Certified enrollment numbers were good news for Paton-Churdan but not for the Greene County schools.
Paton-Churdan saw an increase in certified enrollment of 3.4 students, from 208.30 on the Oct. 1 ‘Count Day’ in 2017 to 211.70 in 2018. The certified enrollment represents the number of students who reside in the district, and it’s the number the state uses to compute per pupil funding.
There are 10 different sets of numbers on the certified enrollment report. For Paton-Churdan, the number of students open enrolled* to other districts decreased 5.7 students to 47.60. The number of students open enrolled into P-C increased nine students to 64.
The total number of students provided with instructional programs or services at Paton-Churdan is 228.1, an increase from 210 in 2017.
The Greene County district saw a decrease in certified enrollment of 29.47 students, from 1238.9 on Oct. 1, 2017, to 1209.43 in 2018. Superintendent Tim Christensen stressed that the certified enrollment is not affected by open enrollment. “It’s less bodies living in the Greene County school district,” he said.
There are 105.3 resident students who open enroll out to other districts, compared to 112.1 in 2017. There are 62 students open enrolled to Greene County from other districts, compared to 64 students a year ago.
The total number of students provided with instructional programs or services in the Greene County district is 1,166.13, down from 1,190.8 in 2017.
The decrease in Greene County’s certified enrollment could mean a decrease of about $180,000 in state funding. Christensen said the board will eventually look at early retirement. The percentage increase in funding from the state, and whether the state continues pay transportation equity, will also affect the budget. “There are a lot of factors. It’s too early to panic. The number is what it is,” Christensen said.
*The number includes students “tuitioned out” because the district cannot provide the special education program needed.
