The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - The 2013-14 school year kicked off with enrollment numbers higher than anticipated in Waitsburg, and even more incoming students expected in the near future. Superintendent Dr. Carole Clarke updated board members at last week's school board meeting and requested additional help to meet the increased demands.

Earlier enrollment estimates for the 2013-14 school year projected 135 elementary students (grades K-6), 45 middle school students (grades 7-8) and 270 high school students. At the time of the Sept. 11 board meeting all three schools had more students enrolled than projected.

The elementary school currently has 143 students - eight more than anticipated. Of those, 22 are new to the district and 15 live out-of-district. The middle school has 48.2 students enrolled, as opposed to the 45 budgeted for. (The two-tenths figure is attributed to a homeschooled student who is taking one class at the school.)

The high school is 13.1 students over bud- geted enrollment, having 283.1 rather than the anticipated 270. (The one-tenth figure is attrib- uted to Running Start students taking classes both at the high school and at Walla Walla Community College.)

Clarke noted that there were several more stu- dents who will be enrolling shortly. "Things can always change, but the paperwork has been filled out," said Clarke.

In addition to the increase in class sizes, Dr. Clarke explained that the school is facing some extra challenges as well. "Many of the incoming students don't have the same academic back- ground as ours," she said. "Of the 27 incoming elementary students, only six are currently per- forming at grade level."

Another characteristic that makes Waitsburg unique is the large percentage of students re- ceiving special instruction. Between the three schools, 49 students - 17% of the student population - receive specially designed instruction or speech therapy. Of those, nine are new to the district this year.

Clarke explained that having over 40 students in the elementary band class goes beyond an educational issue to become a" health and safety issue." The larger class sizes at the elementary school also pose challenges from an educational aspect.

While the high school student population has increased as well, the ability to move beyond grade level only, when scheduling classes has enabled the school to satisfactorily absorb the in- creased student load. Cur- rent high school classes range in size from three to twenty-five students, with the majority of classes fall- ing in the 12 to 15 student range.

Clarke noted that the increased enrollment is not enough to warrant an in- crease in funding. In fact, current certificated staff is slightly above what is appor- tioned by the state budget. However, she felt strongly that additional staff was necessary from both health and safety and educational standpoints, and requested board approval for the ad- dition of one para-educator, not to work more than seven hours per day.

"I will examine the sched- ule to determine where the parapro would be utilized at what times," said Clarke. "We always try and put people where they are most skilled and can have the most impact." The school board unanimously approved the addition of the extra help, to be paid for from bond funds.