By Jeremy A. Corley
Managing Editor
The 2010-11 school year started this week for most area school districts, including Van Alstyne and Howe.
VAISD had a fairly low-key beginning to this school year, exactly what the administration wanted.
"It's been a pretty smooth start," said VAISD Superintendent Dr. Alan Seay. "Everything has started out pretty well."
While parents and students have been focused on new teachers, notebooks and name tags, Seay has been closely monitoring the district's attendance.
VAISD had 1,336 enrolled students Monday, down from 1,356 the first day of the 2009-10 school year and from 1,380 on the final day of classes in June.
The breakdown was 485 at the elementary school, 436 at the middle school and 415 at the high school, which would have put the Panthers in Class 2A had the University Interscholastic League realigned districts this week instead of in February.
The district receives funding from the state based on attendance, and this year's budget is based on an average of 1,340 students each day.
Seay wasn't concerned, however -- enrollment numbers are notoriously mercurial in the first few weeks of a new year. By Wednesday, enrollment already had climbed to 1,347 and was headed upward.
"We're expecting around 1,350," Seay said. "For the first two weeks of school, we'll enroll kids every day."
He was especially pleased with one enrollment number, especially following spring's graduation of the 130-strong Van Alstyne High School Class of 2010: Kindergarten enrollment increased from 82 last year to 97 this week.
Seay said the district has few major projects lined up for this year, but his watch list includes completion of the gym roof at the administration campus, further negotiations with a contractor for the construction of a new agricultural studies barn and the use of $242,163 in federal stimulus funds approved by the school board in June.
The funds were allocated to benefit the district's special education students.
"We're just trying to hit the ground running and have another great school year," Seay said.