Both Brandon and Goodrich school districts grew according to enrollment numbers following the state-wide head count on Wednesday.
Student enrollment in the Brandon School District is growing in the upper grades, is down at the intermediate school and remains about the same at the elementaries.
Overall, a preliminary count for the district shows a student count of 3,712, up 42 students from February and 59 students from last September’s count, said Patti Dixon, Brandon’s enrollment coordinator. Staff was added this year because of the anticipated increase, but because it was larger than expected, some classes have as many as 35 students at the high school.
Dixon is pleased with the higher number of students in the district, but is concerned with declining enrollment in the lower grades. Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School in particular is down 37 students to an enrollment of 541.
Dixon believes the reason for fewer students in the lower grades is the cost of homes in the area.
‘This area is more for established families than new families,? Dixon said. ‘There are no starter homes here for new families.?
If enrollment in the lower grades continues to decline, Dixon said the district would be concerned with staffing needs and restructuring might be considered.
Higher enrollment means more money for the schools, particularly with a per-pupil funding increase of $175 that was passed last month by the Michigan Legislature. The funding increase gives both Goodrich and Brandon schools a total of $6,875 per student and is the first increase in three years.
Over the last three years, Brandon Schools interim finance director Gary Kelley notes the district has cut everything possible to cut without hurting students? classroom experience. The district has not had any upgrades to furniture or equipment until purchasing new buses this year, has reduced non-teaching employees and has not done certain building and maintenance items that need to be worked on such as heating and air conditioning.
‘An increase in retirement costs and fringe benefit costs will eat up the vast majority of that increase,? Kelley says, estimating those costs will take up 80 percent of the increase. He is not sure what the remaining 20 percent will be spent on.
‘Our plan is to provide the best education possible for kids and put monies back as they become available.?
Kim Hart, Goodrich school district superintendent said an increase of 10 students was projected however, she’s pleased with the 66 new students and 3 percent hike in enrollment.
‘Many of the new students moved in from outside the area,? said Hart. ‘About 24 came from Holy Family in Grand Blanc, about 20 were from School of Choice.?
‘Second grade students increased the most with about 18 new students. The middle school was up about 30 students.?
Hart added that class sizes range from an average of 25 in kindergarten-second grade, 27 to 29 in third-fifth grades; sixth-eighth grades average 30-32 students and ninth-12th grades average about 31 students. Some classes including gym, band and choir may be a little higher says Hart.
‘We’d like every class under 30 students,? said Hart. ‘We added a second grade and fourth grade teacher to offset the increase.?
While the increase in enrollment means an increase in funding from the state, Hart says fuel costs are going to offset much of that increase.
‘The energy costs are going to exceed $500,000,? said Hart. ‘That will off set some of the increase of $175 per-student we will receive. You can only turn the heat down so much in the winter.?