Caledonia Argus

Declining enrollment concerns school officials

Posted: 9/24/02

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

The pitfalls of declining school enrollment and the subsequent decline in state funding was the focus of the ISD #299 school board meeting on Monday, September 23.

ìDeclining enrollment can really ravage a school district,î said district superintendent Tool. ìA decrease in students means less money.î

ISD #299 currently has a total of 969 students. It is projected that this figure will drop to roughly 800 in the next five years. Since state funding is directly proportional to the number of students enrolled in the district, said Tool, the school district will undoubtedly need financial help from a source other than the state.

The logical source of funding, then, is the operating levy, which will be voted on by the general public on December 17. Ratification of the operating levy, Tool said, will produce funds that can be used for items such as curriculum development, staff development, custodial staff, and a district reserve fund.

Curriculum development, said Tool, is essential to maintaining the schools. Curriculum development includes things like updated textbooks, software, and media materials.

ìYou need to have updated textbooks and instructional materials,î Tool said. ìYou need to take care of that even before adding additional staffing.î

Curriculum development, staff development, and other items slated to receive funding are necessary for maintaining the schools in the district. And since declining enrollment will decrease district funds, ratification of the levy is necessary to meet these needs.

The school board will decide in the next few weeks on the dollar amount of the operating levy.

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