Express graphic by Coly McCauley Figures released this week by the Blaine County School District show that enrollment is up for the 2010-11 school year by almost 100 students.
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Enrollment is up almost 100 students this year in the Blaine County School District, suggesting that district officials were on track when they projected the district would need a new elementary school within the next few years.
"The money's there," district Assistant Superintendent John Blackman said Wednesday. "I think for the most part the pressure has been from the public not to build, but if the trend continues then we'll have to look at a new building."
Nearly $14 million was authorized for construction of a new elementary school in a 10-year, $59.8 million plant facilities levy approved by Blaine County voters in October. Nonetheless, district officials have promised not to collect and spend the money unless a new school is needed.
Figures released this week by the district show that enrollment after the first week of school was at 3,412. That compares with enrollment of 3,318 after the first week for the 2009-10 school year.
District Business Manager Mike Chatterton told the school board at its monthly meeting Tuesday evening that this year's enrollment is "only four students off" from the 3,316 students he projected for the 2010-11 school year when district officials were preparing the proposed expenditures for the plant facilities levy.
"I feel very good about the numbers we've projected, and realistically I'm thinking a new school will be built," Chatterton said. "But we're going to wait a couple of years, or at least another year, before we decide if another school will be built and where."
According to information released by the district prior to the levy vote, if Chatterton's projects continue to hold true, the district will need a new elementary school by 2014.
Board Chair Julie Dahlgren said in an interview that she was not surprised that enrollment was up this year.
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"Mike has this formula from 30 years of enrollment and he's been right on," Dahlgren said. "In a couple of years, we'll reassess whether we need that new elementary school that was approved in the levy. It's still a little early to tell, but we're glad that people aren't fleeing the valley."
Blackman said a lot of people expected a decline in enrollment this year.
"That was kind of the rumor, especially with the downturn in the economy," he said. "What's surprising is that it [Chatteton's projection] was right on the nose when most people thought it would drop."
According to figures released by the district, first-week enrollment was up at three of four elementary schools in the county, the only exception being Hemingway Elementary School in Ketchum where enrollment declined by six students.
Bellevue Elementary School enrollment increased by 33 students, Hailey Elementary School by 23 and Woodside Elementary School by seven.
Carey School, which enrolls students K-12, showed an increase of four students.
Wood River Middle School had an increase of 37 students.
The combined enrollment this year at Wood River and Silver Creek high schools was two students short of the previous year.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Board to interview candidates
The Blaine County School District board of trustees will hold a special public meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 28, to interview candidates for a board vacancy.
"The public is invited and we will also deliberate in public," board Chair Julie Dahlgren said. "We've gone through the Idaho code and the public meeting law and we think this is the way to do it."
Four candidates have applied for the trustee opening created by the resignation in July of Trustee Mari Beth Matthews, who represented Zone 3, which encompasses western and northern Hailey and the area north of the city.
Applicants were David Gardner, Kathryn Graves, Jackie Mizer and Tommy Richmond.
Dahlgren said the candidates will be seated in a panel-discussion arrangement at the special meeting with each given the opportunity to answer questions prepared by board members and asked by Clerk of the Board Laurie Kaufman.
Selection of a new trustee will be made by board members and district Superintendent Lonnie Barber. Dahlgren did not specify whether a decision would be made that day or later.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. at the district office at 118 W. Bullion St. in Hailey.
