Grosse Pointe School Board to Talk Enrollment Numbers

Overall enrollment projections for the 2013/14 school year show the largest decline in students at the elementary level--an important factor to be discussed by the Grosse Pointe Public School Board Monday. 

The district staffs based on enrollment. Generally in May and June, the board determines whether any layoffs of teachers or other staff are necessary as it prepares to approve a budget. 

According to figures that will be presented to the board Monday, the middle school level is expected to gain about 40 students and the high school level is expected to gain about 8 students.

Meanwhile, the elementary level shows a dip in enrollment of about 95 students. Ferry and Mason elementary schools are the only two showing an increase in enrollment over the current number of students enrolled for this school year.

Monteith and Kerby elementary schools are the two projected to lose the most with drops of about 27 and 23, respectively.

The board must approve a budget by June 30 and it takes effect July 1. Although early registration is promoted by the school district, students may register essentially at any time. 

This year, some of the elementary schools had an influx of registrations in the week leading up to the first day of school. There were so many additional registrations, the district added a third section of kindergarten to Mason and Poupard Elementary Schools.

The numbers become even more important as the district factors in the state funding, which has been dwindling significantly for years but especially since Gov. Rick Snyder took office. The per pupil funding has decreased as the funds have been designated in other ways and as the governor has established certain criteria for schools to receive the full per-pupil funding.