Oxford Schools has about 20 full-time equivalent (FTE) students less than it did during the fall count, according to the Feb. 11 spring student count.
The unofficial spring FTE came in at 5488.53 students.
‘I think traditionally we have seen our (February) count a little bit less than our fall count,? said Oxford School’s Deputy Superintendent Tim Throne.
Associate Superintendent of Student Services, Denise Sweat agreed that it’s not uncommon.
‘Typically our numbers trend down slightly every February because of things like early graduation, student mobility (students moving out of the district), etc.,? Sweat said in an e-mail to Communication Coordinator Angela Thicke. ‘At this time we are hopeful that our overall fall FTE will exceed Fall of 2014’s FTE.?
Because spring count only accounts for 10 percent of the state officials formula to determine schools? enrollments and 90 percent comes from the fall count, Oxford’s Chief Financial Officer Pamela Anstey said the loss ‘doesn’t have a big impact? on the budget.
‘Especially only being 20 students,? she said.
Oxford currently receives a foundation allowance from the state of $7,251 per pupil, but Governor Rick Snyder is proposing to increase that amount by $75 more per pupil. However, with that proposal, Snyder is also recommending doing away with Student Performance funding and lowering the money received from ‘Best Practices? by $30. In order to receive ‘best practice? money, districts are required to meet seven out of nine criteria that the state has deemed as a ‘best practice.?
‘Most districts are very, very happy because they weren’t getting the performance bonus because they weren’t making the achievement strives they needed to, to get it,? Anstey said. ‘The $75 is good news to us, but it’s not going to be a positive because of the other changes they’re proposing.?
Oxford currently receives $100 per pupil for the Academic Performance and $50 per pupil for Best Practices. For Oxford this would mean a loss of $130 per pupil, but because of the $75 increase for foundation would equal a net loss of $55 per pupil ($130 – $75 = $55). The total loss would be approximately $304,205 ($55 x 5,531 estimated students for Fiscal Year 16 = $304,205).
However, Anstey did say the $304,205 loss and Snyder’s proposal is a ‘worst case scenario unless the Senate or House proposes otherwise.? She did note that she saw a document from the Senate recommending $40 per pupil for the Student Performance. ‘But I haven’t heard anything official on that,? she added.
Oxford has an approximate annual operating budget of $53.3 million with a projected fund balance of $5.8 million.
‘While every dollar is important,? said Deputy Tim Throne referring to the possible loss in revenue. ‘It’s not as concerning to me as other issues we have before us.?
‘Just from a broad perspective we’ve started a new strategic planning process, we’re going through a transition (with a new superintendent), we’re going to be negatively impacted with the state budget and we want to try and find a way to get our people raises next year,? Throne added. ‘Those are all huge components of things that we have to work out. It’s going to take some time, but we’ll get there.?