The Harrison County Board of Education received a warning about an unexpected budget challenge at its November meeting when the superintendent announced the district’s certified enrollment had dropped by 405 students.

“We have a loss of 405 students,” the superintendent told trustees, adding that the district’s preliminary estimate of the resulting reduction in state aid is “about $2,200,000.” The board was told staff have already limited some hiring and are preparing a detailed budget review for the coming months.

District leaders said they have been avoiding filling positions where possible since May and will meet with school administrators to consider transfers, realignments and other options before making final staffing decisions. The superintendent said the district will present more precise figures to the board in February so members can weigh levy and budget impacts.

Trustees and staff discussed factors that may be driving the decline, including students leaving for micro-schools, homeschooling, vaccine-related changes that affected 3K enrollment and broader county population trends. Officials noted that Harrison County continues to fund nurse positions extensively — with an LPN in every building and nine RNs across the district — and acknowledged those services are costly but considered important.

The board also said it will use its excess levy as part of budget planning and confirmed that final staffing and program decisions will be made after the February presentation and further analysis.