MCCSC reports sustained enrollment decline, launches redistricting study and two‑year financial plan

Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Winston told the Monroe County Community School Trustees on Feb. 25 that the district has experienced a sustained decline in student enrollment since 2019 and has launched a redistricting study and a two‑year, structural fiscal plan to respond.

Winston said MCCSC lost about 835 students (a 7.66% decline since 2019) and that the corporation “did not receive” approximately $17,200,000 in revenue from 2021 through 2024 because of lower enrollment; she added the district projects an additional loss of about $5,200,000 before the end of the school year. The district’s payroll increased by about $28,600,000 over three years — roughly $15,000,000 for teacher salaries and benefits and $13,600,000 for hourly staff — while staffing levels have remained largely unchanged even as enrollment fell.

Why it matters: MCCSC’s funding is driven primarily by enrollment. Winston said those revenue and staffing trends are “unsustainable” and that short‑term fixes are insufficient. The board directed further study and the administration outlined a phased approach that begins with natural attrition and careful reassignment of vacated positions to match staff counts to available dollars.

Details of the redistricting study: Dr. Dowling, who presented the redistricting update, said the board passed Resolution 2020‑45 in February 2024 to begin attendance‑zone reconfiguration work and contracted Business Information Services to analyze enrollment and demographic data. Business Information Services presented 14 scenarios in November 2024 and the board in December set two priorities for further study: balancing socioeconomic status across MCCSC schools and cost effectiveness. A Redistricting Study Commission will begin meeting in March; information on how community members can join will be released soon, Dowling said.

Enrollment drivers and projections: The district cited statewide and local demographic data showing fewer school‑age children and a projected 10% decline in Monroe County school‑age population over the next 30 years. Business Information Services produced five enrollment projections; even the best‑case scenario shows further decline over the next decade. MCCSC staff highlighted increases in the number of students from the corporation settlement area attending other public districts, charter schools and nonpublic schools using choice scholarships.

Superintendent’s two‑year financial approach: Winston described a multi‑step strategy that includes (1) completing the fiscal review, (2) implementing measured cost containment, (3) ongoing financial management and planning, (4) seeking additional revenue, and (5) strategic staffing. She emphasized beginning with natural attrition — assessing whether positions vacated by retirements or resignations should be refilled — and promised quarterly public updates on progress.

Board and staff context: The superintendent and chief financial staff cited prior consultant work (Baker Tilly and Policy Analytics) and internal forecasts prepared by CFO John Kenny. Winston said uncertainty at the state and federal levels — including possible property‑tax reform and other legislation — could increase the district’s financial pressure and that the two‑year plan is designed to be steady and methodical rather than reactive.

Looking ahead: The Redistricting Study Commission meetings start in March; the administration will report back to the board with commission findings and with quarterly financial updates as the district implements the two‑year plan.