10/08/2006

Student numbers are on the decline

By
Record-Eagle staff writer

TRAVERSE CITY — Student enrollment declined in many northern Michigan schools, recent student counts show, but numbers were higher than expected in some districts.

An unaudited head count taken Sept. 27 tallied 10,734 students in Traverse City Area Public Schools, or 12 more than the district predicted. That will net the region's largest district about $85,000 more state aid than it budgeted for, based on the $7,085 per-student foundation grant it's slated to receive during the 2007 fiscal year.

But TCAPS enrollment was down 70 students from last September, a drop administrators anticipated when they developed a conservative budget.

The story is similar throughout the region, at places such as Leland Public Schools, where administrators fret over falling student numbers and rocky financial projections.

"Leelanau County is getting grayer and property values are quite high," Superintendent Michael Hartigan said.

Leland Public Schools showed a slight increase in enrollment with a blended count of 492 students, up two from last year and bucked a trend among Leelanau County's small school systems. The district will receive $8,113 per student in 2007 and based this year's budget on enrollment of 470 students.

Hartigan credited Leland's solid educational reputation, but said projections show declining enrollment throughout the county in coming years.

Chris Davis, TCAPS human resources director, examines data like the area's birth rates and previous years' student counts to accurately project enrollment.

"There weren't any big surprises," she said. "We're very pleased about that."

The Sept. 27 student count comprises 75 percent of the "blended count" on which the state bases per-pupil funding. The final figure combines the number of students in class on the fourth Wednesday of September with an enrollment count taken the previous February, which makes up the other 25 percent.

TCAPS graduated 1,042 students last year and brought in 771 new kindergartners, but enrollment growth in the seventh, ninth and 10th grades made up part of that difference. The district's kindergarten enrollment as a percentage of Grand Traverse County births also increased 6 percent to 83 percent this year.

Leelanau County's Northport Public Schools counted 153 students, 13 fewer than last year. As an out-of-formula district, Northport's funding is not tied directly to enrollment and instead relies primarily on local non-homestead property tax revenues.

But Superintendent Ty Wessell said the numbers are still significant, with this year' senior class totaling 21 students.

"You can certainly see a trend," Wessell said. "We expect the numbers to go down again next year."

In Kingsley Area Schools, this year's blended count of 1,496 is down six students from last year. But Superintendent Lynn Gullekson said birth-rate projections suggest the district will need to expand its already crowded facilities to accommodate moderate enrollment growth. The district is in the midst of master planning for the future.

"We still see a need to start small with the ability to add on," Gullekson said of the Grand Traverse County district.

Forest Area Community Schools, based in Fife Lake in Grand Traverse County, counted 875 students, three fewer than last year and in line with the district's predictions.

"We're pretty steady," said Superintendent Matthew Cairy. "We've had slow growth since 2003."

Manistee Area Public Schools Superintendent Robert Olsen said the district tallied 1,743 students on count day — fewer than last year, but more than expected.

Most northern Michigan districts — like Manistee, Forest Area and Kingsley — receive the state's minimum foundation grant of $7,085 per student.

"We've seen a slight decline in enrollment over the course of time, but what we're finding over time is that we have bubbles," Olsen said. "The bottom line is we still have to make guesses."