JACKSON ENROLLMENT HITS PEAK

JACKSON -- The latest prediction for Jackson Public Schools' enrollment is the numbers will top 4,000 by the end of this year, even though prior research indicated that wouldn't happen until 2000.

A University of Missouri study done in the late 1980s predicted much slower growth for the district, not taking into account an early 1990s explosion in residential construction in the school district.

Dr. Howard Jones, superintendent, presented figures to the Jackson Board of Education Tuesday night showing 330 students enrolled in kindergarten this year, 60 more than last year. Even more may show up today, the first day of school.

In addition, there was an 11th-hour hiring Tuesday of another fifth-grade teacher after enrollment figures at West Lane Elementary pointed to class sizes of 27 or 28 students. Some 261 students were enrolled at West Lane when Jones last checked.

"The fifth-grade level seems to be our only bump right now, and we thought it was pretty critical to address that," Jones said. "If we have to save a few dollars, let's do it somewhere else."

He said truly accurate enrollment figures wouldn't be available until the next school board meeting, when students have settled in.

An 18-member facilities review committee which formed this month and includes Alderman Fred Leimer, Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones and other community leaders will tour Jackson High School Saturday. Committee members are systematically touring all Jackson's schools, looking for ways to expand.

Board President Larry Koenig said Jackson simply will have to accommodate all its students somehow.

"We have met those challenges before with the assistance of our patrons, and I'm sure we will address these challenges as time goes on," he said.

Jones' predictions take into account students from St. Paul Lutheran, Nell Holcomb, Immaculate Conception and Altenburg, who come into Jackson's system in the ninth grade.

Jones said total enrollment will be around 4,700 by 1999.

Current figures are approaching Cape Girardeau Public Schools' enrollment. Cape Girardeau is about three times Jackson's size, but Jackson's district takes in a larger geographical area.