Enrollment numbers up 30 students overall
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
Enrollment numbers are up at the K-8 level in the Ball-Chatham School District, while the student
population at Glenwood High School is down 78 from last year's sixth-day count.
Numbers are still coming in, but GHS stood at 1,352 as of Wednesday, down from 1,430 last year.
The sophomore class at GHS projects as the smallest in the district.
Supt. Bob Gillum told the Clarion Tuesday that the numbers at GHS were forecasted, as smaller-
sized classes are moving into the high school, replacing larger outgoing classes. However, with K-8
numbers growing, the population at GHS is expected to grow in the coming years.
Glenwood Middle School was closing in on a 1,000 students (993) in its three grade levels, and
enrollment at Glenwood Intermediate School is up 17 students to 643.
A kindergarten section at Chatham Elementary and a second grade section at Ball Elementary
have been added, and the population at CE has bulged to 718, forcing some space moderations.
Gillum said a computer lab in the library has been converted to storage and work room space, with
all available classroom spaces in use.
The district's new elementary school is expected to alleviate some of the overcrowding, but it is not
forecast to be open until the start of the 2011-12 school year, at the earliest.
The new bus drive at Chatham Elementary was ready for the start of school, and Gillum said things
went smoothly Tuesday. There were no conflicts with parent/bus traffic, with the parent drop-off area
moved to the front of the building. Students on buses now enter into the back of the school building.
Enrollment at Ball is at 577 students, and with PreK numbers added the total will be over 700 as
well.
Total district enrollment as of Wednesday morning stands at 4,283 students, up 30 from last year's
6th day count of 4,253. The end of year count for 2008-09 was 4,149 students.
•Gillum added that state funding for the prekindergarten program came in at 90 percent this year,
leaving a $100,000 deficit if the district chose to keep things the same for the current school year.
Two half-day sections of PreK were cut, leaving a $36,000 deficit, which will be absorbed by the
Education Fund, Gillum explained. PreK will now have five sections, down from seven last year.
Two employees (one teacher and one aide) were affected, but both have been offered other
positions in the district. The PreK teacher affected has been transferred to the new kindergarten
position at CE.
•At Glenwood High, work on waterproofing the exterior of the building is wrapping up, Gillum
added. Weather permitting, it will be finished this week, with only some minor clean-up work left to
do. Classes will not be affected and work around the academic areas will not begin until 2 p.m. each
day.
Gillum said all areas that have been waterproofed have held up, including "Titan Falls," the
infamous area on the northwest side of the building over the Fine Arts section. "Titan Falls is not
flowing," Gillum stated.
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
Enrollment numbers are up at the K-8 level in the Ball-Chatham School District, while the student
population at Glenwood High School is down 78 from last year's sixth-day count.
Numbers are still coming in, but GHS stood at 1,352 as of Wednesday, down from 1,430 last year.
The sophomore class at GHS projects as the smallest in the district.
Supt. Bob Gillum told the Clarion Tuesday that the numbers at GHS were forecasted, as smaller-
sized classes are moving into the high school, replacing larger outgoing classes. However, with K-8
numbers growing, the population at GHS is expected to grow in the coming years.
Glenwood Middle School was closing in on a 1,000 students (993) in its three grade levels, and
enrollment at Glenwood Intermediate School is up 17 students to 643.
A kindergarten section at Chatham Elementary and a second grade section at Ball Elementary
have been added, and the population at CE has bulged to 718, forcing some space moderations.
Gillum said a computer lab in the library has been converted to storage and work room space, with
all available classroom spaces in use.
The district's new elementary school is expected to alleviate some of the overcrowding, but it is not
forecast to be open until the start of the 2011-12 school year, at the earliest.
The new bus drive at Chatham Elementary was ready for the start of school, and Gillum said things
went smoothly Tuesday. There were no conflicts with parent/bus traffic, with the parent drop-off area
moved to the front of the building. Students on buses now enter into the back of the school building.
Enrollment at Ball is at 577 students, and with PreK numbers added the total will be over 700 as
well.
Total district enrollment as of Wednesday morning stands at 4,283 students, up 30 from last year's
6th day count of 4,253. The end of year count for 2008-09 was 4,149 students.
•Gillum added that state funding for the prekindergarten program came in at 90 percent this year,
leaving a $100,000 deficit if the district chose to keep things the same for the current school year.
Two half-day sections of PreK were cut, leaving a $36,000 deficit, which will be absorbed by the
Education Fund, Gillum explained. PreK will now have five sections, down from seven last year.
Two employees (one teacher and one aide) were affected, but both have been offered other
positions in the district. The PreK teacher affected has been transferred to the new kindergarten
position at CE.
•At Glenwood High, work on waterproofing the exterior of the building is wrapping up, Gillum
added. Weather permitting, it will be finished this week, with only some minor clean-up work left to
do. Classes will not be affected and work around the academic areas will not begin until 2 p.m. each
day.
Gillum said all areas that have been waterproofed have held up, including "Titan Falls," the
infamous area on the northwest side of the building over the Fine Arts section. "Titan Falls is not
flowing," Gillum stated.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: Aug. 20, 2009