RUMFORD – SAD 43’s student population has droppedby more than 130 students in the last 10 years, with the biggest hit being taken in kindergarten to grade five.

The district enrollment was 1,688 in 1994 and 1,552 in 2004. The elementary enrollment was 848 and 607, respectively, in those years.

Enrollment projections show a continued decline in all grades, to 1,431 in 2007.

Because of that, Superintendent Jim Hodgkin got the go-ahead from the board Monday night to come up with some solid enrollment and classroom numbers, as well as other information that could be used to decide how the district will continue to provide elementary education.

One option is the closure of Virginia Elementary School in Rumford where enrollment stands at 111. Two attempts to close the school in the past few years failed. The district’s other two elementary schools – Meroby Elementary School in Mexico and Rumford Elementary School – each have just under 250 students, and each provide education for kindergarten to grade five.

Hodgkin said the district has about 50 regular education classrooms available for the elementary grades, with only 36 needed.

He said the two larger schools could absorb Virginia school students in kindergarten to grades five programs with class sizes remaining virtually the same as they are now.

Other ideas include designating one of the two larger schools as kindergarten to second grade and the other as kindergarten to grade five, then using Virginia school for special needs and special education. There are other options, as well, Hodgkin said.

But before any final action is made, he said an ad hoc committee will be appointed to explore all options and to be involved in gathering information needed to make a final decision. That committee will likely be established at the board’s next meeting, Oct. 18.

“As superintendent, I don’t want to end this school year without a decision. People are looking to the board to make that decision,” he said.

In other matters on Monday, the board approved the first reading of a policy that would allow a student to take home a laptop computer, provided an insurance fee is paid by the child’s family. They also approved the first reading of a policy that requires a doctor’s note before a child may carry an asthma inhaler or allergic reaction medication in school.