By John Estridge
COVID-19 has affected and continues to affect many different aspects of living in the world during 2020.
One of those ways is the way schools in Indiana are funded.
While the majority of property taxes paid in the state go to schools, the real money comes through state funds based on Average Daily Membership (ADM). The state vacillates on whether or not the ADM is counted once or twice a year but in every year, one of the ADMs occurs in September. On that day, the state counts every student in the school system by attendance.
Then, a certain amount of money connected to each student counted comes to the schools based on the attendance figures from all the schools in the various school corporations around the state.
And this is the time of year school corporations begin discussing their 2021 budgets. Union County College Corner Joint School District Administrator Aron Borowiak talked to the school board members concerning very preliminary numbers for next year’s budget when the school board met earlier in the week.
One of the topics brought up during that discussion was what was going to be done about counting the students who elected to take virtual school as opposed to in-school instruction due to COVID-19 fears.
By law, those taking virtual schooling are counted as 85 percent while in-school students are counted as 100 percent. That difference really adds up.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, since June, has declared schools will get 100 percent funding no matter where the students are in receiving their instruction. This school year some larger school districts have opted for online learning for all of its students as opposed to some coming to school and others taking the online learning option. Most school districts offer both options with some having a hybrid function such as some students staying home and taking online learning on given days and then going to in-school learning on other days of the week. This allows smaller class sizes for the in-school learning and a greater possibility of social distancing in the classroom.
However, according to different media outlets, Republican Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray sent a letter to school leaders, saying the 85 percent law will be enforced.
That led Holcomb to say the state will delay the ADM count this year, go back to last year’s count and base funding through the end of 2020 on those attendance figures.
And that led to the Dr. Jennifer McCormick, superintendent of Public Instruction releasing her own statement:
“As I have from the beginning, I will continue to champion a solution to the complex issue of adequately and fully funding schools during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the press release reads. “The Department was informed late this morning (Wednesday, August 12) of the Governor’s proposed ADM count date delay. IDOE staff is in the process of reviewing for its potential financial benefits and consequences. This delay is just that- a delay. Hoosier schools deserve a solution to secure 100 percent funding as districts are bargaining, budgeting, and preparing for the next 18 months.”
The State Legislature is scheduled to meet in January. Some in the legislature have said the Holcomb needs to hold a special session of the legislature to deal with many budgetary issues related to COVID-19.