Brandon Twp.- The number of students starting kindergarten in the district this year was higher than anticipated, helping to reduce enrollment losses.
The district previously projected a decline in enrollment of 175 students for the 2015-16 school year. However, as of Sept. 11, preliminary numbers showed the district was down about 114 students, an improvement over the last few years.
‘It is really too early to make too many assumptions, but it shows that we are bucking the previous enrollment trend that we were on as a district,? said Superintendent Matt Outlaw. ‘We invested really heavily in early childhood education and we’re seeing returns on the investment.?
The district’s junior kindergarten and kindergarten classes saw an increase of 20 students over last year. While preschool students are not included in general education enrollment as the district does include receive a per-pupil foundation allowance for them as they do for K-12, the youngest students in the district are also increasing.
The district’s current foundation allowance is $7,391 per pupil. The official student count day is Oct. 7, but as of now, the district has a total student enrollment of 2,731. The district had budgeted for a loss of 175 students, but with the decline not as steep as expected, administrators were able to bring back a teacher in jun-ior kindergarten, as well as one in kindergarten and hired more preschool staff.
Outlaw said budgeting for improved finances resulting from fewer lost students hasn’t yet been discussed, but the district is facing financial liabilities including replacement of wastewater treatment plants and a new pool roof.
The district is also expecting continued declines in enrollment, although they will adjust next year’s projections based on this year’s enrollment.