In case you missed the article in The Oxford Leader this week!
Investing Wisely: How Student Enrollment Strengthens Oxford Schools
As your Superintendent, I believe in being a good steward of both our children’s futures and your hard-earned tax dollars. I am often asked how our district manages the funding for the Oxford Virtual Academy (OVA) and our shared-time programs as well as Schools of Choice students. In a community that values fiscal responsibility, it is important to understand that, in addition to being educational options, these programs are strategic investments that benefit every single student in Oxford.
Understanding the "Per-Pupil" Advantage
In Michigan, school funding follows the student. For every student enrolled with us, regardless of whether they live in Oxford, the district receives a dedicated per-pupil foundation allowance from the state. Whether a student is learning at a desk in one of our buildings or through a virtual platform, they are part of our official "student membership count." This is a win-win for our community:
● Reinvesting in the Classroom: The additional revenue generated by these programs allows us to reinvest resources directly back into our traditional, seated classrooms.
● Expanded Opportunities: Because of this funding model, we can offer a wider array of electives, extracurriculars, and advanced programs that would otherwise be financially out of reach.
● Efficiency: We are maximizing district resources without significantly increasing brick-and-mortar costs, since most fixed costs are already in place. These students help maintain full class sections and balanced staffing, while helping us avoid reductions in class sections and academic programs.
Schools of Choice: Keeping Your Taxes Local
There is a common misconception that "Schools of Choice" (allowing students from outside our district to attend Oxford) places a burden on local taxpayers. In reality, the opposite is true.
The 6-mill State Education Tax (SET) you pay on your home is sent to Lansing, combined with similar revenue from across the state, then redistributed by student enrollment. This means the money follows the student to the district they attend, rather than returning to the district where it was collected.
A Strategic Financial Boost: When a student from another area chooses Oxford, they bring their state funding of $10,050 with them. This is new revenue for our schools, money we wouldn’t receive otherwise, and it comes without significantly increasing our costs. This ensures that our local resources go even further for every student.
By welcoming these students, we ensure that a larger share of those statewide tax dollars returns to, and stays in, our local community. It allows us to strengthen our programs while making the most of the tax dollars you already pay.
Building for the Future: Your Voice Matters
Fiscal responsibility also means maintaining our assets with a long-term vision. Throughout this 2025-2026 school year, we have been developing a unified set of District Facility Standards. Our goal is to ensure that every facility provides a high-quality, sustainable, and equitable learning environment.
Because these schools belong to you, the taxpayers and residents, your input is vital. We want to ensure our facilities reflect the standards and values of the Oxford community.
Share Your Feedback: Please take a moment to review the OCS Facility Standards and provide your input using this link: https://tinyurl.com/5xr5m2u8 or QR code by May 11.
Thank you for your continued support and for partnering with us to keep Oxford Community Schools a leader in both educational excellence and fiscal integrity. If you would like to receive emailed updates from the district, you can sign up here: https://oxfordschools.org/updates.