Evansville, Union Planners meet with Evansville School Board; Begin discussion of impact of development on enrollment

Just two days before the Town Hall Meeting of Union to discuss its Smart Growth Plan, the Evansville planning commission, the Union Smart growth committee and representatives of the Evansville school board meet to begin a continuing discussion of the impact of development on school enrollment.

Supr. Heidi Carvin began by describing the financial pressure that the school districts in Wisconsin are in: She quoted from an article in "Institute for Wisconsin's Future"--click on the post for the article,"Death by a Thousands Cuts---. " The median growth in budgets allowed by the (Wis.) revenue limits is 2.5% per year. The median growth in the cost of continuing programs is 4.2%. This typically leaves a deficit of 1.7% of each year's budget. Without referendum approval to exceed the revenue limit, this means the typical school district cuts 1.7% each year from a cost to continue budget. This amounts to nearly $400,000 in yearly cuts for an average-size district of about 2,000 students, enough to cover the cost of a number of teachers. "

She went on to say that current enrollment has not been the big stressor, but rather the state formula. There has been some misinformation out there that the schools have plenty of extra capacity. That is not so in some areas. Levi Leonard is currently at 95.6%, TRIS at 74.2%, JCMck at 82% and EHS at 80%. In 2010 Levi L will be at 98% and TRIS at 94% This assumes current patterns of enrollment.

Evansville Administrator Bill Connors explained that the next 4 years have developers locked into 70 housing starts per year, but that the housing starts in the following 6 years would have to be decreased to keep within the planned growth pace.

A joint impact study was briefly mentioned that Evansville, Union and the school district could participate in that would provide the analytical framework to discuss and plan. Currently it appears that building permits alone is not the sole indicator. Verona tried that and ended up having an enrollment decline surprise. An enrollment decline in Evansville would make the financial situation worse for the schools, something nobody wants.

Excellent attandance at last nights meeting. If there was anyone who attended that wants to add something to the minutes, feel free to click on the comment line.