The Sumner School District is projecting decreased student enrollment for the 2008-09 school year, and in turn must adjust its budget, according to the district’s communications director, Ann Cook.
There are 221 fewer students projected for the next school year, Cook said. Because the district is funded based on its enrollment numbers, there will be less money for the 2008-09 budget.
Though it’s still early in the process, the district is working with making adjustments to the expenditures budget in the amount of approximately $1.5 million, which reflects the reduction in revenue due to the lower anticipated enrollment, Cook said.
The end of this year’s legislative session turned up some changes in funding that also affect the budget, said Margo Stewart, executive director of business services with the Sumner School District. Promoting Academic Success (PAS), a program that helps fund instructional programs for students having trouble passing the WASL exam, was eliminated.
Funding elsewhere was increased, but it’s not enough to make up for the loss, Stewart said. Learning Assistance Program (LAP) funds also went up, but that program favors districts with a higher percentage of students using the free or reduced lunch program.
On average, 23 percent of Sumner School District students utilize the lunch program, and fewer are signing up, Cook said. One reason could be that low-income families are leaving the district and moving to more affordable areas.
The housing slump also contributes to decreased enrollment numbers, Cook said. Construction of nearby housing developments has slowed, and larger developments such as Cascadia and Falling Water are still in the works.
“That’s a temporary situation,” Cook said.
The district isn’t expecting enrollment to increase dramatically until 2013, when construction of those developments is complete and families begin to move in, she said.
Calculations that determine enrollment include accounting for students who move up a grade, as well as adjusting for a calculable drop-off between 10th and 11th grade as well as between 11th and 12th grade, Cook said. That’s a time when a number of students drop out of school or choose to enroll in alternative programs.
To adjust for the lower enrollment, the district is identifying ways to be more efficient, such as eliminating unnecessary positions and moving staff around, Stewart said. No lay-offs are projected because annual retirements and other departures often account for the elimination of some positions.
“It’s going to be fine here,” she said.
Students will see the same programs, activities and supplies that are currently offered, Stewart said. However, user fees for facilities such as Sunset Chev Stadium may be increased and fees for other services and programs may be instituted. Because the district doesn’t have many ways to increase its revenue, aside from enrolling more students, increasing or adding fees can help.
“We’re going to be as efficient as we can,” Cook said. “We’re just like any business.”
The budget for the 2007-08 school year was a conservative $71.9 million, also due to decreased enrollment.
District officials are early in the budget process for the 2008-09 school year and will have more information available by May. The Sumner School Board will vote on the 2008-09 budget in August.
“It’s early,” Cook said. “I think we’ll have a much better picture in April or May.”
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