Somers' enrollment increases 14 percent
The Somers School District board of trustees reviewed the annual 2012 Flathead County Statistical Report of Schools during their regular board meeting on Dec. 19.
Each year the Flathead County Superintendent’s Office collects and compiles factual data from the schools and the Department of Revenue in an effort to maintain accountability and transparency in the public schools.
Figures for this year’s report are from the previous year’s, year-end financial reports for 2011-12, the school districts’ budgets for 2012-13, and enrollment data as of Oct. 1, 2012.
Enrollment in District 29 has increased by 14 percent over the last 10 years with some fluctuation. As of Dec. 12, Somers Middle School has 203 students enrolled, up from 186 students on Dec. 13, 2011. Lakeside Elementary School’s enrollment is down from last year with 385 enrolled as of Dec. 12 compared to 394 students on Dec. 13, 2011.
Overall district numbers have increased by eight since last year to 588 students. In 2003 the district had 509 students. Prior to this year, the highest enrollment total was in 2006 with 586 students.
“I noted it was the year of 2007 and 2008 we were growing and then started to decline and I wondered if it had to do with the recession, but over 10 years there is a 14 percent increase which is good,” Superintendent Paul Jenkins said. “Based on the economy that might continue to grow, these things fluctuate all the time but they are going up.”
Another number that fluctuated for the district is how much they’re spent to educate each individual student.
District 29 saw a 10 percent decrease in their per pupil expenditures between this year and last year, going from $7,776.61 to $6,999.30.
The per pupil expenditures fluctuated for other elementary and middle schools across the valley as well. Pleasant Valley’s increased by 14.52 percent to the highest cost in the valley, $13,329.79. Meanwhile, Creston’s decreased by 12.31 percent to the lowest in the valley, $6,804.45.
“Maybe we have more students per the size of the facility or maybe we’re more efficient,” board member John Hollensteiner said.
Efficiency is key for District 29, as the report also revealed how much of each district’s budget is funded by levies. For District 29, 38.4 percent of their general fund budget of $3,281,425 is covered by levies, or $1,260,107.
“Comparing to other schools, we have a good tax base here and we can generate more to our district levies,” Jenkins said.
Pleasant Valley had the lowest total district levy, $27,902, which accounts for 39.64 percent of their budget. Meanwhile, Kalispell has the highest total district levy at $4,909,240, which accounts for 28.36 percent of their budget.
The full report is available at http://flathead.mt.gov/schools.
In other District 29 news:
• As of Dec. 18 the Somers Music and Arts Fund is around $3,700 mark, it was up to $4,000 but was used to purchase equipment for the students. The fund is set up at Flathead Bank in Lakeside and all donations are tax deductable. Sam Bagley, fund trustee and District 29 School Board member, will receive notification whenever a deposit is made and will then transfer the same amount of money from his personal account into the fund up to a total of $5,000.
• Lakeside Elementary School had a lockdown drill last Tuesday. The drill was scheduled earlier in the year and was not scheduled in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that occurred on Dec. 7. But, in response to the shooting, LES principal John Thies said teachers are reminding the students they are in a safe and caring environment.
• The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. There will be a work session at 6 p.m. that is open to the public and the board meeting will begin at 7 p.m.