9/25/13 - The elimination of Brighton Area Schools' legacy deficit this year is looking much more likely after a recent Board of Education meeting. Figures were presented indicating that enrollment through the Shared Services program set a new record - which means more revenue for Brighton. The program is now in its third year and allows private and parochial schools that don't offer a particular non-core curriculum class to offer the course to its students. Schools in Oakland, Wayne, Washtenaw and Ingham Counties have signed on - resulting in 906 more students enrolled this year. With the return of students from last year, there are roughly 6,000 students now taking at least one class through Brighton Area Schools. Superintendent Greg Gray tells WHMI that translates into gross revenues of about $10 million in state per-pupil aid, and after expenses associated with the program have been deducted, about $6 million in net revenue for the district. Gray says another important program - Schools of Choice â is also a big revenue producer for Brighton and this fall, attracted the most students ever at 627 in the unofficial count, which amounts to over $4 million in revenue. Gray adds that the Brighton Virtual Academy, an online program begun just last year, has 16 students enrolled this fall, marking a three-fold increase. As a result of the revenue-producing initiatives, Gray is optimistic that Brighton will be able to erase its $8 million legacy deficit by the end of the fiscal year next June. (JK)
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