Mt. Pleasant School Board projects enrollment decline

MT. PLEASANT — The Mt. Pleasant Community School Board spent a significant portion of its June 30 meeting examining how declining enrollment and rising costs could reshape the district's future — including staffing, class sizes, and potentially even school buildings.

School board members were surprised when they learned that certified enrollment in the Mt. Pleasant Community School District has fallen from about 2,200 students a generation ago to just 1,757 this past year. State projections show that number could drop to 1,523 by the 2029-30 school year.

“We have to be somewhat proactive rather than reactive,” said Superintendent John Henriksen. “We want to give our kids the best education we can — but what does that look like in five years?”

Board members discussed how the drop in enrollment affects funding and staffing decisions. The state provides about $7,988 per student this year, but the district’s cost to educate each student is much higher — more than $10,000 at the secondary level, and about $9,300 at elementary schools.

Most district funding comes from per-pupil state aid. A loss of 10 students equates to approximately $80,000 funding reduction, according to Board Member Derek Mullin.

“That’s what it costs to employ a teacher,” Mullin said.

Board Member Josh Maher floated the idea of setting target class sizes to guide future staffing decisions.

“We want our class sizes to be as small as possible,” Maher said. “But what does that actually look like when we project our budget forward?”

While an answer did not readily follow Maher’s questions, skepticism of the sustainability of classes much smaller than the average of 21 was expressed.

“In my experience we have to look at the number of sections we’re going to offer at the elementary grade levels and we have to look at the number of attendance centers that we are operating. I don’t see any way around that,” Henriksen said.

How many sections of various subjects needed at middle school and high school levels are also being discussed, according to Henriksen.

Mullin says over the last few years the district has reduced staff at the secondary level and only recently rehired for a science position.

Balancing enrollment and budget, the district reduced two elementary sections, one each in first and second grade, last year.

Board Member Aaron Williamson brought up concerns about enrollment and how the number of families leaving the district is affected by decisions like how to best spend the $3 million sitting in the district’s penny sales tax fund.

“When we’re talking about changes in attendance center numbers, inevitably we have people that just can’t make that work,” Williamson said. “Whether it is for just approval of that decision or transportation needs. So, when we’re talking about protecting enrollment, hard discussions like that also affect families leaving the district.”

“I want to protect the things we have going well for us now to not lose additional numbers just off decisions that we make,” he said.

During discussion about the potential need to reduce the number of elementary attendance centers, depending on how future class sizes and enrollment trends develop, Henriksen reminded the board and public that something will need to change.

“To think we can continue to operate like this with 700 fewer students — it’s just not possible,” Henriksen said.

He further explained that much of the funding for the district is dependent on per pupil amounts. That means, having fewer students makes it difficult for the district to continue to function with the same amount of attendance centers and the same student to teacher ratio.

In addition to enrollment trends, board members reviewed how staff salaries, insurance costs and state funding levels are impacting the district’s financial outlook.

More than 80% of the general fund goes toward personnel costs, according to Finance Director Jessica Boyer.

Henriksen emphasized the importance of staying ahead of a potential fiscal cliff.

“You’ve got to rein it in sometime,” Henriksen said. “Or else you’re going to be slapped in the face.”

Board members agreed that while staffing is the biggest cost, the district should also identify “low-hanging fruit” — like unused phone lines or outdated equipment — that could be cut before personnel.

Williamson stated that there he acknowledges concern over the deficit in the school district budget but emphasized that this is not an isolated event in Mt. Pleasant.

“The discussion needs to be broader than just our district, unfortunately,” Williamson said. “We’re seeing this in districts across the state. … We’re not unique in this in the Mt. Pleasant School District.”

Thus far, Williamson’s personal approach as a board member has centered on educating the public and attempting to “broaden the view people have of the challenges that public education is facing.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com