Nearly all local districts lose state aid

generalaid-webDeclining enrollment, increased property values cited

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

While eight of 11 Western Kenosha County school districts expect to receive less state aid this year, four of them will experience a drop of 10 percent or more, according to data released last week by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

The DPI, as mandated by state statute, reported a $4.6 billion in appropriated state aid will be distributed during the 2016-17 school year, an uptick of $108 million from last year.

The actual aid to be distributed for 2016-17 is an increase of $122.3 million from the previous year, due to changes in funding mechanisms at Independent Charter Schools and voucher school programs in Milwaukee.

But, the increase applied only to three districts in Western Kenosha County: Bristol Consolidated, Westosha Central High School and Wheatland Center School.

The others, however, will receive less in state aid, including Brighton School, Paris Consolidated, Randall Consolidated, Salem Grade School, Riverview, Trevor-Wilmot Consolidated, Lakewood School and Wilmot Union High School.

Suffering the most substantial losses of 10 percent or more were Brighton, Paris, Trevor-Wilmot and Lakewood.

Lakewood District Administrator Joe Price, whose school will experience the sharpest drop at 15.21 percent or a decrease of $306,000 from last year, attributes the loss to increase in property values and a slight decrease in district membership.

“Twin Lakes has seen growth in property values, coupled with a slight decrease in membership which has contributed to a decrease in state aid,” Price said.

Additionally, Price cited the change in state funding, with more financial help going towards charter, private and voucher programs.

Adding to the mix is assessed valuation and cost per pupil, which he notes is higher in Southeast Wisconsin, where districts that spend more than the state average are negatively affected by the state aid calculation.

“The cost of educating children is higher in Southeastern Wisconsin than in any other areas in the state,” Price said.

Meanwhile, Brighton School District Administrator Penny Boileau reported an aid decrease of 14.7 percent, down $43,000 from the 2015-16 school year when the district received $293,000.

“Brighton’s loss in state aid is due to declining resident enrollment and increasing property values,” Boileau said.

Consequently, Boileau stated, Brighton residents will get taxed an additional $43,097 to offset the aid loss.

Bristol is booming
Declining membership is not the case at Bristol Consolidated School, according to District Administrator Michael Juech, whose district will receive the highest increase of all schools at 3.43 percent.

“We have been fortunate to be part of a growing community (and) can maintain a reputation of academic excellence,” Juech said. “With the expansion of the Interstate 94 corridor and future planning by the community, our enrollment numbers continue to increase.”

Bristol is joined by Westosha Central High School, which will see a 2.38 percent increase, and Wheatland Center School at 1.19 percent.

However, Juech acknowledged, Bristol’s booming enrollment is rare compared with the rest of the region, including the area districts that will see substantial losses.

“Increased enrollment is not the case for many Wisconsin school districts, making some funding difficult for those districts,” Juech said.

Economic status a factor
At Lakewood, where most students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, poverty is not a mechanism in the state aid formula.

According to Price, State Superintendent Tony Evers has called for a more fair and balanced funding formula for districts that have high poverty rates.

Evers’ agenda, called “Fair Funding for Our Future” aims to give more consideration to students who live in poverty.

“Historically, the biggest (indicator) of academic success lies not in ethnicity or gender, but in socioeconomic status,” Price said. “Unfortunately, this has fallen on partisan ears with a different agenda.”

Overall, 60 percent of 424 public schools will receive more general state aid this year than last year, according to the DPI press release.

General aid is made up of equalization aid, known as the school aid formula, integration aid and a special adjustment known as hold harmless aid.

“Sixty-one districts had a 15 percent reduction from their aid from the prior (year) because they fell into the 85 percent hold harmless provision,” the release stated. “Thirteen districts have aid dedication greater than 15 percent because of prior year adjustments and penalties.”


Posted

in

,

by

Tags: