Quincy schools project higher enrollment
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 5 months AGO
The Quincy School District graduated 100% of its senior class of 161 students, but more than 200 incoming kindergarten students, along with learners from other grades will see the school district’s combined enrollment rise this year.
FILE PHOTO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | August 1, 2023 1:30 AM
QUINCY — Quincy School District officials expect a slight increase in enrollment for the 2023-24 school year.
The projected enrollment for 2023 is the equivalent of 3,160 students, according to information provided to the Quincy School Board at the July 25 meeting. That’s an increase from the 20223-23 school year. Enrollment for 2022-23 was the equivalent of 3,103 students, which was slightly below the budget projection.
“Last year was one of our first years where our enrollment was flat,” said Quincy Superintendent Nik Bergman. “There were some months where we were above (the projection) then we were down the next month. I would say it was a flat year — it wasn’t down, it wasn’t up.”
Early enrollment for the incoming kindergarten class indicates that it will be larger than the graduating senior class, Bergman said.
“Right now our kindergarten class (enrollment) is about 220 students. We know we’ll get more kindergarten (students) in August,” Bergman said. “And we (graduated) the senior class of 161 students.”
Schools are funded based on the number of students, but since actual enrollment can’t be determined until school starts, budgets are based on a projection.
The majority of school operations are paid for out of the general fund, which pays for salaries, some equipment, supplies and maintenance, among other things. For 2023-24 the QSD’s general fund expenses are budgeted at $58.2 million.
Along with the general fund, school operations are paid for through four funds reserved for specific purposes.
The debt service fund pays back construction bonds issued by the district, such as the bond used to fund the new Quincy High School and the remodeling of some of the district’s elementary schools. For 2023-24 the fund is budgeted at $7.63 million.
The capital projects fund pays for construction projects. Among the projects under consideration are upgrades to heating-cooling systems in some of the district’s elementary schools, repairs to the roof at Mt. View Elementary and remodeling at the Quincy Innovation Academy. The capital projects fund is budgeted at $3.19 million. That’s more than the money in the fund, and district officials anticipate a transfer from the general fund to help make up the difference.
The Associated Student Body fund is money generated by students and pays for student activities. It was budgeted at about $975,800.
The transportation vehicle fund pays for school buses and vans, or any other vehicles, and can only be used for that purpose. District officials plan to buy school buses in 2023-24, and the fund was budgeted at $600,000.
Cheryl Schweizer may be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.
QSD Budget Basics:
2023-24 budgeted expenditures
General fund: $58.2 million
Debt service fund: $7.63 million
Capital projects fund: $2.01 million
ASB fund: $1.025 million
Transportation vehicle fund: $600,000
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