The number of students enrolled in SAD 43 has dropped 3.5 percent since October of 2002.
By Eileen M. Adams
Staff Writer

RUMFORD – Student enrollment at SAD 43 continues to decline.

Superintendent Jim Hodgkin told board members Monday night that the administration must take a closer look at the figures, then decide what it means for the district.

The student population from every district member town dropped, with Rumford showing the greatest numbers of students lost, from 1,015 in October of 2002, to 979 this fall, a 3.5 percent drop.

For Mexico, student numbers dropped from 509 to 495, or 3 percent; for Roxbury, 61 to 53, 13 percent; and for Byron, 20 to 17, or 15 percent.

The number of tuition students attending SAD 43 schools also declined, from 77 last year to 67 this year. Children from Milton Township and Hanover, and about 25 secondary-aged students from Peru attend SAD 43 schools.

Just over 1,600 children, including those who pay tuition, now attend the district’s five schools, compared with 1,668 last year.

Several years ago, about 1,850 youngsters attended schools in SAD 43.

The continuing decline was projected in a study conducted by a research firm last year. That trend is expected to continue for several more years if all economic factors remain the same.

Hodgkin said administrative teams from each of the schools, to likely include parents as well as staff, will discuss the trend, devise plans on how to deal with it, then return their recommendations to the board.

In other matters, Tim Gallant, director of buildings, grounds and transportation, said disciplinary action stemming from misbehavior on school buses has declined by about 50 percent since youngsters riding buses were assigned seats. Also as part of his monthly report, he said the installation of thermal switches in 150 classrooms is expected to reduce district electricity costs by 15 to 20 percent. Under the new system, lights will automatically go off whenever there is no one in the classroom.

Penny Kittridge, a seventh-grade math teacher at Mountain Valley Middle School, was appointed to the newly created position as math teacher/specialist. She will work with district math teachers to help improve math education for all students.

Following the public portion of the meeting, the board entered into three closed sessions to discuss nutrition services and educational technician negotiations, and to begin the process of evaluating the superintendent.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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