Chisholm reports minor enrollment dip, growth in CTE and new course registrations

District administrators told the board that 7–12 enrollment stands at 283, down from 291 earlier in the year, and that total district enrollment sits near 697 — roughly 12 fewer students than the prior year. Officials said PSEO participation remains a major factor in the numbers: 26 seniors are still signed up for full or partial PSEO coursework for next year, and administrators said retaining students on campus remains a priority.

High school principal Mr. Molloy said program interest is strong: “We have over 20 students registered for personal fitness, which utilize our new weight room,” he said, and reported full sections in welding, small engines and auto mechanics. Administrators said they now offer online CIS options through a joint agreement with Infinity Online, and that an algebra II section has enough enrollment to run.

Board members and student representatives discussed ideas the students brought back from a state leadership convention — QR incentives to increase participation, pop‑up pizza drawings to reward attendance and a possible mental‑health week. Student leaders also reported fundraising activities: a teacher‑tattoo fundraiser raised roughly $574 for United Way’s Comforts Home program and earned the group a U Rock award for divisional fundraising.

Administrators said kindergarten preregistration figures are being monitored closely and that the district is watching Head Start transportation changes that may shift pre‑K demand; Head Start providers indicated they will no longer provide transportation regionally next school year, which could increase local pre‑K enrollment.

The board asked staff to continue monitoring PSEO enrollments and kindergarten counts and to return with data to guide staffing and programming decisions.