Districts getting tuition rebate Health care costs the only major issue left in talks with teachers. Wednesday, February 28, 2007 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | Districts sending students to Phillipsburg High School will see a collective $3.9 million discount on tuition next year. District business administrator Bill Poch said it's the result of Phillipsburg overcharging its sending districts for tuition. About 800 students from Alpha, Bloomsburg, Greenwich, Lopatcong and Pohatcong are sent to Phillipsburg for secondary education. Phillipsburg estimates the cost of educating those students and must adjust that estimate every three years. Poch said the district has to discount for the 2004-05 school year. "It's considerable," Poch said. For example, Alpha sends 98 students to Phillipsburg. Tuition for a high school student will be $10,809 next year, which equals a total Alpha tuition of $1,059,282. Because Phillipsburg needs to adjust for an overcharge in 2004-05, Alpha will only pay $476,633 total.Poch said the total rebate or discount across the five sending districts is $3.9 million. The tuition can be overcharged because the district has to estimate the cost of tuition. The district is not allowed to factor state aid figures into that estimate. The board approved the tuition rates for the 2007-08 year Monday night. The new figures represent a 2 percent increase over 2006-07 school year. Poch said the board typically had a 3 percent increase, but they want to lessen the impact of the rebates. Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com. © 2007 The Express-Times. Used by NJ.com with permission.