District 197 Chalk Talk: Enrollment Bump Means More Revenue

The has experienced a “substantial increase” in enrollment, according to Director of Finance Brian Schultz.

Schultz presented the findings to the school board Nov. 7 at their meeting at .

The district had projected an increase of 26 students for the year when calculating its budget. However, a count of students the first week of October indicated an increase of 142 students. Most of that growth, 94 students, was absorbed by the elementary schools.

Along with additional pupils comes revenue for the district. The state provides funding based on enrollment numbers monitored throughout the year. While Schultz said those numbers are likely to drop slightly by the end of the year, the projected additional revenue could be as high as $500,000-$600,000.

That revenue will be tempered by the additional teachers and supplied required to absorb all the students at the start of the year. For example, an additional section of kindergarten needed to be added to Moreland Elementary.

• Interim superintendent Tom Nelson encouraged residents to get out to vote today. He complemented the candidates for running, and the assistant to the superintendent for her work as the election clerk, managing almost 200 absentee voting applications, he said. He also thanked the volunteer . “It’s more energy than I’ve ever seen in a citizen’s group before,” said Nelson.

•  Board member Mark Spurr gave an update on the . He said the group has broken into three subcommittees examining ways to improve or maintain education while reducing costs within three years. The subcommittees are now examining personalizing education, diversifying the district’s portfolio of offerings to attract new “business” and reducing costs and increasing revenues. Spurr said the groups are now putting dollar figures to ideas.

•  The two schools operated by the will remain open with a new funding structure, according to board member Cristina Gillette. Integration funding was cut in the last legislative session, forcing the EMID to consider closing its schools.

• Principal Chris Hiti of Heritage Middle School introduced a presentation by students and teachers to show how are being used to enhance learning. Students presented how they use apps and software such as Garage Band in their class studies. Board members were provided iPads for a demonstration.

• The board continued a discussion of its fund balance policy, and provided language to put more teeth and direction into restoring its savings.