MENTONE – Preliminary data shows that enrollment at Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. is down so far this year compared to the past two years.
Official student count day by the state is Friday, with another count day scheduled for February.
During the 2010-11 school year, Valley had 2,089 students. For 2011-12, the student count was 2,058.
During the school board meeting Monday, Superintendent Brett Boggs reported that day’s enrollment was 1,984 students. It was 1,987 on the first student day, Aug. 17, but then 1,981 students on Aug. 24.
Enrollment at each of Valley’s four schools Monday was 606 at the high school, 517 at the middle school, 476 at Mentone Elementary and 385 at Akron Elementary.
During 2011-12, enrollment was 611 at the high school, 526 at the middle school, 529 at Mentone and 392 at Akron.
Boggs said Valley is experiencing the same student decline as other rural school districts.
“What’s amazing to me, as far as we are in the school year, is the number of students moving in and out of the school district every day,” he said.
Boggs attributed the bulk of the enrollment drop to the economy. People are moving to other states for employment and seeing their homes foreclosed on, and Boggs said they are hearing stories of families doubling up in homes.
He said Valley was being impacted somewhat by online schools and homeschooling. More Amish families live in the school district, too, he said.
“I don’t think charter schools has had any impact on us, and the voucher program has had minimal impact,” Boggs said.
Mark Wise, board president, said the enrollment drop is not something the board wanted to hear.
“That’s the reality we’re in,” Boggs responded. “We have to deal with that. We’ll still provide a quality education.”
With no remonstrators at the meeting, the school board easily approved the 2013 capital projects fund plan, school bus replacement plan and the budget.
The total 2013 advertised budget is $22,421,594, up slightly from the 2012 advertised budget of $21,990,723.
Upcoming board meetings will be Oct. 8, Nov. 12 and Dec. 10. They all are at 7:30 p.m. at Mentone Elementary School.
