District looks at enrollment projections

(by Andrea Cordle, Southwest Editor - February 24, 2009)

The South-Western City School Board of Education got an enrollment rundown at the Feb. 23 meeting.

Janice Collette, director of pupil services for the district, said enrollment at the intermediate, middle and high schools are up. Enrollment at the elementary level is down.

For the 2009/10 school year, the enrollment projection is 20,795. Collette said for the next school year, she expects to see about 24 fewer students at the elementary level. For the 2008/09 school year, approximately 7,722 students will be in elementary school. For 2009/10 the number drops to 7,698.

"Part of the decline is probably due to the economy and the housing market," said Collette. "Two local charter schools also opened in July of 2008."

Collette said the last major increase in elementary students was in 2001, with approximately 646 new students.

"There was a big housing boom in 2001," she noted.

This is why there is an enrollment increase in the intermediate, middle and high schools.

"A lot of those students are now eighth graders," said Collette. "The bubble is now moving up."

For the 2008/09 school year, the total enrollment projection was 20,751. For the 2009/10 school year, the number jumps slightly to 20,795, which is 44 more students.

School Bell Awards

Six employees received School Bell Awards at the meeting. Those honored were commended by community members for going "above and beyond" the call of duty.

Those awarded include Dusty Rhodes, a tutor with Central Crossing High School; Paul Smathers, principal at Finland Middle; Erik Shuey, assistant principal at Westland High School; Janie Grim, Westland secretary; Deb McGinnis, speech therapist at Stiles Elementary; and Lyndsey Harbin, a fourth grade teacher at Prairie Norton Elementary.

The board of education congratulated those honored.

Next BOE meeting

The next public board of education meeting is set for March 9 at 7 p.m. at the district office on Marlane Drive.

Board President Cathy Johnson wanted to remind residents that if they wish to address the board regarding a non-agenda item, they must call in and sign up by the Thursday prior to the meeting.
 

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