Managing editor
Despite cuts in state funding, lower enrollment, and a reduction of teachers and aides, Marion USD 408 continues to excel, Superintendent Lee Leiker said Friday at the monthly chamber of commerce luncheon.
“We’re an excelling school district, maximizing tax dollars available to us,” he said.
Despite reduction in state funding which led to budget cuts, the district was able to maintain all academic programs.
“We’re one of a few districts in the county not cutting programs,” Leiker said.
In fact, the district added two classes — construction technology and online computer application.
All of the college classes offered to high school students were maintained.
Meeting Standards of Excellence on the state assessment tests is another tool Leiker said the district uses to measure success.
In 2008, that standard was met in math and reading by third through eighth-grade students. It was also met in science by the fourth grade. Leiker explained that science isn’t tested every year like math and reading — it is tested every other year. It is not tested in high school.
“Overall, we’ve scored more standards in excellence building-wide than other districts in the county,” he said.
State funding
The general fund is established by the number of students in the district — the actual head-count plus the weighted enrollment. Those numbers are projected until the actual audit is conducted by the state.
Enrollment has been decreasing since 2004-05. That year, there were 641 students. Each subsequent year, enrollment has decreased — 631 in 2005-06, 624 in 2006-07, 590 in 2007-08, 597 in 2008-09, 579 in 2009-10, and 570 students this year.
This year, the sophomore class has the highest enrollment of 65 students. The smallest high school class is the junior class with 41.
Seventh-graders outnumber eighth-graders, 45 and 29. The eighth-grade class is the smallest class in the district.
At Marion Elementary School, the sixth-grade class has 49 students — the most in the school. The smallest class is third grade with 32 students.
Leiker explained the school district could count students that fall in various categories including vocational, at-risk, non-proficient students, transportation, and special education. The total enrollment for all students — including weighted — is 1,068.5.
With that number, the state determines the amount of funding the district will receive. For each student, the district receives base state aid of $4,012 per pupil for a total of $4,286,822 this year.
From that influx of funding, the district determines its budget.
“Enrollment has been declining and we’ve been anticipating the decrease,” Leiker said, and enrollment will continue to decrease each year.
Base state aid also has fluctuated as the state’s economy has declined.
In 2007-08, the district received the highest aid per pupil of $4,400. The lowest was last year at $4,012 per student, causing USD 408 and other districts in the county to tighten budgets.
Another funding option is a local option budget where local taxes can be increased. Also known as the supplemental general fund, the maximum USD 408 could collect in 2010-11 would be $1,478,064. However, the district is only receiving $1,020,000, Leiker said.
“We want to be fiscally responsible and not raise it any more than necessary,” Leiker said.
Reduction in staff
With the decrease in state funding, Marion school board was faced with the difficult decision of down-sizing certified and classified staff — certified staff are those positions that require certification, classified positions do not.
From 2004 to 2010, Leiker said certified employees have decreased from 52 to 46; classified decreased from 28 to 25.
“As a result, many people (employees) are being asked to do more,” Leiker said, “and they’re willing to do it.”
Moving in the right direction
Since Marion High School has changed from a block schedule to a daily schedule, Leiker said students have more time in classes and the district should see an improvement in overall performance.
ACT scores continue to be a concern, Leiker said, and the district is looking at ways to improve those scores.
“Kids are going to do only as well as they are prepared,” he said. Like a business, Leiker said the district was looking at weaknesses to determine what needs to be done to improve.
He further explained that ACT scores used by the state are the most recent scores taken by seniors. Colleges use the highest scores, Leiker said.