Board discusses future enrollment

The Ely School Board did its best to look at future enrollment numbers and hope for increases, but not much will change. There is the possibility of a larger kindergarten class next year with a potential 54 kids in the four-year-old age class. This year’s kindergarten enrollment stands at 39. Superintendent and elementary principal Tom Bruels warned the board that numbers can change rapidly.“In the fall of 2001 we had 49 in the four-year-olds and we only had 33 enroll in the fall of 2002,” said Bruels. “Some came in a year later as six-year-olds and some moved out of town.” The census figures are used to determine the district’s community service levy but as far as using the numbers for planning, Bruels said it doesn’t always work well.“It’s difficult to track across and by age as accurate predictions,” said Bruels.“If you look at the 54 you might have 27 who don’t know if they’re going to send their child to kindergarten until the first day of school,” said Bruels. “Carol Zupancich starts in March trying to get kids registered but usually we don’t get some of them until the first day of school.”“If parents knew it might make the difference between two and three section, maybe that would help,” said board member Peggy York-Jesme.“Well, 18 is optional and 27 is too many if 54 register,” said Bruels. The question of how many kids are home schooled in the district was raised and Bruels said the number isn’t as high as many people think.“We have 29 when we last counted in November,” said Bruels. “I think the perception is we have a lot more home schooled than we do.” The numbers for home schooled kids fluctuate as well. Ely started off this school year with 31 kids being home schooled.Since the district does not receive any funding for home schooled kids, the issue is as much financial as anything. There have been times when students will enroll midway through the school year.“Sometimes kids will be home schooled part of the year and come for rest of the year here on a full-time basis,” said Bruels.York-Jesme has served as the district’s liaison with parents of home schooled students.Board chair Rudy Semeja asked if she had been approached about the district offering more advanced classes.“I haven’t had anybody approach me as a large group,” said York-Jesme.She said there is a large number of home schoolers participating in the cross country ski program. “In grades K-12 we have 29 students home schooled so that’s around a dozen families,” said Bruels. In other business the board:• Heard from student council representative Mary Bruels that a new popcorn popper had been purchased for the junior class. She said the student council donated $100 to the Food Shelf and is looking at buying bike racks for high school students and putting on an assembly on meth. • Heard from Bruels that the breakfast and after school snack programs had been stopped after a test period revealed not enough income. • Approved the maximum levy of $809,986.24 for property taxes payable in 2005. Bruels said the total is down $30,000 from last year.• Approved hiring Amy Kingsley and Sheila Clouse as assistant speech coaches for $880 each.• Appointed Semeja as the school district’s legislative liaison.