Enrollment stable to start year

Enrollment stable to start year
Chief Financial Officer Pat Johnston reported to school board members Sept. 20 the district is on sound footing regarding enrollment to start the school year. Johnston said the district is at 6102.03 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) students. These figures include the Alternative Education Program and Running Start Program at Walla Walla Community College.

The district set its budget figure at 6013 FTE to fund the 2011-2012 school year. The school district is funded from the state based on enrollment figures from Full-Time Equivalent students. Johnston said elementary enrollment numbers are above projections, while middle and high school enrollment has taken a slight dip.

Johnston also suggested state law changes to Homeschool funding have impacted the Homelink program which is serving fewer students to start the year.

The district's 2011-2012 General Fund budget is $62,091,263. District enrollment counts will be tallied each month throughout the school year and averaged out to determine state funding levels for the 2011-2012 school year.