Enrollment falls short

Published 10:00 am Saturday, October 7, 2006

More than one month into the new year, there are fewer students attending Oak Harbor schools than had been anticipated.

An enrollment count taken Monday showed 5,388 full-time equivalent students were enrolled in Oak Harbor schools. That’s 112 students fewer than school officials projected in their 2006-2007 budget.

The count is important because the state’s education allocation is doled out based on enrollment numbers. The Oak Harbor School District receives $4,900 from the state per “full-time equivalent” in the school district.

Superintendent Rick Schulte said he didn’t know what caused the drop in enrollment this year. He said homes are being built on Whidbey Island but apparently those homes aren’t being filled by younger families.

He said a 50 student increase over last year was written into the budget that was approved in August.

“We expected an increase that didn’t materialize,” Schulte said. The school district saw a boost in students last year when the VQ-2 Navy squadron was transferred to the base.

To deal with the lost revenues, the school district is placing a hold on non-essential purchases. Officials are also reviewing current open positions in the school district and will hold off filling them.

Schulte said it’s difficult to make significant changes in the budget during the school year. Approximately 83 percent of the district’s budget is tied up in staff costs and those employees are contracted for the school year.

School officials have to look at supplies, materials and equipment purchases to make adjustments to the budget.

He added that the school district could look into the fund balance, however, it’s low and Schulte said he wouldn’t make that recommendation.

There are also several unknowns which could still impact the school district’s budget for better or worse. Schulte said the district doesn’t yet have an accurate Impact Aid forecast from the federal government, and that money could come in higher or lower than the $5.7 million the school district budgeted.

It’s better for the school district to make an accurate enrollment prediction. If it is higher than actual, then the school district runs into money problems.

If officials make a low enrollment prediction, then they are left scrambling to hire new employees.

“I’ve always strived to be as accurate as I can,” Schulte said.

The Oak Harbor School Board is expected to discuss the enrollment numbers during its Monday meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the district’s Administrative Service Center.

Coupeville School District came much closer to an accurate enrollment projection. Numbers there show 1,096.57 full-time equivalent students this year, just 2.5 students lower than the 1,099 estimated.

“We’re going to be in good shape,” said Janet Fisher, district business manager.

The Coupeville School District receives $4,722 from the state per FTE student in the district.