Clarkston superintendent warns enrollment decline could force program cuts as district absorbs unexpected shortfall
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Ryan told the Clarkston Board of Education the district lost roughly 51.75 FTEs and is facing an unexpected $536,097.15 funding shortfall tied to enrollment decline; staff recommended monitoring trends and evaluating program offerings to sustain services over the next 12–36 months.
Superintendent Dr. Ryan presented the district’s pupil accounting update, telling the Clarkston Board of Education that the district’s total full‑time‑equivalent (FTE) enrollment stands at about 6,467.74 and that the district has experienced a net loss of roughly 51.75 FTEs (57.06 when shared‑service counts are included).
“We have a $536,097.15 deficit that we weren't expecting,” Dr. Ryan said during the presentation, linking the shortfall directly to lower FTE counts and the way state funding flows to districts. He told the board the district is monitoring declines in virtual and shared‑service enrollments and reviewing capture‑rate projections from Plant Moran.
Why it matters: state funding largely follows FTE counts, so the district will collect less revenue as enrollment falls. Dr. Ryan underscored that staffing comprises the largest portion of the budget and that persistent declines will strain the district’s fund balance over time.
Board members pressed staff on options. Missus McGinnis asked whether the district had considered creating a magnet program or other targeted offerings to attract families who homeschool; the presenter said the district already allows homeschool students to take cocurriculars and described targeted marketing, specialty open‑enrollment and program evaluation as possible responses.
On potential cost‑saving steps, the superintendent said the district is trying efficiency measures but warned the board that “we're gonna need to make some tough decisions over the next 12 to 36 months,” and listed possibilities such as increasing class sizes or reducing program offerings if enrollment and revenue do not stabilize.
Staff recommendations at the meeting included continuous monitoring of enrollment trends, evaluating general and special‑education programming for open enrollment, and assessing program sustainability in light of projected declines.
Next steps: staff will continue to update the board with enrollment and fiscal projections; the superintendent recommended the board consider targeted recruitment and program changes if projected declines persist.