The ABCs of school district funding

Decreased enrollment numbers in Petersburg schools is playing a big role in how district staff prepare next year’s budget.

Student enrollment has steadily dropped for more than a decade. During the 2004-2005 school year enrollment was up to 630 students. Next year though, the district’s numbers are approaching a low enough number—424 students—that would change its classification in a state funding equation called the ‘foundation formula’.

According to state guidelines, school districts receive funding based on enrollment and the student count along with many other factors get crunched through...