children of active-duty service personnel living aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany to attend the system’s schools.

The proposed policy change reads as follows: “Children of active military personnel living on the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia, will be allowed to attend school in Lee County on a space-available basis by paying tuition to be set and determined by the board. Available space will be distributed in accordance with the order of the applications submitted.”

Officials say the change allows the school system to accept MCLB-Albany’s K-12 children for an annual tuition fee of $1,504.50 each. The families who opt to send their children to Lee County will provide their own transportation.

Officials with the base say there are more than 100 school-aged children currently living aboard MCLB-Albany. They are zoned to attend three Dougherty County School System schools: Radium Springs Elementary School, Dougherty Middle School and Dougherty High School.

At a maximum, Lee County would be able to accept all of the students living on base, said Superintendent Larry Walters.

There are currently more than 40 of the base’s children attending Worth County Schools with no tuition charged.

Officials don’t expect much movement between the school districts this year. Should any MCLB parents decide to move his or her children into Lee County, state average full-time equivalency money, $4,290.14 per child, would follow the student.

Also on the board’s agenda Monday evening was the setting of a tentative millage rate. The board has, for the time being, decided to favor the same rate that has been in place: 15 mills for maintenance and operations, and .4 mills for bonds.

The board is expected to call a special meeting for Sept. 27 to decide on a final millage rate before it is taken to the Lee County Commission that same evening.