Beecher High School Principal Mike Meyer is puzzled by a drop in enrollment.
Meyer reported at the Sept. 9 District 200U meeting that the current enrollment was 334 – 10 less than last year. There are 81 freshmen, 85 sophomores, 98 juniors and 70 seniors.
Meyer thought that the numbers were going to go up this year. But he said that other schools from the River Valley Conference are also experiencing drops.
“We are 10 students down from last year, even though we had quite a few kids from other districts enroll,” Meyer said. “We had our RVC meeting with the (athletic directors) and the principals and it seems like we’re not the only one losing numbers.
“It’s kind of weird. Some of our private schools are down to 70, 60, 50. Whatever that means. But we had move-ins last year and now we’re down 10 kids this year. “Hopefully, it’s just like everything else. We hope it will bounce back.”
Numbers across the board are down in the district.
The junior high school has 246 students – 80 in sixth grade, 94 in seventh grade and 72 in eighth grade. In recent years, it has been in the 260-student range.
The elementary school reports 415 students with 24 in early childhood, 40 in kindergarten, 75 in first grade, 71 in second grade, 60 in third grade, 65 in fourth grade and 80 in fifth grade. In recent years, it has had enrollments in the 450-student range.
Budget banter
The board approved the fiscal year 2027 budget, which featured $19.87 in expenditures – an increase of $1.7 million from the last budget.
The district is paying $700,000 in damages for roof damage. Superintendent Jack Gaham originally said the damage would be in the $520,000 range but it shot up.
“With the roof over the gym, they weren’t able to just repair it, it ended up being a full replacement,” Gaham said. “So, it was $700,000 between the two storms that we had. That’s why the budget looks substantially higher.”
The district is counting on insurance to pay for most of the damage, but has to pay contractors now and it is coming out of the new budget.
Another big cost is special education tuition, which has increased by $400,000 over the past three years, according to Gaham.
“That’s significant, folks,” he said. “And that’s an expense we can’t avoid or ignore.”
A $200,000 cost for windows, $190,000 in bus expenses, $200,000 for new computers and a 17 to 20% increase in health insurance are also big numbers in the budget.
Other news
- The Nov. 11 board meeting has been moved to the junior high school because the high school will be hosting a regional math contest.
- The board hired Sebastiane Salazar as high school assistant girls soccer coach and acknowledged the resignation of elementary school teacher aide Ashley Montero.