Report looks at trend data from 2012 to 2017
Media contacts: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications, 248.260.8466, barbara@eafocus.com; Bob Kittle, Munetrix, 248.797.1337, bob@munetrix.com
Auburn Hills, Mich. – March 14, 2018 – Munetrix, a public sector solutions provider offering data management, analytics and reporting tools for states, local governments and public school districts, has designated 14 Michigan public school districts as “most improved” based on their Munetrix Score, a fiscal wellness indicator that acts as a financial barometer for schools and municipalities, much like a FICO score does for individuals.
The Munetrix Score range is zero to 10, with zero being a perfect score. It provides school leaders a robust fiscal early warning tool and allows them the ability to model financial plans into the future to see what their “fiscal wellness” will look like two to three years down the road. In looking for school district financial trends for this report, Munetrix’s algorithms mash 12 critical data points over a five year period, while looking for chronic or high magnitude problems such as a tenuous fund balance or large enrollment swings. The Munetrix Score for most improved districts are for the 2016-2017, 2015-2016, 2014-2015, 2013-2014, 2012-2013 and 2011-2012 school years and are based on the latest available audited school district data provided by the Michigan Department of Education.
The 14 Michigan school districts to receive a “Most Improved” Munetrix Score based on financial performance from 2012 to 2017 are:
| School District | 2017 Enrollment | Fiscal Score | |||||
| 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 | 2015-2016 | 2016-2017 | ||
| Bellaire Public Schools | 395 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Brighton Area Schools | 7,690 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Holly Area School District | 3,287 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Montrose Community Schools | 1,430 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| North Dickinson County Schools | 279 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Oak Park School District | 4,973 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Perry Public Schools | 1,206 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Redford Union Schools | 3,281 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Reed City Area Public Schools | 1,578 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Romulus Community Schools | 2,908 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Van Dyke Public Schools | 2,606 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Vassar Public Schools | 1,167 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Westwood Heights Schools | 1,898 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| White Cloud Public Schools | 966 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
“The challenges to Michigan’s public school finances are broad and far-reaching, yet these districts, even tiny Bellaire with only 395 students and North Dickinson with 279, are managing to work their way back to fiscal wellness – and are to be commended for their fiscal stewardship,” Munetrix President Bob Kittle said. “As Michigan’s overall student population continues to decline, with no signs of a significant trend reversal, districts are showing resiliency and commitment to their primary educational mission, while aiming to stay financially solvent.”
Three Districts make both Munetrix “Most Improved” and “Perfect Score” lists
Kittle noted that three districts on the list, Montrose Community Schools, Oak Park School District and Reed City Area Public Schools also appeared on the perfect Munetrix Score list released by the company in February 2018.
“These schools deserve special commendation because they improved eight points over a three-year period and sustained a perfect Munetrix Score of zero for two additional years,” Kittle said. “Each of these districts serves different geographic and demographic student populations, yet they have achieved an equivalent level of success in fiscal wellness. The challenge for these schools, and all the other districts on the most improved and perfect Munetrix Score lists, is to keep the positive trends going.”
Since its founding in 2010, Munetrix has continued to build its reputation among government and school district leaders. Munetrix is one of only two approved vendors prequalified by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget to provide data analytics tools for reimbursement to both Michigan public school districts and cities, and is the only resource provider that generates a fiscal wellness measure. In December 2017, the company received “Readers’ Choice Top Products” recognition for the second consecutive year from K-12 leaders’ education trade publication, District Administration. Munetrix has also been named a GovTech100 company for three consecutive years, an annual index by Government Technology magazine that highlights the top 100 companies in the country serving government in unique, innovative and effective ways.
About Munetrix
Michigan-based Munetrix, among the nation’s largest aggregators of municipal and school district data, promotes municipal wellness and sustainability through its cloud-based data management tools and proprietary performance management applications. In partnering with Munetrix, communities and school districts can manage their data and access cost effective products and advisory services to make meaningful and reliable budgets, financial projections, trend reports and forward-looking decisions. Learn more about your school or community’s Munetrix Score at the Munetrix website.
The above is for information purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Munetrix and its principals are not financial or investment advisors. No one should make any investment decision without first consulting his or her own financial or investment advisor.
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