Closer Look
This forces the School District to examine a reduction in kindergarten classes at several schools for the new school year.
Based on current projections, El Marino Language School and Lin Howe Elementary School, tentatively, will each lose a full kindergarten class, while La Ballona Elementary School will go from 3 1/2 kindergarten classes to three classes in the fall.
This could place the loss of revenue in the $450,000 range.
The Lone Reductions
At this time, I am not anticipating any other cutbacks except for fewer kindergarten glasses.
But the situation is fluid.
I am only looking to tighten up.
The numbers change every day as parents enroll their kindergarten students at the different schools.
Making solid, accurate decisions with regard to kindergarten enrollment is like trying to hit a moving target.
Daily Monitor
We check numbers with each elementary school principal on a daily basis.
We are looking at the possibility of first bringing in all unregistered resident students before considering students on permit from other districts.
I hope pro-active efforts by the School District and by the principals at each school site will help attract additional kindergarten students.
Many parents want their children to come to Culver City schools.
However, this year these parents are facing new challenges.
With other school districts also experiencing decreasing enrollment, students are not being released as easily from their home districts as they once were.
Potential Profile
The students likeliest to be released are those whose parents work in Culver City or whose childcare is in Culver City.
Since schools receive state funding based on their ADA, Average Daily Attendance, declining enrollment presents a critical funding issue for Culver City.
Losing a classroom of students represents as much as a $180,000 hit to the School District.
So losing even one class to declining enrollment is a huge problem.
Numerous issues have led to the declining enrollment trend across the state:
The growth of the charter school movement,
Aggressive recruiting by private schools, and
Home-schooling.
According to projections from Gov. Schwarzenegger’s office, statewide Average Daily Attendance for public schools will decrease by 0.39 percent this school year and by the same amount next year.
This would result in continued reductions in School District revenue apportionments.
At the same time, the governor’s office estimates charter school ADA will grow by a whopping 16.9 percent this year and by another 9.5 percent next school year.
One Solution
We are extraordinarily proud of the education we offer in our classrooms.
However, with the drop in the number of students across the state, we need to be proactive in dealing with this critical issue.
Dr. Myrna Cote is Superintendent of the Culver City School District.
