Student attendance matters. Not only does attendance mean students do better, but the schools get more state money when attendance goes up.
The State of Alabama allocates money to school systems such as the Elmore County Board of Education using a system called Average Daily Membership (ADM). It is a measurement of a school’s enrollment in the 20 days after Labor Day.
In getting ready for the month after Labor Day, Elmore County Schools took a look at attendance and enrollment to see areas of growth and loss. At its meeting last week, the Elmore County Board of Education was presented with an ADM if it was already taken for the school year. It showed small growth across all schools but those in the Millbrook area. It’s an area a new charter school, Ivy Classical Academy is operating in and according to superintendent Richard Dennis has 188 students from Elmore County enrolled. Currently Coosada Elementary School is down almost 108 students from last year, Airport Road Elementary School is down about 11 students and Millbrook Middle School is down about 69 students.
Dennis doesn’t believe the decline in the Millbrook schools is related to the charter school.
“We have been watching a similar trend for several years now,” Dennis said. “It is something we need to keep our eye on.”
The declining enrollment means the state will not fund as many teachers.
Other schools in Elmore County are experiencing growth. Holtville Elementary School is up almost 22 students this year. Holtville Middle School added another 15 students.
The Holtville schools are closely watched to prevent overcrowding.
“We are no longer allowing hardship exemptions there,” Dennis said.
Hardships are when parents apply for out of district attendance to aid mainly in child care. Dennis said some parents live in one school district and work in another. An out of district placement aids in parents getting students to school.
At Holtville schools, portable classrooms have been installed over the last few years to accommodate the increased student population. Wetumpka High School also has portable classrooms where ADM estimates an increase of nearly 15 students over last school year.
Overall Dennis told the school board attendance needs to be monitored as it will also aid in future decisions about school facilities.
At the meeting the school board approved the purchase of seven zero-turn lawn mowers to aid in the upkeep of landscaping at schools.
It also approved the purchase of six 2025 Ford Explorers off the state bid list for driver’s education. The vehicles were requested over sedans as they were safer to transport students waiting their turn for a driving lesson.
The old driver’s education vehicles will be used across the school system to replace even older vehicles.
The board approved the purchase of four vans for information technology. The old vans for IT will be used by the child nutrition program.
In other action, the Elmore County Board of Education:
• Approved minutes of meetings on July 16 and 30.
• Approved financial statements for July.
• Approved facility use agreements for Elmore County High School and Stanhope Elmore High School.
