Midway through the school year USD 383 had some encouraging news regarding enrollment numbers.

Assistant Superintendent Eric Reid presented counts from Jan. 15 during Wednesday’s school board meeting, showing only a slight decline from September, despite quarantines, students learning remotely and other factors. (Note: Reid’s mid-year enrollment report starts at the 1:39:00 mark on the board’s Feb. 3 meeting video).

“We’ve still seen a lot of fluctuation in and out, due to comfort levels of where people are, but we continue to add students and I think when I asked (Tuesday) at the DAT meeting, we get the principals on the squares and you go ok are we seeing more than this come up and the heads not were going up and down, they weren’t going side to side,” he said.

September counts showed 6,150 students across the district. The January count was 6,110, a drop of 40 students. Reid says while enrollment was down overall in September, he isn’t too worried about potential budget impacts as a result.

“I’m grateful for the community, I’m grateful for what everybody’s pushing through. As Katrina (Lewison) said, we had to fight to get back, we have to fight to stay. The people are doing the work. The community is doing the work,” he said.

Reid also credited and thanked building principals and administrators for work with families, who in some cases were forced to transfer their children from one building to another.

Friday marked one month since the district started its semester, returning to a five day on-site teaching and learning format. Last semester, classes were done in a hybrid model with students attending in person part of the week and from home part of the week. So far, this semester has gone on with little disruption, according to Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade.

“Our numbers continue to be challenging, but manageable. Watching staff is a concern, but we’ve been holding steady in terms of attendance numbers. They’re not great but they’re at a level that allows to continue to have on site students five days a week,” he said.

Wade says the district has continued to meet with its medical advisory team regarding COVID in the community. That conversation involves how the district can expedite the process for teachers and staff to receive vaccines.

“Right now over 80 percent of our staff have said they want to receive the vaccine as soon as possible and Riley County Health and local physicians are doing everything they can to keep this coordinated,” he said.

For the week ending Jan. 30, overall student attendance was at 92 percent, while staff attendance was at 87 percent. The district had 295 students and 28 staff members in quarantine. USD 383 board vice president Kristin Brighton says she’s encouraged by the hard work put out by teachers and staff to adjust these past few weeks.

“I actually got a call this week from a school board member in another district who wanted to know how we did it, so I think people are impressed and excited and we’re probably going to be leaders in helping other districts make that transition as well,” she said.

Brighton says looking ahead this month, parent teacher conferences will be held virtually.

“Secondary parent-teacher conferences start next week, especially at the high school run throughout the rest of the month. Elementary conferences run the week of the 15th, so in many ways it’s business as usual,” she said.

There is no school for all students Feb. 12. The elementary schools will also be out Feb. 18 and 19.

 

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