By Katie Rogers, Truth Staff
krogers@etruth.com
The economic downturn in Elkhart County is lowering the enrollment rate in most area school districts, not to mention directly impacting how much funding those districts receive from the state.
Friday marked the Average Daily Membership (ADM) count day for schools across Indiana. School officials have until the end of the month to submit analyzed enrollment numbers to the Indiana State Department of Education.
Friday's numbers are preliminary, but the finalized ADM of any given district plugs directly into a state formula, which calculates that district's general fund, which pays employee salary and benefits.
The funding formula is complicated, but this main idea, at least, is simple: More students equal more money for instruction. The opposite, however, is also true. Daily reports of layoffs and plant closings locally have school officials blaming the economy for lower ADM numbers.
Fairfield Community Schools, the county's smallest district, posted 2,076 -- down about 10 students compared to last year's preliminary ADM count, said superintendent Thomas Tumey. It remains to be seen whether the shuttering of Flexsteel Industries in New Paris earlier this week will have further impact on student enrollment, but Tumey said economic changes have affected the budgeting process for a while.
"We have been hit," Tumey said, "but not as hard as other people. We saw this coming."
Tumey said funding cuts are absorbed by not replacing certain employees who retire or by hiring paraprofessionals instead of teachers.
Wa-Nee Community Schools is also experiencing "big time" loss due to the economy, said superintendent Joe Sabo. Nappanee and Wakarusa's proximity to faltering manufacturing plants of Monaco Coach, Terra Group and Newmar Corp. may have something to do with the slump.
"Fewer students to educate," Sabo said, "fewer dollars. Unfortunately, our costs don't go down."
Officials at Concord Community Schools sensed an impending slump and took a head count last spring. Budget authors "projected conservative enrollment numbers" for fall 2008 based on a noticeable decline in students, CCS assistant superintendent for business Larry Jackowiak said.
Numbers for CCS are down this year, Jackowiak added, but he couldn't say by how much. In any case, officials say district is in a growth phase, as students and teachers in 14 modular buildings await the completion of a new junior high.
"We need that extra space today," Jackowiak said. "We're still two years away from transitioning into a new building."
Elkhart Community Schools, the largest district in the county by far, has lost roughly 200 students from last year's ADM count day to this year's, said ECS assistant superintendent Thomas Neat. Because enrollment numbers are constantly monitored throughout the school year, Neat said the business office is "right on target" in working with enrollment reductions.
"This economic downturn didn't just happen with the summer announcements," Neat said. "This has been going on for quite a while."
Goshen Community Schools superintendent estimated a 35-student loss, but the number is only a 0.5 percent decrease from last year.
"It's less (of a loss) than I had projected earlier," Bruce Stahly said. "We've continued to enroll students. We've even enrolled students this week."
Two out of seven local school districts are experiencing growth -- Middlebury and Baugo Community schools are up 20 to 30 students each.
Based on the economy, "we're very thankful that we're even up,"said Jane Allen, director of curriculum instruction for MCS.
"We're really pleased the economy hasn't hurt that right now," she added, "even though it could've."
Baugo business manager Terry Hilyard said families enjoy living in a local district with higher test scores, a good reputation and "outstanding" facilities.
The numbers presented Friday are by no means concrete, officials warn.
"We still have to go through (these students) one by one," Stahly said.