MENTONE – Enrollment is down at Tippecanoe Valley School Corp., and an educational trip to Europe is being planned for students in summer 2013.
During the school board meeting Monday night, Superintendent Brett Boggs said official student count day in Indiana was Sept. 16. The enrollment figures on that date are the numbers the Indiana Department of Education uses for its funding formula for schools.
Total students enrolled at TVSC schools for 2011-12 is 2,058. That’s down 31 students from 2,089 in 2010-11.
“It is what it is,” Boggs said.
In previous years, enrollment was 2,080 in 2009-10; 2,161 in 2008-09; 2,199 in 2007-08; and 2,218 in 2006-07.
Boggs said he has been following the enrollment of other schools. In rural schools, the trend seems to be a decline in enrollment.
At Akron Elementary, enrollment for 2011-12 is 392, down from 400 in 2010-11 and 431 in 2009-10.
Mentone Elementary’s enrollment this year is 529, down from 536 in 2010-11 but up from 519 in 2009-10.
Mark Wise, board president, said there seems to be a large difference in enrollment at the two elementary schools. Boggs said that makes sense as Mentone was built to house Burket students, too.
At the middle school, enrollment for 2011-12 is 526, down from 534 in 2010-11 but up from 505 in 2009-10.
For 2011-12, the high school enrollment is 611, down from 619 in 2010-11 and 625 in 2009-10.
Scott Smith requested permission from the school board to lead an international educational trip to London, Paris and Rome in summer 2013.
The trip is designed to enhance the learning of the Advanced Placement World History, AP Art History and Honors French students, but will be open to any student that would like to participate.
Cost of the trip is paid by the students attending and would be approximately $3,551 for students and $3,916 for adults. There will be some fundraising activities to help defer the cost.
Smith said the itinerary is for 11 days, with nine days on the ground. They would fly in to Rome, Italy, and visit the Vatican; Florence, Italy; Paris, France; and London, England.
Rod Eaton, board vice president, asked if any students expressed any interest in the trip. Smith said there were.
Wise asked if the trip required a minimum of eight people to go and if Valley might be grouped with other schools on the trip. Smith said “yes” to both questions.
The board approved the trip unanimously.
Another trip approved by the board was the senior trip to Washington, D.C. The trip is for April 17-22.
Cost of the trip is paid by the students. This year’s trip will be approximately $530 for students. If there are enough students, the trip will not only be to Washington, D.C., but also to Gettysburg, Pa.
Boggs reported the components for the wind turbine have started to arrive. The wind turbine will be constructed next week on the campus of the high and middle schools.
The cranes should be constructed Monday and Tuesday, Boggs said, with the construction of the wind turbine being Wednesday and Thursday.
Performance Services Inc. will have someone in the viewing area to answer questions and serve refreshments.
Bryan Murphy, board member, asked how long each day was the construction going to take place because people get off work at different times of the day. Boggs said he would ask, but he thinks they will be on site each day as long as they can to get it done in a timely manner.
“It looks like we’re pretty well where we should be,” Boggs said of the construction schedule.
By the end of November, the project should be completed.
