Schools suffer from declining enrollment
District could lose more than $500,000 in three years
Staff writer
Unless there's some unforeseen change that brings significant numbers of new students into Marion-Florence USD 408, the district could potentially lose more than $500,000 in budget authority within the next three years.
Martin Tice, business manager, told school board members Monday this potential loss is not based on state cost cutting, but rather on declining enrollment. The State of Kansas funds school districts on a per pupil basis. So basically, the fewer pupils a district has, the less state aid a district receives.
Due to declining enrollment, Tice said the district already faced an un-audited, projected loss of $60,000 in budget authority from what board members approved in July 2002. Tice said his projections were based on having a steady kindergarten enrollment of 40 or 45 within the next three years.
"These projections are based on having the base per pupil staying the same," Tice explained. "Our loss in enrollment is finally catching up with us, like it has for many other districts."
Superintendent Gerry Henderson added, "We're graduating classes of 60, but bringing in classes of 40."
Projected kindergarten enrollment figures are determined through various means including examining live birth records and numbers of students attending preschools and daycare centers.
Although enrollment determines the amount of state aid a school district receives, a district also can receive additional funding by taxing its patrons through the local option budget (LOB).
"Obviously, you will be receiving less money in state aid, but you still have LOB authority left, which means raising taxes," Tice said. "Not a pleasant thought.
"The Legislature is looking to pass that obligation to the local level," he added. "You still have one opportunity to make the levy flat."
Henderson suggested the board plan a retreat where the issues could be talked about further.
State funding
Of more immediate concern however, is current cuts in state aid based on the funding shortfall. Tice noted the district already took a $27 cut per pupil when the base state aid was cut from $3,890 to $3,863.
Although new Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has said she will not cut education funding in terms of the base per pupil, other cuts are being proposed, Tice said.
For the remaining 2002-03 school year, inservice state aid, which provides for a 35 percent proration, will be reduced by $2,000,000. That was originally estimated at a 40 percent proration. Special education will be funded at 85 percent of excess cost or $19,485 per teacher, and supplemental general state aid (LOB) will be fully funded.
However, state funding for the 2003-04 school year will be less, even if the base per pupil remains the same at $3,863, Tice said.
Inservice education aid will be eliminated. Special education will be funded at 83.9 percent of excess cost, and incorporated into the general fund with weightings for severely handicapped students, other students with individual education plans including gifted, infants, and toddlers. Also transportation and catastrophic formulas were incorporated into the weighting, eliminating them as separate distribution calculations, Tice reported.
"You can say you're not touching education (funding)," Tice said, speaking of the governor's plan. "But you've cut education in a different form. Just because it didn't cut the base, doesn't mean education wasn't cut."
With the combined effects of state budget cuts plus loss of budget authority due to declining enrollment, the board may have to begin making some tough decisions in the future.
New league
The board approved an invitation to Marion High School to join the Mid-Central Activity Association League. The district will formally join the league during the 2004-05 school year, Henderson reported.
In response to a question from board member Susan Robson who questioned whether the league would be divided into divisions, Henderson said that would occur and Marion representatives would be involved in the discussion.
He noted that although the district still would be tied to the Cottonwood Valley League next year, USD 408 would begin scheduling open games with schools in the new league. Henderson also noted that the middle school also would be receiving an invitation to join the league.
The board:
— Approved the Science Curriculum Guide.
The science curriculum for students in kindergarten through the fifth grade has very few changes; however, many were made in the sixth to 12th grade curriculum, and the new guide was cross-referenced with state science standards.
— Congratulated Henderson for receiving the celebration of excellence award from United School Administrators.
— Heard the district school improvement team planned to offer a proposal that would allow students the opportunity to obtain the required 1/2 credit of oral communication (graduation requirement) by taking speech, forensics, or debate instead of just speech.
— Approved a vocational education cooperating agreement with the Newton school district. Officials noted it was less expensive to send students interested in vo-ed classes to Newton than it was to try and offer a program locally. Classes offered include machine shop, building trades, welding, and automotive. Approximately five MHS students took advantage of the classes this year.
— Met in several executive discussions to discuss personnel and principal contracts. No action was taken in regular session.
