Weak economy spurs changes in enrollment at public, private schools

Local
By Alice Felts
Source: Fauquier Weekend
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29 2008

Fauquier schools prepare for state budget cuts

Fauquier County Public Schools, along with all other school districts in Virginia, have received a word of warning from Billy K. Cannaday, Jr., state superintendent of public instruction and chief executive officer of Virginia Department of Education. The message is clear and straightforward: There may not be enough money to go around.

“Based on recent revenue trends, it is expected that this general fund re-forecast will indicate a shortfall, in which case, budgeted state appropriations will have to be reduced," Cannaday wrote in a letter sent last week.

Cannaday suggested school districts be prepared for possible direct aid reductions by recommending "that you act now to reduce or suspend discretionary spending in your division wherever feasible.

“Hopefully, the revenue situation will turn out not to negatively impact public education funding," he added, "but we all have the responsibility to prepare for this possible outcome."

Andy Hawkins, executive director of Budget and Operations, told school board members at Monday's work session that Fauquier County will heed Cannaday's recommendations by holding back 25 percent of discretionary budget spending. Budgetary cutbacks could be applied to a variety of areas, from supplies for school testing to janitorial needs.

Giving his own forecast for the school system, Hawkins said the worst case scenario for Fauquier would be a shortfall of $750,000. Although it would make budgeting more difficult, the financial administrator said it "would not be crippling, not devastating."

Superintendent Jonathan Lewis responded that if shortfalls "run as deep as two percent, we can handle it." Lewis added that though the re-forecast has implications for the next year, he was more worried about 2010, which may be "the hardest budget year we will have."

E-mail the reporter: afelts@timespapers.com.

Fauquier County Public School (FCPS) enrollment is slightly up this year, and it may be due, in part, to the economy.

As the economy struggles, parents are wrestling with decisions about whether to send their children to private schools. Nationwide, enrollments at private schools are dwindling, and the blame is being placed on diminished family budgets.

Some parents are making the decision to fore go the private education route and send their children to public schools, saving money in one area of their budgets to help with another.

Although not all of the increase in the public school population can be attributed to former independent school students, FCPS administrators believe a substantial number of these students are represented in the increase.

For the first few days of public school, attendance figures vary. On the first day in Fauquier, the numbers showed 10,939 students in 20 public schools, up just slightly from 10,919 students in 18 schools last year.

It's also a little early to get static enrollment numbers for private schools.

St. John the Evangelist Catholic School was expecting enrollment to be down after a large 8th grade class graduated last spring. According to Ed Hoffman, head of the school, enrollment is "a little up from what we thought it would be."

Last year, enrollment was 190, and mid-week figures for this year are 187. Even though tuition was raised almost six percent, Hoffman said that the $4,400 rate is considerably less than other independent schools in the area. He added that the school was "very pro-active" not to have a large tuition this year.

While there are a couple of openings in the four-day school program, the three-day and five-day programs are full. Most "stay-at-home" parents utilize the shorter week schedule, and those parents working outside the home seem to mostly opt for the full week pre-school schedule. St. John's also has a "stay and play" program to help working parents.

Midland Christian Academy also closely watched its tuition increase 4.5 percent. "We have a number of families that are struggling...48 percent of our school families are [among the] hardest hit [in this economic downturn]," administrator Lynn Cox said,

There are some who are holding out for private education, but with higher gas prices and rising tuitions, more parents are asking for financial aid ?and private schools are giving it.

To accommodate parents who receive income sporadically from work projects as opposed to a regular payroll, Midland offers some families a flexible tuition payment schedule.

For the past five years, the school has distributed $10,000 each year in financial aid. This year, the amount for financial aid was raised to $15,000.

Last year's enrollment at Midland was 120, and this year 108 registered.

Both Wakefield School and Highland School are also slightly down in enrollments.

Wakefield's enrollment for 2007-08 was 500 and the school expects this year's enrollment to be between 460-470 students.

“The enrollment figures for this year are primarily a result of lower than expected pre-kindergarten and kindergarten enrollment, according to school administration.

“Based on our surveys of families not enrolling, the economy has played the most significant role in families' decision to keep students at home longer, send children to a less-expensive schools offering a less rigorous program or attend public school."

Tuition at Wakefield increased 6 percent, but more financial aid was also offered, from 16 percent of last year's student body receiving aid to 17 percent this year. While 18 percent of these students receiving financial aid are new to the school, 82 percent of the recipients are returning students.

Highland School also increased financial aid, with a total of nine percent increase in total aid given from last year. In 2007-08, 14.7 percent of students received some type of aid, and this year it is 17.6 percent. Like Wakefield, more returning students are receiving aid than new students.

With the tuition at Highland up seven percent, enrollment to date is 545 as compared to last year's 554.

Chris Pryor, director of admissions and financial aid for Highland, said that "65 percent of our new families are from independent schools, the rest are from public schools." He said that Highland has done better in enrollment than most independent schools in the area, but acknowledged, "families have to make some tough choices. We have increased support for financial aid to ride out economic difficulties. We need to be sensitive in terms of tuition and associated costs. We can't live in a vacuum."

“Highland is healthy," he said, noting that the school considered forecasts, student retention, and future enrollment before embarking on its current construction and renovation projects.

E-mail the reporter: afelts@timespapers.com.

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