Published: August 20, 2008 01:11 am            

Frost ISD gets good news from state

Frost Independent School District received some positive news late last week — the amount it has to repay the state for last year’s low enrollment is less than expected, and enrollment for the fall semester appears to be up.

“We had a reduction in how much we have to pay to the state,” explained Frost Superintendent Jim Revill.

The new repayment figure is $234,000, down from an earlier projected figure of $253,000.

“Of course, $20,000 is $20,000,” Revill said.

Frost ended the year with about 313 students, but was paid for about 340 students by the state, which is what it had projected to have. What that means is that this year Frost will need to repay the state for the extra money it received last year.

The district has lost nearly 20 percent of its student population in the last five years.

This year, 2007-2008, the district had to repay $346,000. This recent decrease in the payback number is just because the numbers were updated.

“It’s based on mid-term,” Revill said. “The projections are based on mid-term numbers, and as we go along they update it periodically.”

Although student enrollment for fall won’t be known until about Monday, or even a week later, the number of students registered in the district is up about 10 students from last year, Revill said. The 2008-2009 proposed budget is based on having 350 students this year.

The district is having a rollback tax election on Sept. 30, asking voters to approve a 13-cent increase to the school tax rate, about $1.29 for every $100 in appraised value. The $1.29 includes just over 11 cents in debt service.

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Janet Jacobs may be reached by e-mail at jacobs@corsicanadailysun.com

        

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