It was back to the books on Tuesday for many of the students statewide including those in local schools.
‘We had a very smooth start to school on Tuesday,? said Matt Outlaw, new Brandon superintendent. ‘Our principals, teachers and support staff all did an incredible job getting things ready. The excitement from the students and staff was outstanding and it really was a great way to launch the year.?
‘As it stands now, our kindergarten number is down from last year, but this has to do with our declining population in the 5-17 year old age group across much of Michigan and especially in northern Oakland County,? he said. ‘Last year’s senior class had 311 students in it during the fall count. Our incoming kindergarten class has closer to 140.?
‘The really good news is that we have an increase in every grade cohort across the district, for example last year’s first grade class of 2025 had an enrollment of 177 and this year our second grade number is 193 each and every cohort has picked up students from last year,? he said. ‘We anticipate that we will outpace our enrollment projections this year.?
The statewide student count day is Oct. 1 with about 90 percent of the state funding at stake. Most of a district’s per-pupil funding will be determined by this week’s count, while a second count taken in February is worth 10 percent.
In the Goodrich School District, first-year Superintendent Michelle Imbrunone was pleased with a good start to the school year with starting enrollment for the district at 2,054 students. In fall 2013 a total of 2,089 were enrolled in the Goodrich schools. The spring 2014 count was 2,072 students.
‘The newly reconfigured Reid Elementary opened its doors with excitement and enthusiasm as it is now the new home to pre-kindergarten-first grade,? she said. ‘The first day of school is always an exciting, but sometimes nervous, occasion for students as well as parents. The first day was filled with teaching students the daily routines of school. I was so impressed to see the smiles and excitement as we welcomed our newest Martians.?
The 2014 school year started with Reid Elementary School with 249 (developmental kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade), Oaktree Elementary 519 (second through fifth grade), middle school at 525 students and high school at 761.