The Marion School Committee again voted not to participate in school choice on April 1, saying a new housing development might bring an influx of students.

The state program allows out of district students to attend a school if it is participating in school choice. Schools advertise openings and select students by lottery. For each student that attends, the district is paid $5,000 by the student’s former school.

Superintendent Doug White said it's hard to say how a new large housing development will affect Marion’s local student population once it is completed.

“We want to maintain who we are and what we’re doing,” White said. “There’s uncertainty with a new development in the community and what that might do to our enrollment.”

The deadline to vote on school choice is June 1.

Committee members briefly considered taking more time to think about school choice before voting. A public hearing was held at the start of the meeting. With no members from the public advocating for or against school choice, the board decided to vote.