Declining Enrollment Could Bring Staffing, Program Changes to Rice Lake Schools

By Joe Morey

Free Press Editor/Publisher

Declining student enrollment could lead to staffing reductions, changes in school configurations and adjustments to educational programs in the Rice Lake Area School District as administrators examine the district's long-term financial outlook.

During the School Board's October 12 meeting, Randy Drost, school district superintendent, presented enrollment projections extending approximately five years into the future, outlining challenges the district could face as student populations continue to decline.

According to figures presented at the meeting, Rice Lake's student enrollment has declined approximately 7.4 percent over the past decade, slightly more than the 7.2 percent average decline among the 39 school districts served by Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 11.

Drost said the district must consider how future enrollment levels could affect staffing needs, educational offerings and the operation of its schools. Projections presented to the board suggest the district could have approximately 660 elementary students, 500 middle school students and slightly more than 600 high school students in the coming years, for a projected district-wide enrollment of approximately 1,777 students.

Those estimates are based on current enrollment patterns and assumptions about future incoming classes, rather than a prediction that enrollment will necessarily reach those levels.

Drost expressed hope that declining birth rates would stabilize and that enrollment could eventually improve.

Staffing Levels Under Review

Another significant part of the presentation focused on student-to-teacher ratios and how those figures compare with neighboring districts. According to information presented to the board, Rice Lake had a district-wide student-to-teacher ratio of 11.9 students per teacher two years ago, increasing to 12.3 students per teacher last year.

Officials explained that the figures include all employees classified as teachers, including academic coaches and reading or mathematics interventionists, and do not represent the actual number of students in every classroom.

Drost noted that Rice Lake's ratios were among the lower figures in its regional athletic conferences.

During the presentation, it was explained that increasing the district-wide ratio by one student per teacher would represent the equivalent of approximately 12.7 teaching positions using the most recent figures. However, Drost emphasized that the information was being presented to illustrate the district's staffing levels and was not a recommendation to eliminate that number of positions.

District Examining Future Options

The district's Finance Committee has been reviewing possible operational adjustments as part of its long-term financial planning. Options discussed included maintaining existing elementary school configurations, reducing combined-grade classrooms where possible, changing the distribution of elementary grades among buildings and considering potential school consolidation.

Drost also identified possible staffing reductions and changes to educational programs as issues that may require future consideration.

The Finance Committee directed administrators to develop financial estimates for the various alternatives so board members can better evaluate their potential costs and savings.

Financial Pressures Continue

Enrollment is an important factor in Wisconsin's school funding system, and declining student populations can place additional pressure on district finances.

During the meeting, Drost also discussed how limited growth in operating revenue has compared with increasing personnel costs. He reported that the district's Fund 10 revenue limit has increased by an average of approximately $235,000 annually over the past decade, while staff raises for the current year alone totaled approximately $600,000.

He  also cited changes in state aid and rising operating costs as challenges affecting the district's financial outlook.

As the district continues reviewing its options, Drost said future decisions will need to consider both financial realities and the educational programs and opportunities available to students.