MENTONE – Student enrollment at Tippecanoe Valley Schools is down this year compared to last year, but the number of non-resident students attending Valley is about the same.
During the school board meeting Monday night, Superintendent Brett Boggs said the first day of school was Aug. 19. A week later, he asked school administrators for enrollment numbers.
The official count for the 2011-12 school year will be Friday. Last year’s official enrollment reported in September 2010 was 2,089 students.
As of Aug. 26, 2011, there were 2,063 students at Valley. Akron reported 387 students, Mentone had 534, Tippecanoe Valley Middle School had 527 and Tippecanoe Valley High School reported 615.
“Compared to last year’s ADM, enrollment is down 26 students. Official count day is Friday. We’re hoping we’ll add a few students from August, but realistically it’s probably down,” Boggs said.
Rural schools are showing declines in enrollment this year. Boggs said that might be attributed to high gas prices and a poor economy. People are living closer to work to save gas and gas money, or are moving in with family in urban areas.
Boggs reported a total of 48 non-resident students are attending Valley for the 2011-12 school year.
Of those, 22 are at Mentone, eight at Akron, nine at TVMS and nine at TVHS.
The transfer students include 19 from Warsaw, nine from Rochester, nine from Triton, five from North Miami, two from Manchester, two from Wawasee and two from MSD Wabash (Northfield).
Some student transfers were at Valley last year, Boggs said, but some are new. All have been approved and are attending Valley. They are included in Valley’s enrollment.
Board President Mark Wise asked if a student transfers to Valley after count day what the process will be.
Boggs replied they still need to apply, However, after count day, there is a charge.
He also reported on the TVHS Distinguished Alumni Class of 2012.
The alumni class includes 12 former graduates who have gone on to lead successful and productive lives. The alumni will be honored during Induction Day Sept. 23.
Events start early as the inductees will arrive at TVHS at 7:30 a.m.
From 7:30 to 8 a.m., the inductees will have breakfast and meet their student liaisons. Inductees will speak to groups of students from 8:10 to 10:10 a.m. Individual and group photos, and a tour of the high school, will be from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.
Lunch with students will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with individual interviews with Rochester Telephone Co. from 1:15 to 3 p.m.
After personal time for the inductees, there will be a community dinner in the TVHS commons from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Rita Price will interview each inductee during the dinner from 6 to 6:45 p.m.
During halftime of the football game, the inductees will be introduced at about 7:45 p.m.
“It’s a big day,” said Boggs. “A lot of effort has gone into it.”
