The joint Ypsilanti-Willow Run Board of Education voted unanimously on Monday to make the new Ypsilanti Community Schools consolidated district school of choice.
"Both Ypsilanti and Willow Run were school of choice and I think this is keeping with our vision," said David Bates, the board's president.
This decision came less than a week after the Ann Arbor Board of Education voted to open 195 seats to out-of-district students. Unlike Ann Arbor's new policy, neither Ypsilanti nor Willow Run capped the number of available seats to out-of-district students.
"The key will be now determining how many spaces will be available," said Scott Menzel, superintendent of Washtenaw Intermediate School District, which has been assisting in the consolidation of the two districts.
Menzel said availability needs to be evaluated at each of the new district's buildings. At the high school and middle school levels, availability will be determined by the number of small learning communities the district establishes.
Current Ypsilanti School District Superintendent Dedrick Martin said he supported the initiative to make the consolidated district school of choice.
"It gives kids more options to choose from," he said. "The new district desires to be a first choice district."
In the past, school of choice and charter schools have led to a net loss of enrolled students at both districts. In fall 2010, Willow Run lost 1,164 students, 42 percent of its student population. Of those students, 718 opted for Ypsilanti, which had a net loss of 642 students, roughly 15 percent of its student population.