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District reports enrollment at lowest level in decades; trustees discuss CTE expansion
Summary
Administrators told the board district enrollment is the lowest in at least 35 years, prompting discussion about staffing reductions and plans to expand CTE (career and technical education) shop space; trustees and staff flagged a potential $3.5 million expansion and said they will seek community and industry funding.
District staff told trustees that district enrollment has fallen to its lowest level in at least 35 years, a decline that officials said will reduce staffing and strain existing facilities.
A staff presenter said the district lost 61 students between the first day and the end of the school year, matching the typical annual decline, and that the district's enrollment peak in 1991–92 exceeded 4,000 students. The presenter noted the average construction date of district facilities is 1983 and described ongoing maintenance work and recent additions such as the J Foundation program, which has received funding for the next two years.
Administrators said declining enrollment is tied to staffing reductions; the district will have about 15 fewer positions next year compared with three years ago as COVID funds and temporary positions are removed. Trustees discussed career and technical education (CTE) space constraints, saying some students must wait for openings in welding and shop classes and that some CTE equipment is operating in undersized or improvised spaces.
Board member Danny (trustee) said the facilities committee is exploring an expansion of the metal and wood shop area, estimating an approximate cost of about $3.5 million and noting the district will look for grant funding and support from mining, oil and gas industries. Staff said they will pursue potential funding and grants and continue conversations with industry partners and the community.
Trustees thanked staff for a year‑end summary highlighting activities, extracurricular participation rates and facility condition; no formal vote was taken on CTE expansion at this meeting.
