Posted: 10/20/04
By MaryHelen Swanson
North Branch schools were expecting 80 new students this year, but the Oct. 1 enrollment figure at 3,790 is actually 53 less than last year at this time.
Although the enrollment number does not include students in the Alternative Learning Center, distance learning and special needs programs outside the district, that 1.38 percent decrease in student enrollment has administration concerned.
ìIt complicates our situation,î said Superintendent Dr. Robert Stepaniak at last Thursday nightís school board meeting.
ìIt probably couldnít have come at a worse time.î
The reduced numbers, Stepaniak said in a written memo, were unexpected. He noted that for many years the district has seen enrollment increase at an average of 2 percent across the district.
The decreased numbers are all at the elementary level. The only increase this year comes at the middle and high school levels.
This yearís kindergarten class has 257 students and the senior class has 289.
Five grades have 300 or more students. The 6th and 8th grade classes are the highest at 330.
It complicates school operations by three-quarters of a million dollars, Stepaniak said.
However, the positive side of the decrease is that class sizes in the primary grades will be smaller than expected.
In his memo, Stepaniak noted that ìthis decline in enrollment makes the Nov. 2 operating referendum that much more important for the school district.î
Stepaniak asked the board how they would like to proceed with the enrollment information.
Is it a single occurrence, or a trend that will need to be planned for, he asked the board.
Is it because of some change in the community?
Should the district call in a professional demographer to look at the districtís current trends? There may be factors that have changed in the community, he said.
A professional could cost between $3,000 and $5,000.
The board agreed to talk about the issue at a work session set for 5 p.m. Nov. 4.
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