Perham-Dent school district troubled by funding shortages

By Trisha Marczak (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, June 14, 2008

Declining enrollment has become a trend in rural areas throughout the state. And despite a steady population growth within the Perham- Dent area, the school district is experiencing drastic declines in enrollment. The district’s projected enrollment numbers are expected to decrease by an average of 43 students for the next five years. Couple that with state funding that falls well below inflation rates, and the district has cause for concern.

Over the past four years, the Perham-Dent School District has made $2 million worth of budget cuts. That’s a steady rate of $500,000 a year — and it’s not changing. Tamara Uselman, district superintendent, attributes part of the school district’s woes to stagnant state funding in 2003 through 2006, while inflation was on the rise.

Although state funding to the district increased last year by 2 percent and again this year by 1 percent, it has not been enough to offer the district any relief.

“It did not patch that hole that had happened,” she said.

The district’s revenue is expected to be less than the school’s expenditures for 2008-09.

The district has taken a two-prong, short-term-fix approach to the situation. Like many other schools, it first looked at cutting back on maintenance supplies — things like mops and lights.

“All of the things that don’t impact kids,” Uselman said.

The school district felt it had no other options except to eliminate teaching positions. During the 2001-02 school year, the distrct employed 91.3 teachers. This year, it employs 82 teachers.

Music and art department positions, special education staff, along with home economics classes have been cut. Class sizes have increased and the district has allowed retired positions to go unfilled, Uselman said.

Some bus routes have also been cut, which is a tough decision for a district so spread out, Uselman said.

The district has formulated declining enrollment numbers

into its budget forecast, but is still concerned that it will not be able to provide the level of service to students if things remain the way they are, she said.

“We built that into the budget, we know that is going to happen,” Uselman said.

Another option for the school district is to levy the community to make up for lack of state dollars.

In April, Uselman was approached by a group of community members and business owners who suggested a possible operational levy that could generate $900,000 —$695 per student — a year for the district.

In November, the community will vote on the issue. If passed, funds would be available for the district in Fall 2010.

But Uselman said the levy is not a fix-all for the situation.

“Even a levy is a short-term increase,” she said. “It’s just going to allow us to maintain the quality we have.”

Because of declining enrollment, the district cannot promise that the community will not continue to see cuts in staff.

“You just have to do that when you don’t have the kids to serve,” Uselman said.

The levy would last for 10 years, at which point school board members would re-evaluate the district’s need.