Amador County – Amador County Unified School District (ACUSD) officials said this week they will receive approximately $875,000 less in state funding for the next fiscal year because current school enrollment numbers are lower than projected. The 2010-11 Summary of Enrollment indicates 175 fewer students have enrolled in Amador County schools than the number projected by school officials last fiscal year. According to Barbara Murray, assistant superintendent of business for ACUSD, the State of California provides approximately $5000 per enrollee during the following fiscal year. Because 175 fewer students enrolled than projected, the district will be out approximately $875,000 in 2011-12. The total projected enrollment was 4,130 and actual enrollment is 3,955. The biggest difference is at Argonaut High School, where 48 fewer students enrolled, followed by a loss of 43 at Jackson Elementary, 42 at Amador High, 37 at Jackson Junior High, 26 at Ione Junior High and 20 at Independence High. With the exception of Jackson Elementary, elementary schools saw little change beyond a plus or minus ratio of 10 students.
Murray said the district did an informal survey last year to try and determine reasons for the declining enrollment numbers. “People just are not here anymore,” she said. “It’s a difficult time, and our survey indicated that families are leaving because there is no work and they are losing their homes.” She said that at the time of the survey, approximately 80 families with school-aged children had recently moved out of the county. “We have to start thinking about how we are going to tackle this problem, because this is money that is vitally important to our district,” she said. At a meeting in February, Superintendent Dick Glock said ACUSD has been reduced $14 million in revenue over a three year period. “There is no good outcome to actions we must take,” he said. “It’s become about financial survival, not about what’s good for kids and students.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Friday, 17 September 2010 06:20
Lower school enrollment means ACUSD will lose $875K
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