By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Head Start approvals, immunization deadlines, schools of choice and tuition rates are among the topics that will be discussed at tonight's Niles Community Schools Board of Education meeting.
The Head Start program requires the Board to approve a variety of documents related to the program.
"There's a lot that goes into it and the Feds will be coming for a week-long monitor of the program," Niles Superintendent Doug Law said Friday morning.
Law also stated that it's important for parents to understand that their children have to have their immunizations before they start school, otherwise they cannot attend until they have them. The first day of school is Tuesday, Sept. 4, which is also the deadline for students to comply with the immunization regulations. Students must have completed, or be in the process of completing, all immunizations required by law before the deadline.
The administration will once again recommend that Niles participates in the Schools of Choice plan, which allows nonresident students who reside in the Berrien County Intermediate School District to attend a school of their choice.
Law said students will have to pay tuition if they do not live within the school district, but that it gives them an opportunity to attend Niles if they wish.
Also, the Public Act 56 Resolution, a formal agreement between all Berrien County school districts for sharing students in Career Technical Education programs, expires at the end of the 2007-2008 school year. The agreement has been reviewed for another 15-year term. This allows students from other schools to attend classes at other schools in the district that offer specific classes they are interested in.
"Niles sees the majority of these students because we offer such a large number of classes," Law said.
During the closed meeting motion, a negotiation with the bus drivers will be discussed, as the contracts expired on July 1.
The Board of Education meeting will take place at the Westside Administration office at 7 p.m.