Summer school enrollment down in Sikeston

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A decline in summer school enrollment came as no surprise to the Sikeston Board of Education members as the uncertainty of state funding played a major role in making changes to this year's program.

Superintendent Steve Borgsmiller briefed school board members on the summer school program during Tuesday's monthly meeting.

Districtwide attendance is down 400 students compared to last year's program. The summer session began June 2 with an opening enrollment of 732 compared to last year's first day enrollment of 1,141 students in grades K-12 for a difference of 409 students.

"This will impact some income we do receive because we will be down those students, but at the same time, the Board may realize that we cut about $75,000 out of our summer school program in order to make it revenue-neutral this year," Borgsmiller said.

Lori Boardman, the district's business services director, updated the board on the current standing of 2010-2011 budget, which begins July 1 and must be approved by June 30.

"Things are starting to come to a conclusion in the budget process. At this point we have most of the hiring in place so filled in those pieces of the puzzle. At this point we're waiting on the governor's decision on some of the final cuts," Boardman said.

The final recommendation of the budget will be presented to the Board on June 28, she said.