BROOKINGS — Brookings School District Superintendent Summer Schultz provided an overview of where the district is sitting at the school board’s meeting last week.
The district’s K-12 enrollment is at 3,455. This number has remained consistent over the last five years. Schultz said she expects that trend to continue, despite low birth rates in South Dakota. She said that the incoming kindergarten enrollments currently is at about 230 and the outgoing senior class has 270 students, so there may be a slight decline next year.
She said Brookings County, despite the state’s lower birth rates, has grown by 4% because more people are moving into the area.
The number of students with disabilities is at 685. There are 210 English language learners, 127 open-enrolled students and 15 homeless youth. She added that 20 percent of the student population is on free or reduced price lunches.
Schultz said the four major bills affecting the district from the South Dakota Legislature are:
• A funding increase of 1.4%.
• An increase in the fund for special education from $4 million to $5 million.
• A bill that permits the board to assign a student who has engaged in aggressive of violent behavior to an alternative setting.
• Provides for the state Education Department to reimburse schools for the price of reduced-prices breakfasts and lunches.
On the budget side, she said the district will see a substantial increase for insurance and utilities. With state aid to education at about $7,602 per student, the loss of about 40 students will mean a significant less funding.
She noted that increases in efficiency due to the recently passed boundary changes will help offset the funding losses.
The board also voted to reduce staff by not renewing the contracts of three teachers.
Schultz also gave statistic at per student costs for each building:
• Brookings High School pays $6,174.35 per student.
• Mickelson Middle school runs at $7,031.78 per student.
• Hillcrest has the highest per student cost at $9,141.41.
• Medary Elementary pays $7,777.35 per student.
• Camelot Intermediate’s cost per student in $6,219.83.
• Dakota Prairie’s cost per student is $6,494.69.
She note that the cost per student at the three elementary schools should be more closer to the same level due to the new boundary changes.
Because of the new boundaries, open houses will be held at each of the elementary school fro 4:30 to 6 p.m. on April 28. This will give families a chance to register at their new schools, meet the staff and go on tours of the schools.
Schultz said an audit of middle and high school schedules revealed some more efficiencies.
On the facilities side, Schultz noted that phase 1 of the high school and CTE building renovation will begin in about a month.
On the academic side, she identified four future goals:
• Improving student reading scores — all students need to read using “the science of reading.”
• All grades collectively improve attendance by 10%.
• All specialty programs will achieve at least 80% of established growth indicators.
• Doing a better job of helping all students regulate emotions.
• Helping students reaching their academic potential.
She said the district continues to offer excellent early childhood program. She noted that the Boys & Girls Club was able to create 70 new slots for the younger children.
— Contact Doug Kott at [email protected].
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