Pine Plains numbers stay steady, Webutuck student enrollment falls

HARLEM VALLEY — While student enrollment numbers remain steady in the Pine Plains school district, student numbers are slowly declining in the Webutuck district, causing some concern from board president Dale Culver.

Superintendent of Schools Richard Johns announced through his Key Communicator e-mail newsletter Wednesday that 901 students were enrolled in the district for this school year, a drop of 13 students from last year.

“At Webutuck, when we look at enrollment, there is always a concern about becoming ‘too small’,� Johns wrote in his e-mail. “In the meantime, we need to keep in mind that while we are the smallest school [district] in Dutchess County, a third of New York’s school districts are our size or smaller. I do not think enrollment trends should be a great concern [because] by their very nature, they are highly predictable or manageable.�

However, board president Culver said he is very concerned with enrollment numbers in the district.

“I’ve been concerned since 1998 because [the district] has seen a steady progressive decline and the projections we were given at the time did not show a consistent pattern every year,� Culver said. “I have been concerned that we would continue to downsize [teachers].�

He said that enrollment is a major factor when it comes to staffing, facility needs and supply budget planning in the district.

Johns said the district eliminated an elementary teacher position last year due to declining enrollment.

“We did anticipate the enrollment drop and as long as you see this coming you can react appropriately to it,� he said. “Enrollment is just whoever walks in the front door. No matter if the [student] enrollment is up or down, we will still educate.�

In the Pine Plains school district, school superintendent Linda Kaumeyer said 1,242 students are enrolled this year, an increase of two students from last year.

“I think these numbers are consistent with what was predicted in a demographic study commissioned in 2005 to advise us in enrollment trends,� Kaumeyer said. “I think the district generally is considered sparsely populated, but smaller schools have many advantages because they provide more personalized attention and forge a sense of community.�

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