State aid to some schools drops after enrollment audits

Four Nevada school districts and two charter schools are losing nearly $680,000 in state aid due in August because auditors could not verify enrollment figures.

Carson, Nye, Washoe and White Pine school districts and charter schools in Reno and Fallon will see their share of state money cut anywhere from $3,663 to $254,782 because of lower enrollment figures. Each district receives a set amount per pupil for the year, based on the county's local wealth.

Washoe County expects to lose $249,084 because officials could not document enrollment for 68 students who were counted on Sept. 24. But Paul Flemming, associate superintendent, said higher than projected motor vehicle privilege tax and other tax revenues should make up the difference.

''Fortunately, the increases in our other sources of revenue have offset that,'' he said.

A bill passed by the 1999 Legislature required the Nevada Department of Education to audit enrollment counts and class size reduction information in grades one through three for compliance with state law and regulation.

The audits were intended to ensure school districts are receiving their fair share of education funding since enrollment is the primary indicator of how much money school districts receive each year.

Auditors also reviewed student-teacher ratios in those grades to check for compliance with class size reduction law. Districts are required to pay for enough teachers to maintain ratios in place before class size reduction. The state pays only for enough teachers to make up the difference needed with the lower ratios.

Audits are final in all counties except Lincoln and Clark, where numbers are still being reviewed. So far, only Eureka County has seen enrollment increase but the three additional students won't mean more money. Eureka does not get state aid because local revenues, particularly from mining, cover all school district expenses.