Posted: 11/28/06
School funding looks promising
But enrollment
continues to decline
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
There is good news and bad news when it comes to state funding for schools, and Caledoniaís school enrollment.
ISD #299 superintendent Michael Moriarty discussed both aspects in his report to board members at the November 20 meeting.
He started with what could be viewed as the bad part: declining enrollment. The district is losing 25-30 students a year, and that will continue for about three more years, Moriarty said.
ìThatís a lot of students to lose, and a lot of revenue,î he said.
But there was good news too. Moriarty said changes in the legislature brought about by the recent elections will mean the chances of inflationary increases for school funding are good.
Full funding for all-day, every-day kindergarten has a better possibility of passage too, Moriarty said. ìFor our district that would mean a lot,î he said. The district already offers all-day, every-day kindergarten, even though it is funded at .55. ìSince weíre already doing it, that would be a big bonus for us,î he said.
But that has to be balanced with an estimated $150,000-$180,000 loss of revenue from the declining enrollment, Moriarty said.
There will have to be staff reductions, Moriarty added. ISD # 299 currently has 64.34 full time equivalent certified staff; Moriarty would like it reduced to 61.5 for next year, although a fully-funded kindergarten could change that.
Some of the cuts could come at the middle and high school, which Moriarty said have been somewhat insulated from them. For example, this yearís fifth grade class of 43 students has three sections, but in sixth grade it will have two sections. Plus next yearís ninth grade class will be below 90 students, so the board will have to look at efficiencies and make it all even out, Moriarty said.
The ideal student-teacher ratio is 13:1 or slightly above, Moriarty said. When it gets to 12:1 or below, fund balances fall.
The district had an unreserved fund balance of $684,081 as of June 30, 2006, which is 9% of expenditures.
Test results discussed
In other business at the two-hour-long meeting, board members and administrators discussed recent MCA-II test score results. Board member Chuck Schulte asked how the district could increase math scores.
Middle school principal Brian Doty said that teachers have assessed students and have found those who are struggling. These students are getting extra help, he said.
Moriarty said that math scores have improved over past years. A new math curriculum at the elementary school that started last year will also help, both he and elementary principal Connie Hesse said.
This yearís fourth graders will be required to take algebra I in eighth grade, Moriarty added.
Board member Charlie Wray said there could be a progression away from social studies and the humanities for the students who are getting extra help in math. Schools have to do it, but itís not necessarily the right thing to do, he said.
Schulte reiterated his concern for middle school/high school math, and said he wants a written game plan to address it.
Moriarty said the district has one. ëThe quandary is how far to do you go,î he said. ìWeíre walking a pretty difficult balance bar.î
Board chairperson Mary Frank praised the work of a curriculum committee that has worked on textbook adoption and a focus on reading and math in the primary school. She thinks that will put Caledonia ahead of other districts. ìSo I think weíre moving in the right direction,î Frank said.
ìWeíll be in the right direction until the state turns the corner and goes another direction,î Moriarty said with a laugh.
Other business
ï Home of the Warriors: Schulte said he had received a complaint about the sign above the entrace to the middle/high school that says ìHome of the Warriors.î The person said that it pays too much credit to athletics. Schulte said the words have nothing to do with sports or athletics, and that students can be a Warrior for the arts.
ï Advertising and recognition: Board members had a first reading of definitions for the terms ìrecognitionî and ìadvertising.î
They came up with defining recognition as the act of recognizing an individual, a group, a business, or an athletic team by placing their
name only on a school board approved location on district property. Advertising was defined as a notice designed to advertise or call attention to for the purpose of increase sales.
Frank said there is a difference between recognition and advertising. She said she supports recognition but not advertising.
ï New board members: Michelle Werner and Matt Hendel, who will be joining the board in January, were at the meeting. They will replace Mary Frank and Chuck Schulte. Board member Barb Hurley was absent from the meeting, which was held in the elementary school media center.
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