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Enrollment: 1,322 FY18: $418,070
Type: preK–12
FY19: $352,485
While the Evidenced-Based Funding Model was
nearing passage in the General Assembly, Staunton
Superintendent Dan Cox said the district decided right
away it would put the new dollars to good use.
One year later, the district has used EBF to hire an
interventionist at the junior high to help students who
need the most help with language arts and math.
Another major initiative, Cox said, was to reduce class
sizes. The district hired an elementary teacher, with the
goal of getting all class sizes below 30. “We’re pushing
our dollars to students most in need first,” he said.
In addition, Cox said, the district wanted to improve
culture and climate in the district, so it hired a part-time
counselor. The district made that decision because it
shared a counselor with a neighboring district previously.
Technology in the district is also improving as a result
of EBF. The one-to-one Chromebooks initiative in fifth
through ninth grades has been piloted, he said.
Staunton CUSD #6
Enrollment: 1,460 FY18: $546,897
Type: preK–12
FY19: $417,550
Evidence-Based Funding dollars served as a life raft for the
cash-strapped Vandalia CUSD #203.
Dr. Jennifer Garrison, who is in her first year as
superintendent, said pro-ration in general state aid decimated
the district’s finances, leading to several years of budget
deficits of about $500,000.
Therefore, when the General Assembly approved the
Evidence-Based Funding Model in 2017 and routed
additional dollars to needy schools, the most pressing need
was obvious.
“Our first priority was to balance the budget,” Garrison said.
“Through pro-ration, we had to sell working cash bonds,
which only puts more burden on local taxpayers. We really
wanted to ease that burden.”
Vandalia CUSD #203
continued...
LMMay 2019 Special Edition
“If we’re able to get students who had an outburst out of
the classroom and talk with them and work with them on
their social-emotional needs, we can keep an instructional
environment that allows all the other students to continue
to learn,” Webb said.
But because of years of pro-ration from the state, Cox added,
EBF dollars were also needed to help balance the budget.
“Right out of the gate it has had an immediate impact on
teaching and learning for kids,” Cox said. “We’re also digging
out of a hole and having discussions about what we do and
what we offer that benefit our students and kids. That has
been the most inspiring.”
Right out of the gate it has had an immediate impact on teaching and learning for kids. We’re also digging out of a hole and
having discussions about what we do and what we offer that benefit our students and kids. That has been the most inspiring.
— Dan Cox, Staunton CUSD #6