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School enrollment declines in Solon
(by Sue Hoffman - August 17, 2011)
School enrollment declines in Solon
By SUE HOFFMAN
When school begins next Tuesday (Aug. 23), the Solon School District will have fewer students and a reduction of 24 full-time-equivalent teachers.
"We're 153 down today," School Superintendent Joseph V. Regano told the board of education about the number of students registered. With continued enrollment of new students up until the start of school, he estimated the decrease would be closer to 100.
The reduction is partly caused by the large 472-member senior class that just graduated and the new kindergarten class that numbers fewer than 300, Mr. Regano said.
Because of the trend of declining enrollment in the district, the strategic planning committee action team will be meeting this fall to decide the most effective and efficient use of facilities. Among their options, the action team could decide to close one of the district's seven school buildings and/or reconfigure grade levels in the schools.
"If I were to see any rise in enrollment, we wouldn't start," Mr. Regano said. He said the action team, which includes many parent volunteers, will start meeting in September and conclude by Dec. 31. "There will be a decision shortly after." He said the committee's decision could be to watch enrollment one more year.
Mr. Regano has said, if a school is to be eliminated as a regular attendance center, several factors point to Arthur Road Elementary School because of the difficulty to maintain the facility and the challenges caused by its multi-level design.
Mr. Regano and school board members said parents' views are important in the decision-making and they are welcome to join the action team.
"We don't make these decisions in a vacuum," board President Julie Glavin said.
Teachers are down in number, and many of the new hires to fill vacancies are less than full time, school officials said. Starting salaries are 6.8 percent less than they previously were as part of the district's budget reduction and new contract with Solon Education Association.
Even with fewer staff, elementary school class sizes should be approximately the same as they were previously, Mr. Regano said. "Classes should all be in the same ranges." He said there shouldn't be a significant change at the middle school or high school.
As parents get ready for the new school year, relief is on its way with a new electronic form replacing emergency cards that were previously completed in duplicate, school officials said.
"It's a huge time saver," communications director Tamara Strom said. Parents can complete the form on line, print and sign it for their students to take with them the first day of school.
In addition to reducing duplication, "we're condensing several forms into one form," she said, including acceptable use policy, video release and student handbook signoff.
Parents also submit the form online for the school's database. The district will be working on a system for next year which would eliminate the need for hard copies, Ms. Strom said.
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