Whitnall Could Add Open Enrollment Seats to Close Gap

The Whitnall School District is facing decreased enrollment at the high school and is considering adding additional open enrollment seats to close the gap.

According to Thomas Vogel, the district’s director of human resources and special services, Whitnall is projecting a high school enrollment of approximately 825 students, 15 of which will be open enrollment students, a number determined by the School Board earlier this year.

This year’s high school enrollment is approximately 880, so the district is facing a net drop of 55 students in 2011-12. The difference could alter the number of course offerings at the school.

“We do everything we can to maintain the offerings, including taking (open enrollment) students,” Vogel said at Monday’s School Board meeting.

According to Vogel, the district had 345 open enrollment applications across all grade levels.

“If it’s a net drop of 50, 55, would it be advantage for us to add more open enrollment seats at high school?” board member T.J. Anderson said. “I don’t want to leave money on the table.”

Districts currently have until April 8 to tell parents if their open enrollment applications were accepted. Those who were rejected are added to a waiting list that is maintained until mid-August.

Superintendent Lowell Holtz said the School Board could examine the possibility of adding more open enrollment seats but suggested waiting because deadlines or regulations could change because of Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal.

To read more about how open enrollment works and its impact on the Greenfield School District, click .

The following also took place at Monday's School Board meeting:

• The board unanimously approved (6-0; board president Bill Osterndorf was absent) a resolution authorizing the borrowing of not to exceed $6.5 million for the districts storm water management and high school athletic and activity facilities renovation, two weeks after determining borrowing was the . 
• Business manager Amy Kohl discussed the projected revenue shortfall as outlined in Walker's budget proposal, as covered . The district is anticipating a loss in revenue of $606.98 per student.
• Kohl suggested the district's student fees remain flat for the 2011-12 season and added that activity and athletic fees are currently being analyzed.