HARLINGEN — As the school district recovers from the coronavirus pandemic’s impact, enrollment is up for the first time in about three years — by 38 students, officials said.
On Friday, the district’s enrollment stood at 17,040, Brianna Vela Garcia, the district’s spokeswoman, said.
During the pandemic’s height, many parents were keeping their children home, where they became part of the district’s remote learning program.
“We’ve gotten most of those students back,” Vela Garcia said.
As part of a formula, the district receives about $6,160 a year in state funding for every student in class, Julio Cavazos, the district’s chief financial officer, said.
The students’ return is bucking district projections.
This year, officials were bracing for a drop of as many as 200 students — and as much as a $1.2 million cut in state funding.
“We always take a conservative approach when budgeting and our trend had been down because of COVID,” Cavazos stated.
Bucking auditors’ projections
The district’s first uptick in enrollment also bucks auditor’s projections for the school year.
Last month, the certified public accounting firm of Carr, Riggs and Ingram issued a “clean” opinion during its presentation of the district’s annual financial report for the fiscal year running from June 30, 2021 to June 30, 2022.
Based in part on the district’s forecasting of a loss of 200 students, the auditors projected revenues would drop 1.9 percent.
“State revenue will decrease due to a lower enrollment and attendance rates,” the auditors wrote.
As the first semester winds down, the district’s new enrollment numbers are changing the outlook for the year.
‘Clean’ audit
Focusing on its finances, the auditors found district’s revenues climbing.
In their presentation, auditors reported the district’s total assets rose to $337,743 million, from $325,274 million the previous year.
While revenues increased to $246 million, from $240 million the previous year, expenses dropped to $225 million, from $234 million, the report showed, pointing to instruction expenses falling to $112 million from $129 the previous year.
Meanwhile, the district’s fund balance climbed from $44.6 million to $48.3 million, Cavazos said.
The audit cited the district’s major revenue sources as property tax revenue, accounting for 19.5 percent, state funding making up 49.2 percent and operating grants generating 27.7 percent.
During the auditing period, the district’s net position jumped by $20.6 million, climbing from $13.6 million to $34.2 million.
Revenues climbing
During that time, the district’s general fund budget rose by 20.3 million, totaling $185.4 million, including $19.7 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds and $52.7 million in other governmental funds, the report showed.
The audit showed the district’s appraised property values climbed to $4.6 billion, up 5.3 percent from the previous year.
Construction projects completed
In the last year, the district completed major projects, including construction of UTGRV Harlingen Collegiate High, the renovation of Treasure Hills Elementary School and construction of a transition academy, the audit noted.
“We remain focused on being the district of choice in our Harlingen area,” Vela Garcia stated. “We serve all students and we are here to support each family in our community. There are opportunities in HCISD academics, arts and athletics that prepare our children for college, career and beyond.”
