Local school districts report mixed numbers for fall count

KALKASKA – The annual fall student count produced mixed results for the two primary school districts serving Kalkaska County.

Kalkaska Public Schools officials set the district’s budget for the 2017-18 school year based on an enrollment of a little more than 1,544 full-time students, with the school district receiving $7,511 per pupil from the state. That number was already 15 students lower, compared to figures for the 2016-17 school year.

“There are always a variety of reasons our count could be down,” KPS Superintendent Karen Sherwood said. “This could be from the economy, the availability of jobs, people working in other area districts or people moving out of the area.”

But, actual numbers for the Oct. 4 student count were even lower for KPS. According to Sherwood, the “unaudited blended count” came in at just under 1,509 students, “which is a decrease around 35 students from what we budgeted.”

If that number was to hold true for the rest of the school year, it would translate into a corresponding loss of more than $262,000.

Read the full story in our regular edition of The Review. To subscribe to the paper for just $34 a year, which includes access to our full online e-edition, please go to the subscription page on this website at: http://www.antrimreview.net/subscribe/