Enrollment down 100

Lower student count meets expectations, officials say

BY DANIEL REGIANI
Special to The Clarkston News
The school district’s preliminary student count is down 100 compared to last year. The decrease means about $751,100 less in state per-pupil funding, which was expected and budgeted, said Deputy Superintendent Shawn Ryan.
The decrease will be offset by state per-pupil funding increases of $120 this year. With about 8,000 students enrolled, the increase would add about $960,000. Last year’s per pupil allowance was $7,391. This year, the state provides $7,511 per student, he said.
Clarkston School Board President Steve Hyer said this year’s school budget is progressing and on track, and he expects future enrollment to increase, which will create a better outlook for the district.
“We will continue to monitor this closely as we go through our budget amendment process to be as accurate as possible with our projections,” Hyer said. “The board of education wants to prioritize funding to end up in the classroom and with the students as much as possible, and we have a very successful track record of doing that.”
Hyer and Ryan said the district is moving forward. In the last two years the district has added social workers, doubled elementary art and music, and expanded the elementary-level Spanish program.
“We are always looking for ways to stretch our dollars farther and implement programs that are good for our students and our community,” Hyer said.
The first of two count days this school year was on Oct. 5, in compliance of Michigan State law. State funding for school district academics and operating costs is based on how many students are enrolled and attending classes.
The next student count day will be in February.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.