Enrollment drop concerns district

BONNERS FERRY — A drop in student enrollment is causing the Boundary County School District to reevaluate spending.

November enrollment is down 48 students from last November.

The drop in enrollment means the school district may receive $240,000 less in state funding than they anticipated and budgeted for this school year.

State funding depends on average daily attendance and fewer students means less funding.

The reduction in funding is causing Superintendent Richard Conley to reevaluate all spending in the district.

“I hope it stops going down,” said Superintendent Conley.

Since the 2007-2008 school year, there have been only two years with positive growth-- 2007-2008 and 2009-2010.

Conley said the drop in enrollment has mainly been from families who are leaving for employment opportunities elsewhere.