School district student count mixed

Student enrollment slipped at Brandon Schools while Goodrich Schools inched higher following a student count on Wednesday.
Changes in enrollment means more or less money for the schools, which receive per-pupil funding of $6,875 per student. In the Fall 2005 count both districts posted 3 percent increases with 66 additional students at Goodrich and 59 additional students at Brandon.
‘Our growth was flat,? said Tom Miller, Brandon superintendent.
In the Brandon School District, Harvey-Swanson and Bell Ann elementary schools combined for 26 more students while the High School and Alternative schools decreased by 30. In the Goodrich District both Reid and Oaktree elementary schools combined for 10 additional students.
The money is dispensed by means of a blended count.
A blended count works by taking two counts of students, one in September and another in February of the next year. Funds decided based on a 75-25 percent formula, with 75 percent of the next school year’s money coming in based on the September count, and the remainder based upon the count done in February.
‘It’s just a funding formula,? said Genesee Intermediate School District superintendent Thomas Svitkovich.
‘The count (that took place on Feb. 8) will affect next year’s funding,? said Svitkovich. ‘It is distributed in monthly state aid payments throughout the following year.?