Declining enrollment major concern for Rector School District

Declining numbers are a major concern for the Rector School District. In a School Board meeting Monday night, superintendent Rob Louder gave board members a form showing the district's total number of students over the last eight years.

During the 2001-02 school year, there were 690 total students enrolled at Rector. Last year, the number had dropped to 595. Each year in-between, the numbers declined, with the greatest decrease taking place prior to the 2003-04 year, when enrollment fell from 687 to 654.

"That (595 students) is the smallest this school has been since I came here in 1978," Louder said.

Louder said the problems facing the school are the same as that which face the entire community: the lack of jobs. He noted some families have left the area because the parents have found jobs in other cities. At the same time, this also has slowed the arrival of new families, and therefore new students, over time.

"Really, what we need are more industries to come here and bring in more jobs and people," Louder said. "I think everyone knows that, but the hard part is making it happen."

The lack of enrollment hurts the school because the state provides the district approximately $6,000 per student in funds. A loss of 95 students measures up to around $570,000 in lost funding. With the district's current total funding, and with the inclusion of known expenses, currently at $737,335.46, the impact can readily be seen.

"We're just going to do the best that we can and hope things improve," Louder said. "That's really all we can do."

Handbook Changes

The board also approved changes to the student handbook regarding the presence of cell phones at school. According to the policy, students are forbidden to use cell phones for any reason once they arrive at school until the last bell of the day sounds.

Any student who has a phone is encouraged to store it in either their locker or personal vehicle during the school day. Should any member of the school's faculty, administration or staff witness a student using a cell phone during school hours, the phone will be confiscated, with exceptions made in regards to health issues or other compelling reasons.

For the first offense, the phone will be confiscated with a parent conference required. Only a parent or guardian may retrieve the phone. On the second offense, one day of in-school suspension will be added to the punishment. The third offense carries two days of out-of-school suspension, with three days of suspension for the fourth and each subsequent offense.

There also have been changes to the disciplinary actions for excessive tardiness. Upon the sixth tardiness, a conference with the student and parent will be required by the principal. On the ninth occurrence, the student will be assigned two days of in-school suspension. With 12 and all subsequent tardies, the student will receive three days of in-school suspension.

Teachers Hired

The board approved the hiring of Rachel McNamee as a secondary history teacher. The board also approved hiring Rebecca Simmons as a part-time German teacher.

In other business, the board:

* Approved the financial statement for July.

* Approved the minutes from the July meeting.