By DAVE SCHULTZ
The enrollment of the Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District hit a 20-year high during the 2021-22 school year, Superintendent Brad Yates said Monday night, and he expects the enrollment for the 2022-23 school year to be about the same.
Yates said the most recent school year concluded with an enrollment of 1,663.53 students. The number following the decimal point came from students who were not taking full-time classes, Yates said.
Earlier in the school year the district reported an enrollment of 1,727.32, but mid-year graduates lowered that total.
The district graduated 115 seniors in the Class of 2022, Yates said in his enrollment report given to the BHMSD school board, and there are 117 students registered for kindergarten for the 2022-23 school year — in essence, the Class of 2035. Yates said more could be added during the summer.
“Assuming our 10-year average kindergarten enrollment of 130 students, and no changes in grades 1 through 11, we project our enrollment ADM (average daily membership) to be 1,700 for the fall student count,” Yates said in his report. “Traditionally, we have families transition to and from our district over the summer break each year.”
“We’re in a good spot in terms of enrollment,” Yates said, noting that school resumes Aug. 10.
Yates also gave updates on school renovations and improvements.
The middle school roof replacement and improvement project is moving ahead. He expects the special education and front office ready for the start of the school year with the major electrical switch over occurring over the school’s fall break. Lockers are in the process of being switched out and the pool has been drained and is being repaired.
The high school guaranteed energy savings project is also moving ahead as crews are moving from room to room to remove existing equipment in preparation for new equipment. Also, the effort to move the culinary arts program from the middle school to the high school is under way.
In other business:
• The school board members present — Mike Murray, Bruce Holland, Julie Thompson, and Trent White (Angie Sheets was absent) — accepted the retirement of Lisa Smith, who has taught 32 years in the Bluffton-Harrison school district, most of them in third grade. The resignations of two other instructors — kindergarten teacher Lauren Smith and special education instructional assistant Kalynn Adkins — were also accepted. Several employment recommendations were also accepted.
• Assistant Superintendent Julie Meitzler presented a report on grants and goals pertaining to those grants.
• A three-year contract for Yates was approved on a 4-0 vote. His base salary will be $138,000 for the 2022-23 school year and will go up 3 percent for the final two years of the contract.
• The board accepted three donations, the food bids from Region 8, and changes to the student handbook and the transportation handbook.
• Deb Johnson was reappointed as the district’s representative to the Wells County Public Library.
• The board agreed to review its return to education plan in accordance with U.S. Department of Education guidelines. The plan must be reviewed every six months.
daves@news-banner.com
