Kearney R-I enrollment falls; kindergarten down 22 on first-day count

Kearney R-I’s data coordinator reported a year-over-year enrollment decline and warned the district should watch kindergarten cohorts for capacity planning.

"September membership is the last Wednesday in September. Each year, we take a head count," the data coordinator said. The presentation distinguished membership (which counts resident students and prorated part-time students for DESE) from enrollment (a head count that excludes resident students).

The district’s head-count enrollment was down about 59 students compared with the prior year, the coordinator said. Kindergarten specifically was down 22 students on the first day compared with the first day last year. The coordinator also said roughly 44 students transferred out to homeschool or private schools while 51 transferred in from homeschool or private schools during the interval presented.

Board members noted the decline has budget and staffing implications because elementary staffing and facilities are relatively fixed. One board member observed the kindergarten shortfall has compounded over two years and asked staff to monitor trends annually and compare them with demographic studies.

No immediate board action was taken; the figures were provided for monitoring and future planning.