Schools

School Board OKs $20,000 Contract for Updated Enrollment Study

Brent Lightfoot only board member to vote no, cites travel costs.

The met for only 30 minutes Monday night to approve a contract for an updated enrollment report from RSP & Associates. 

The board voted 6-1 for RSP to provide enrollment numbers based on 2010 Census figures in an effort to determine whether a third high school is needed in the district. The district will pay RSP a total of $20,000 for both an enrollment forecast for five years and a long-range analysis.

The enrollment report will include an "executive summary, information about the residential development activity expected in the district, five-year enrollment forecast, tables with a low, mid, and high projection for each facility in the district and maps that identify future growth areas," according to the contract.

Find out what's happening in Oswegowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This report is to cost the district $15,000.

The long-range analysis, which will cost an additional $5,000, will include "detailed analysis of the district enrollment, information about the model methodology, information about the types of growth, information about the residential development activity expected in the district, complete build-out enrollment forecast, tables with a low, mid, and high projection for each facility in the district, and maps that identify future growth areas," the contract said.

Find out what's happening in Oswegowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Board member Brent Lightfoot cast the lone dissenting vote, saying he believes the study is needed, but that RSP does not need to travel to the district to do the work. RSP's Rob Schwartz said travel is necessary to obtain accurate information.

RSP travel expenses will cost the district about $1,500, said Supt. Dan O'Donnell. Lightfoot argued that the update could be done by phone and email. 

About 10 residents attended the meeting with only Nicole Rousseau of Plainfield addressing the board during public comments. 

"I would just ask that if you do this study and spend the extra money, you take these numbers into account." she said. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here