Educational funding up in state, down in Tri-parishes

Although the Louisiana Department of Education increased the total Minimum Funding Program (MFP) award allocation by $44 million, the Tri-parish districts collectively face $4.5 million worth of cuts in government funding.

MFP is based on enrollment, which increased by 7,305 across the state. The Department of Education awards a base amount of $5,035 per student, and conducts two head counts – one in February and October.

Generally, the base amount increases annually by 2.75 percent. Due to cuts in the educational budget, the award per student has remained frozen since the 2009 fiscal year.

“We do know that the state is still experiencing some significant financial problems, so we are in constant fear that we will be subject to more cuts,” Terrebonne Parish Superintendent Phillip Martin said. “I’m hopeful that that won’t happen, but I don’t have any assurances one way or the other.”

The Tri-parish districts have been hit hard by the MFP cuts, as they lack the benefit of an annual allotment raise to combat declining enrollment that comes with the migration of families due to the moratorium and other economic struggles.

“At this time, I think K-12 education is expecting budget cuts each year from now until the state budget gets under control,” Lafourche Parish Superintendent Jo Ann Matthews said. “We get together, we readjust, we look at and talk to people in the community and on our staff and we just try to make the cuts that will affect the children the least.”

The Lafourche Parish School Board offset the cuts through several budget cuts, including the elimination of 73 full- and part-time instructional jobs and 72 support positions.

Attendance increased in St. Mary Parish by 70, but Lafourche saw a decrease of 90 and Terrebonne, 160 in enrollment numbers.

“No one really knows why the enrollment is down, and I can only speculate as to the reason why,” Martin said. “I think, primarily, it’s smaller families, but that’s only my speculation. I don’t have any scientific data for that. It’s just my hunch.”

Lafourche School Board Communication Specialist Floyd Benoit noted, however, that each classroom has a certified teacher. Assistant Superintendent of Terrebonne Parish School District Carol Davis said a certified teacher is in every classroom in Terrebonne as well.

If the October enrollment count exceeds estimations by more than 50 students, the district receives an increase in MFP funding.

By the Numbers…

Budget Allocated to Education FY2011

• Dept. of Education – $5,486,513,462

• Total Budget – $25,312,066,469

• Percentage – 21.7%

Enrollment

• Terrebonne – 17,788 (2010-2011); 17,948 (2009-2010)

• Lafourche – 14,633 (2010-2011); 14,723 (2009-2010)

• St. Mary – 9,604 (2010-2011); 9,534 (2009-2010)

• State – 692,851 (2010-2011) 685,546 (2009-2010)

MFP Money awarded

• Terrebonne – $85.4 million (2010 – 2011)

• Lafourche – $67.9 million (2010-2011)

• St. Mary – $48.1 million (2010-2011)

• State – $3.319 billion (2010-2011)

MFP cuts

• Terrebonne – $1.6 million

• Lafourche – $2.3 million

• St. Mary – $603,000

• State – (+$44 million)

General spending fund

• Terrebonne – $114.7 million (2010-2011); $114.6 million (09-10)

• Lafourche – $109.9 million (2010-2011) $116.7 million (09-10)

• St. Mary – ***

Pupil-to-teacher Ratio

• Terrebonne – 20-to-1 (2010-2011)

• Lafourche – 21-to-1 (2010-2011)

• St. Mary – ***

• State – 15-to-1

Pre-K Enrollment

• Terrebonne – 1,395

• Lafourche – 962

• St. Mary – 525

• State -33,380

Price per child*

• Terrebonne – $9,600 (local, federal and state dollars)

• Lafourche – $6,500 – 7,500

• St. Mary – ***

• State – $9,781

*These numbers are estimates provided by the school districts.

***Repeated calls to the St. Mary Parish School Board went unreturned

Educational funding up in state, down in Tri-parishes