Each year during the first four weeks of October, the state counts the number of students enrolled in our schools. This number is an important one because it determines our level of state funding. Unfortunately, the just completed student count shows fewer enrolled students than what we projected. We are thus, in the somewhat awkward predicament of now expecting less revenue than what we show in our budget. While it is obvious that we do not know all the reasons for this enrollment decline, several people have offered reasons why this is so.
From what I can tell, it is clear that our borough is a maturing community-fewer households have school age children. But it is also clear that our economy, or lack thereof, is playing a role in the declining numbers. I received a call from one man who said that he knows of 20 people who have left the borough to take jobs in the booming oil industry in North Dakota and Pennsylvania. Our challenge then, is how to continue to offer our students everything they deserve while working with fewer dollars. It is urgent that we all help craft an economic plan that will turn our economy around.
Declining Enrollment
Each year during the first four weeks of October, the state counts the number of students enrolled in our schools. This number is an important one because it determines our level of state funding. Unfortunately, the just completed student count shows fewer enrolled students than what we projected. We are thus, in the somewhat awkward predicament of now expecting less revenue than what we show in our budget. While it is obvious that we do not know all the reasons for this enrollment decline, several people have offered reasons why this is so.
From what I can tell, it is clear that our borough is a maturing community-fewer households have school age children. But it is also clear that our economy, or lack thereof, is playing a role in the declining numbers. I received a call from one man who said that he knows of 20 people who have left the borough to take jobs in the booming oil industry in North Dakota and Pennsylvania. Our challenge then, is how to continue to offer our students everything they deserve while working with fewer dollars. It is urgent that we all help craft an economic plan that will turn our economy around.