Enrollment numbers fall for Gilchrist schools

By Carrie A. Mizell

Just before the Labor Day holiday, officials at the Gilchrist County School District reported 16 less students from the start of school last year.
As of the eighth day of school, which was Friday, Aug. 27, there were 2,674 students enrolled in Gilchrist County schools.
According to David Dose, director of finance for the Gilchrist County School District, officials projected that the school district would be down 15 students from last year’s enrollment numbers.
“Enrollment numbers this early in the school year are extremely fluid,” explained Ronda Parrish, director of educational services. “One day you show growth in the district; the next day you show a decline. New students are still enrolling and former students are withdrawing every day. We generally see this in and out pattern until Labor Day.”
Bell Elementary School has 28 more students this school year than they recorded in 2009-2010. According to principal Sherry Lindsey, the school year has started off well.
“We are in our second phase with the parking lot in front of the school,” Lindsey said. “Everyone is doing a great job following the new pick-up and drop-off procedures which have been put in place to keep everyone safe.”
At Trenton Elementary School, principal Riley Deen reported that enrollment numbers are down 27 students from the 2009-2010 school year.
“One thing we have done this year to help our parents is we have opened up the bus loop for overflow parking,” Deen explained.
Rick Reed, principal of Bell High School, explained that BHS is off to a very, very good start this school year, despite enrollment numbers dropping, as the school was down 22 students.
At Trenton Middle-High School, principal Lynette Langford wanted to thank students for adhering to the school district’s new cell phone policy.
TMHS has five more students enrolled this school year than they recorded in 2009-2010.
Superintendent Don Thomas explained that school district officials will now look at the number of students who are actually attending schools in the county this year and begin examining how the district’s class counts match with the Class Size Amendment.
“The schools will continue to monitor the number of students we have on roll in core classes which are part of the Class Size calculation (Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, Exceptional Student Education and Elementary),” Thomas said.
The superintendent said that the school district is off to a strong start for the 2010-2011 school year.