BonnerSprings.com

Source: USD 204

The Bonner Springs-Edwardsville School District is feeling the effects of uncertain economic times and a shaky housing market.

The district's official enrollment numbers are in, and contrary to the projected increase of 26 students from last year, the head count is down by 78, to 2,388 students.

Superintendent Robert Van Maren said this was the first time in eight or nine years enrollment had gone down from the previous year. Last year's official enrollment count was 2,466.

District enrollment had been projected to increase by 26 students.

"The two main causes are foreclosures," Van Maren said, and two or three families moving back to Mexico.

The Web site realtytrac.com lists four properties in "preforeclosure" and 19 bank-owned properties in Bonner Springs. In Edwardsville, the site lists one preforeclosure property and one bank-owned property. Foreclosures and families moving back to Mexico account for the loss of about 30 students, Van Maren said.

The numbers for each school are down, with the exception of Delaware Ridge, whose enrollment grew by one for this year, and Edwardsville Elementary's enrollment shrank by one.

In addition to the decline in enrollment, the district has seen many more transfers in and out since the school year began, Van Maren said.

So far there have been about 20 students moving out and 20 transferring into the district, whereas in a typical school there are about 25 of each type of transfer, he said.

The smaller enrollment numbers won't affect the district's state funding unless they stay at the same level for a couple of years, Van Maren said. The state gives the district about $4,400 per student, which would mean about $300,000 in funding lost if the enrollment numbers stay as they are, Van Maren said.

"Hopefully it'll bounce back up as houses sell," he said of the enrollment numbers.