Hudson district reports steady start to school year, enrollment at 1,940; construction nearly finished at several schools

Hudson School Board administrators said the district has had a smooth start to the school year and reported an enrollment of 1,940 students as they prepare for the district’s formal third‑Friday count in September. They also gave updated construction progress showing most work at North Hudson Elementary, EP Rock Elementary and the district office is nearly finished. The update came during a regular board meeting when a district staff member said administrators had held successful back‑to‑school staff meetings and had hosted the governor at two district buildings in the opening weeks. The staff member said the district will use the upcoming third‑Friday count as the official enrollment tally and noted the figure of 1,940 reflects counts taken at the end of last week. Why it matters: The third‑Friday count determines official enrollment totals used for state reporting and budgeting; small shifts between this preliminary figure and the official count can affect staffing and funding calculations. Administrators highlighted several construction items still in progress. At North Hudson Elementary, contractors were finishing a new cafeteria and a redesigned front drop‑off; staff reported afternoon pickup times averaging about five to seven minutes. EP Rock Elementary was completing a controlled main entrance, new office areas, the art room and media center built‑ins. The middle school work is largely done and district office windows and finishes are being installed. The district said about 1–2 percent of construction remains, mainly landscaping and final touches, and anticipated completion of several rooms “in the next two weeks.” District staff flagged one classroom‑size issue already visible in the latest data: Willow River’s fourth‑grade section exceeded the district’s class‑size guideline and will be adjusted on the published table. Administrators also noted a decline in first‑grade enrollment to below 300 students — possibly the first time in more than 20 years — while kindergarten enrollment was “just above” 300. Officials explained that final adjustments to district rolls typically follow requests for student records from other districts; students who transfer out are usually removed from local rolls only after records requests arrive. Middle‑ and high‑school enrollment figures were discussed; the middle school was reported around 1,065 students and the high school around 1,700. The district said it will continue to monitor enrollment and bring updated figures to upcoming meetings. The board did not take formal action on enrollment or construction during the presentation; staff requested any questions and moved on to other agenda items.