Some school districts on the North Olympic Peninsula are expecting a dip in enrollment.
Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Brinnon, Quilcene and Chimacum school districts will start up first, on Tuesday.
Port Angeles schools have seen the most change as a result of the transitions of closing Fairview Elementary School building, consolidating Roosevelt and Stevens middle schools and realigning the grades to include sixth grade at the elementary level.
The transitions are a result of declining enrollment in the district.
Enrollment has declined since 1997-98, when the district had 4,944 students.
The all-time high enrollment for Port Angeles School District was in 1967-68 with 5,138 students.
The previous low for the district had been 4,307 students in 1984.
A new low was reached in the 2006-07 school year with 4,033 students — a decline of 911 students over nine years.
Fewer students means less money for the district, since state funds are allotted based on the number of students in a district.
To save about $735,000 a year, the School Board decided to close Fairview Elementary and consolidate Roosevelt and Stevens middle schools.
The district expects to see anther small dip in enrollment with a predicted 3,938 in enrollment, but numbers won’t be known until a few days after the first school day, Superintendent Gary Cohn said.
“It is hard to say right now,” Cohn said.
“We still have some students on the books that might not return and might not have some on the books that will show up.
“Until we have done the official head counts and have confirmed with the families who are on the books, it is a guessing game.”
Chimacum, PT
Chimacum schools are also looking at a slight decline in students of about 50 or so, Superintendent Mike Blair said.
The predictions can be quite preliminary he said, because the numbers are based on predictions and estimates only not on students in seats.
“Right now we’re looking at a lot of unknowns,” Blair said.
“We’ll have some that don’t show up and some that do show up that we don’t know about.”
Port Townsend School District expects to be about where they ended last year, but also said the numbers were very preliminary.
Official numbers and better predictions on final figures will be available on Friday, once the official reporting enrollment numbers have been collected, Superintendent of Port Townsend School District Tom Opstad said..
“Until there are students in the seats, it is hard to say,” Opstad said.
The district expects about 1,400 students, Opstad said.
Wednesday start date
Sequim, Crescent and Quillayute Valley school districts will begin on Wednesday.
Superintendent Bill Bentley will get settled into his new spot as the leader of the district this year.
Bentley said he was not sure how enrollment would unfold, and declined to make an estimate until the seats are filled.
In the Quillayute Valley School District, decisions facing the board this year include whether to seek a bond for the high school.
Plans are still being tweaked for a potential rebuilt Forks High School.
Parts of the building, constructed about 80 years ago, are essentially worn out.
In addition to the fixes on the high school, the middle school will need a new heating system because it is now heated by the same steam boiler.
The parts of the building in need of repairs make up about 60 percent of the high school.
The School Board is evaluating what other bond issues are going to be on the ballot and whether the issue will be put to a bond.
All-day kindergarten
Crescent School District will start up with all-day kindergarten for the first time.
“We know that this is what is best for kids,” Superintendent Tom Anderson said.
The district hopes to see results improve on the WASL as students who have the benefit of all-day kindergarten move up in grade levels.
Cape Flattery School District schools will start up on Thursday.
The most notable change will be the construction at the Clallam Bay campus.
“If you ask any teacher if they will be in the building teaching on Thursday, there might not be many who will tell you yes,” Superintendent Gene Leas said.
“But things are moving very quickly now, windows are installed, and flooring will be laid.
“We will be done on time for school to start.
“It will be a beautiful campus.”
The elementary campus was completely reconstructed over the course of the summer.
The common outdoor area will not be finished, but should be completed by the end of September, Leas said.
The Neah Bay gymnasium was also completely revamped, and should be finished save for the concession stand and restrooms, Leas said.
The Clallam Bay gymnasium will have similar remodels which will begin after basketball season is over.
Vaccinations, new rules
Parents should also make sure their children are up to date on vaccinations. Required vaccinations Hepatitis B, DTaP, Polio, MMR and Varicella.
Also statewide, new rules concerning free and reduced lunch could help some parents out.
“We are trying to get the word out to parents,” Roseanne Butler, superintendent’s secretary in Port Townsend School District, said.
The new rules say that free breakfast and lunch will be available for students kindergarten through third grade that qualify for reduced as well as the free lunches.
In fourth through 12th grades, free breakfast will be available for both categories, and a minimal payment for the reduced lunch category for the lunch menu.
“For parents that need it this is a wonderful way to make sure that their children are fed well,” Butler said.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS across the North Olympic Peninsula resume classes this week.
Here are the days each district will welcome students back to school.
Tuesday:
ä Port Angeles School District.
ä Port Townsend School District.
ä Brinnon School District.
ä Quilcene School District.
ä Chimacum School District.
Wednesday
ä Sequim School District.
ä Quillayute Valley School District.
ä Crescent School District.
Thursday
ä Cape Flattery School District.
