Drop in Enrollment Means Less Money for Whitko Schools
Posted
Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
PIERCETON – Whitko schools saw a decrease in enrollment of 84.5 students from the 2010 count day to this year’s count day.
Kindergartners count as a half student.
That will result in $440,000 less to Whitko schools in 2012 than the corporation will receive this year.
“We have a significant cash balance to absorb it,” said Whitko Director of Financial Operations Tom McFarland. “We still haven’t used the Jobs Bill yet either.”
McFarland said expenses will exceed revenue by roughly $400,000.
Superintendent Steve Clason went over some numbers for Measures of Academic Progress testing from the Northwest Evaluation Association.
The testing is designed to chart student growth in different areas.
Clason said that for the most part, in elementary and middle school grades, students are at or above national averages.
Clason did point out a couple of grades that weren’t progressing year-to-year.
The 2012 budget was adopted during Monday night’s meeting.
Bruce Hansen, principal of South Whitley Elementary School, introduced third-grade students from the school who recently completed a swim program through the YMCA.
Combined, SWES and Pierceton Elementary School had more than 98 percent participation rate for parents during parent-teacher conferences. That included meetings set up for parents who couldn’t attend the scheduled conferences.
The board’s next meeting will be Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
The board meets at the administration building in Pierceton.
