Certified enrollment in the Griswold Community School District is down this year. Superintendent Dave Henrich’s said he spoke about the figures with the Griswold School Board during their meeting Monday evening. In Iowa, he said, there are two different counts. One is the Certified count which the number of students that reside in the district, regardless of where they attend classes. The other is the BEDS count, or the number of students served by the district, regardless of where they live. The certified enrollment in Griswold was 475.8, which is a decrease of 28.1 students from a year ago. Henrichs said the BEDS – or, Basic Educational Data Survey – enrollment is 444.9, which is a decrease of 31.8 students. He said they anticipated a decrease in enrollment of about 15 students which accounted for 46 graduating seniors and a kindergarten class of about 30, but they didn’t anticipate this many.

Henrichs said open enrollment had very little to do with the decline in numbers. The difference was only two from last year. There were two fewer kids who open-enrolled out, and four fewer students who open-enrolled in. More families moved out of out the district than moved in. The difference in funding from the State of $6,700 per student, will amount to a loss of $100,000-to $125,000, which will be made up through various methods, including the offering of Early Retirement. The more experienced, higher-paid teachers who apply for and are accepted for early retirement, will likely be replaced by younger, less-experienced teachers who are lower on the salary schedule. The early retirement package will be available for up to five teachers, on a first come first serve basis. Last year one teacher took advantage of the offer. Henrichs says a teacher must be at least 55-years of age, with ten-years service to the district. Teachers who are eligible, must notify the district by February 25, 2019, in order to receive the $18,000 incentive package to be paid over three years.

Another way the district expects to save money, is through reduced operating costs associated with their facilities, especially when work on the new building is complete. Henrichs says that should save around $250,000 per year.

He said also, the Griswold School Board took action during their meeting on some personnel changes. (click on the left side of the audio bar below, to listen)

And, he said the Board was updated on their facilities building project, which has been affected by swings in the weather. He says “We’re progressing nicely, and there’s no reason to believe that we won’t have the building enclosed by the middle of November.