Wednesday, October 06, 1999
Middletown schools budget higher
District goal: Smaller classes
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown/Monroe Schools will operate this year on a budget that is about 3 percent higher than last year.
Schools Treasurer Edmund Pokora said the budget is about $67.1 million compared to last year's $65.1 million. It is the fifth consecutive year he has presented the school board with a balanced budget.
The increased budget comes as the district's enrollment is on the decline. When the official enrollment is determined at the end of the week, officials expect another decline, said Norris Brown, director of pupil personnel.
He estimated enrollment will be down by about 100 students. Last year's count of 9,461 was down 182 students from 1997 and 435 less than the 9,896 count of 1993.
The budget includes pay ment for 15 additional teachers assigned to the district's elementary schools to continue last year's initiative to shrink class size for kindergarten and first grade.
It also includes money that paid for new computer labs at the district's three high schools and both middle schools.
“Every elementary school in the district has lowered kindergarten and first-grade class sizes,” Mr. Pokora said. “We're below 20 students in every classroom.”
Work has begun on the district's five-year forecast. This year, the task is more difficult because the district will be preparing two budgets: one without Monroe and one with Monroe.
In March, voters in Monroe will decide whether to create their own school district. The new district would begin operations July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.
“We have contacted the Ohio Department of Education for estimates for the next two years of what we can expect on the revenue side without Monroe,” Mr. Pokora said. “We're not sure exactly what impact their leaving will have on some of our funds.”
At least 1,100 students would leave the district because they live within the proposed boundary of the new district, Mr. Pokora said.
But another 500-600 Middletown children now assigned to Monroe schools could opt to remain there. If so, it would affect how much state aid the separated Middletown district would receive.
“We're developing a survey we hope to send out at the end of October so we can estimate how many kids to expect. The (state) dollars follow the kids,” he said.
Responses could also affect any bond issue or district reorganization the board may plan, Mr. Brown said. Plans for another bond issue to repair or rebuild schools are on hold. In February, voters rejected a $97.4 million plan that would have reconfigured grades and improved facilities.
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