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Area schools post mixed results for student count

ALPENA — Northeast Michigan school districts showed mixed results in enrollment, according to unofficial tallies on student count day on Wednesday, with some districts gaining and others losing kids.

The number of students counted on Wednesday accounts for 90% of per-pupil funding districts receive from the state.

The other 10% comes from spring count, which occurs on the second Wednesday in February.

Each student is worth $8,111 in state money this year, according to the 2019-20 state budget signed earlier this year.

Alpena Public Schools’ count was not available Wednesday, but Superintendent John VanWagoner said it should be close to last year’s total of 3,753 students.

Alcona Community Schools increased to 693 students from 686 last fall, and Superintendent Dan O’Connor hopes that’s a signal that the area continues to rebound economically and attract new families.

“It’s also a reflection of the amazing staff and innovative programs in our district,” O’Connor said. “We are cautiously optimistic about our count, but know families tend to move around, so our number could change in the next few months, as well.”

Carl Seiter, superintendent of Atlanta Community Schools and Hillman Community Schools, said Atlanta’s enrollment increased to 253 students from 239. Hillman also saw an increase with 430 students in attendance on Wednesday, compared to 411 last fall.

Seiter said the opportunities his staff works hard to provide to students is paying off in Atlanta.

“Students enjoy Atlanta and the direction we are headed,” he said. “Our dual enrollment opportunities have greatly increased by transporting students to Hillman or Alpena Community College. I’m very excited about what we are doing.”

Seiter is also thankful for the increase in students and families in Hillman and said the district works hard to provide opportunities for students.

Michelle Wesner, Posen Consolidated Schools superintendent, said the district saw a decrease to 207 students on Wednesday, compared to 213 last year, but said the district’s student count is holding steady.

“Our kindergarten numbers are up, and we are looking forward to a continual increase in our younger students entering school each year,” Wesner said.

Onaway Area Community Schools Superintendent Rod Fullerton said his district’s count decreased to 587 students from 604. He said that is down more than the district anticipated, especially with the number of students who moved in this fall.

“We have just had more families move over the summer, mostly due to eliminating work commutes,” he said.

Nick Hein, superintendent of Rogers City Area Schools, said his district dropped to 516 students from 529 last year.

“The numbers are in-line with what we expected, following a pattern of decline that has been going on in all northern Michigan districts for the last 30 years,” he said.

Scott Reynolds, superintendent of the Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District, said Pied Piper School has 59 students, which includes 16 early childhood special education students. That’s up from 50 last year.

“Our enrollment will naturally fluctuate a bit as students are identified with additional needs that may be most appropriately met by Pied Piper,” Reynolds said. “This is not a drastic change and so we remain happy and proud to serve those students in our community.”

Reynolds said that, along with receiving funding based on the per-pupil foundation allowance from the state, the ESD also receives state and federal dollars for services for students with special needs.

Students who weren’t in attendance Wednesday can still be counted if they have an excused absence and attend school within 30 calendar days of count day, an unexcused absence and attend within 10 school days following count day, or are suspended and attend school within 45 calendar days following count day.

Districts have to report numbers to their intermediate school districts, including the ESD, by next month. The ISDs then have until March to verify numbers and send them to the state.

Julie Goldberg can be reached at 989-358-5688 or jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com. Follow her on Twitter @jkgoldberg12.

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