Enrollments

Enrollment has been a topic of discussion lately and I, and likely you, have heard many things circulating in the community.

The Post Review today has an article on last Thursday's school board meeting, at which enrollment data was provided. I encourage all to read the article to be reminded that the district, like the community at large, is suffering due to factors beyond its control. Housing starts - present and past - indicate what has been happening:

As noted in a demographer’s report last February, the decline in enrollment is directly correlated to a slowdown in residential development in the area.

That can be seen by noting that for the year, North Branch has had only 2 housing starts. In the early years of this century, that number soared to some 200 starts per year.

If you would like further information on enrollments, click here to view the presentation from last Thursday which includes all the data available on current enrollments.

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Levies are everywhere

The Pioneer Press has an article today about all the school districts seeking operating levies this fall:

The Minnesota Department of Education reports that 79 districts — the highest number in three years — are seeking levy authority in the Nov. 2 election to raise about $82.3 million in 2012 alone. Most levies would last for 10 years, with others for five.

Behind the spike is the state's projected $6 billion budget deficit, said Greg Abbot, spokesman for the Minnesota School Boards Association. Districts assume education funding will stay flat or fall while school costs keep going up, he said.

"The only way they can survive is if their local community steps up," Abbot said.

North Branch Area Public Schools was in the early wave of districts experiencing budget cuts due to flat funding, declining enrollment, and no operating levy in place. We've cut $13 million since 2003. We rank right near the bottom in state funding. Now, as enrollments have declined statewide and the state has not increased funding, we are seeing countless other districts experiencing the fallout. I encourage anyone who thinks budget cuts are a "North Branch problem" to read the entire article.

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Levy informational meeting

The school board will host a levy informational meeting on Thursday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. It will directly follow the school board's regular business meeting, which starts at 7 p.m.

At the levy meeting we will present information about the three questions on the Nov. 2 ballot, and those in attendance will have an opportunity to submit questions following the presentation.

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