Enrollment figures show drop in student numbers
Administrators wait for late enrollees ahead of new term
BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer

HOWELL - When Howell pupils return to school on Sept. 7 there may well be fewer of them.

According to information provided by the office of Assistant Superintendent of Schools Karen Jones, the district's total enrollment as of Aug. 17 stood at 7,045 pupils. That represented a decrease of 240 pupils from the 2006-07 school year enrollment of 7,285 pupils.

Jones said this continues a trend of the past few years.

"There could be a number of different reasons and this year we will be conducting a demographic study that will give us an indication of what is happening," Jones said.

As of Aug. 17 the total enrollment for kindergarten had dropped from 641 pupils in 2006-07 to 603 pupils for 2007- 08; the total enrollment for first grade had dropped from 734 pupils in 2006-07 to 714 pupils in 2007-08; and the total enrollment for eighth grade had dropped from 933 pupils in 2006-07 to 835 pupils in 2007-08.

Jones said the decrease is spread out through all grade levels within the district.

Student enrollments just before the start of the new school year could change some of the enrollment figures. The official enrollment number that is sent to the state is provided by the district in October.

In other news, students at all three Howell middle schools will be adapting to a new schedule; there will be a mandated world language program for kindergarten and first grade pupils; and new textbooks, among other things.

According to Jones, the middle school students will follow a new schedule that will impact their special area curriculum. For example, the adopted schedule will change subjects such as technology, fine arts, physical education, and family and consumer science.

The format will now offer students classes with 60-minute blocks rather than 40-minute or 80-minute blocks.

Jones called the revised timetable ideal and said the new itinerary will make the students' schedules simpler and allow administrators to use staff members more efficiently.

In addition, the Remedial Education and Challenge basic skills program that focuses on language arts and mathematics has been expanded and will be offered to seventh- and eighth-graders throughout the district.

Kindergarteners and first-graders will now receive world language instruction through an interactive DVD program.

At the middle schools there will be a new science textbook program that will be module based. This program will cover life physical earth, space, and environmental science. There will be a large technological component which allows the students to have access to E- books.

The district's media circulation system has been advanced. According to Jones, students will soon be able to access this intranet (the district's internal network) from home.

In addition, the second year data driven decision-making initiative will take place. The Northwest Evaluation Association Testing provides testing to students in the fall and spring semesters. The test will assess what the students are not learning and allow the teachers to design instruction to individuals.

In addition to programs geared at student development, Jones said the district's staff will be provided with professional development on a daily basis.