Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget And Enrollment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District presents enrollment, FTEs and state-aid outlook as special-education costs surge
Summary
District staff presented enrollment and FTE trends affecting state aid, explained that Michigan funds on FTEs rather than headcount, and reported a large year-over-year increase in special-education costs (from about $4.1M to $8.3M) that will prompt an amended budget despite partial state reimbursement.
District leaders outlined enrollment and funding details and warned of significant special-education cost pressures.
Director of pupil services Amra Pestovic explained the difference between enrollment headcount and full-time-equivalent (FTE) students, noting that Michigan funds schools by FTE. She said current fall FTEs are provisional ahead of the district’s Nov. 6 submission and audit window and that the district may adjust counts by 20–30 FTEs after reconciliation.
In a separate state-aid briefing, district leadership described formula changes and identified restricted fund streams — including Section 31a (at-risk), Section 31aa (mental health and safety) and Section 41 (bilingual education) — and noted those funds carry prescriptive uses. Leaders said the district expects an increase in foundation funding but also emphasized limits on how restricted dollars may be applied.
Facilities and finance staff then reviewed special-education spending: non-transportation special-ed costs rose from about $4.1 million to roughly $8.3 million year-over-year; special-education transportation remained roughly $2.1–2.2 million. District staff said state reimbursement calculations cover a portion of those costs and estimated an increase in reimbursement (the district described reimbursement percent calculations in the briefing), but that the net financial impact will require an amended budget this year.
Board members said staff will return with more detailed audited FTEs and recommended next steps in the budget process.
