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Allegany Co. Public Schools Likely To See Funding Reduction Due To Decline In Enrollment

November 6th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Allegany County Public Schools are likely to see a loss of more than $1 million in funding due to a yet another decline in enrollment.  Officials with the Allegany County Board of Education gave an update on the latest enrollment figures at Tuesday’s regular meeting of the school board.  Enrollment is the primary factor in determining the level of funding for school systems supplied by the state and county, the two leading sources of funding for education in Maryland- and the numbers released this week estimate close to one hundred fewer students. Board President Robert Farrell…

 

As far as the reasons for so fewer students, the data shows that more than 50% have left the county or the state. Farrell says the local economy most likely led to the decline in enrollment with families choosing to leave the area…

 

7 Responses to “Allegany Co. Public Schools Likely To See Funding Reduction Due To Decline In Enrollment”

  1. November 06, 2019 at 6:13 am, Brian said:

    Saving thousands of dollars in taxes by moving to West Virginia it’s one of the reasons

    Reply

  2. November 06, 2019 at 6:35 am, Christina Santmyire said:

    Private School enrollment is up in the area at least at BW.

    Reply

  3. November 06, 2019 at 9:27 am, mac said:

    Did President Farrell actually expect the funding level to continue at the student population level that no longer exists?
    This should amount to a net funding change of zero as fewer students will require less funding to remain at the current dollar amount spent per student.

    Reply

    • November 06, 2019 at 4:20 pm, Jay said:

      This brings me back to a point that I, and others, have made previously. Why did we spend almost $60 mil on a new Allegany for just over 600 students? Why wasn’t there a plan to build a 1300 student (approximately) Cumberland HS and make Fort Hill the combined middle school? Both Braddock and Washington are long overdue for replacement having been built in the mid-60s. It is highly likely that enrollment and funding will continue to decline leaving the school system with few options other than cutting staff to save money which will make class sizes larger.

      Reply

      • November 06, 2019 at 5:13 pm, mac said:

        > This is something that many others, including myself, have pointed out in the past.
        The answer is simple and it boils down to one word; homecoming. The Allegany, Fort Hill rivalry is such an important part of local culture that the powers that be talked a gullible public into believing that two high schools would be needed even though declining enrollment was evident at the time.
        A colossal waste of money that will turn out to be an albatross around everyone’s neck for many years to come.

        Reply

        • November 06, 2019 at 9:31 pm, Jay said:

          Homecoming is the only plausible reason – at least to the die hards – to keep 2 high schools in the city. But the sad reality is the glory days of that football rivalry are long gone. It is very unlikely that Alco will ever beat FH again in football. Allegany had fewer than 25 kids on the varsity squad and were not even able to field a freshman team this season. The declining enrollment at Alco is already affecting the class schedule to the point where some advanced classes are only offered during one period in the school day which causes conflicts choosing classes.
          Fourteen in a row and counting.

          Reply

          • November 06, 2019 at 9:46 pm, Kevin said:

            > Homecoming had nothing to do with the decision to build a second high school in the city. No one wants to believe it but it is true.

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