Growth is evident at CPS

Enrollment continues to rise at Carrington Public Schools. Evidence of that was on display before school even started, as a record crowd turned out for the Ice Cream Social on Aug. 17.

Superintendent Janelle Helm reported 2022-23 enrollment numbers to the school board for the first time Tuesday, a total of 365 students in elementary and 257 in grades 7-12. The elementary total includes the 42 Pre-K students enrolled this year. Without Pre-K, enrollment is still up slightly from 316 on May 5 to 323 as of Sept. 8.

The high school has 10 more students to start the year, up from 247 on May 5 to 257 Sept. 8.

The increased enrollment is definitely noticed by officials. “You can see it, and you feel it in a lot of places,” Elementary Principal Jenna Helseth said.

Board member Randy Hooey suggested that the school’s online lunch and fee payment system be promoted more, noting that having the convenience to pay online could alleviate the long lines families experienced at the Ice Cream Social.

Lunch and fee payments can be made online at e~Funds for Schools (efundsforschools.com). Simply set up an account and pay with a credit or debit card.

Buses are filling up, particularly in town as more students take the bus rather than walk or get dropped off. In spite of the issues, board members agreed that increasing enrollment is a very good thing.

Business Manager Kimary Edland presented the 2021-22 Financial Report. Total revenue for the district came in at $7,633,489.46. Overall, they spent $274,432 less during 2021-22 than budgeted, mostly due to the availability of ESSER funds. The ending general fund balance was healthy at $2,607,860.28.

Carrington continues to rank among the most cost efficient school districts in the state. The cost per pupil was down from $12,519.44 in 2020-21 to $10,564.51 this past year. The cost per pupil has averaged $10,209.11 over the past five years. According to President Joel Lemer, CPS was the 18th lowest out of 173 school districts last year.

The school’s debt sits at just over $13 million. There is $8,100,000 remaining on the construction loan and $5,095,000 in bonds yet to be repaid. The 2006 bond issue, for renovations to the former elementary school, should be fully repaid by the end of this year, local officials say.

The 2022-23 budget was also presented. There are funds available in the budget, Superintendent Janelle Helm noted, and she requested that the dollars go to updating the weight room at CHS. Parents, coaches and students have approached administrators about the need, and the C-Club and Boosters donated funds for two new squat racks and benches. The $10,300 of equipment should arrive in December, Helm said.

Her proposal was to allocate the $30,840.52 available in the budget to the student activities account and make additional upgrades to the weight room. Among the proposed changes are a new dumbbell set and rack, new mirrors and a fresh coat of paint.

High School Principal Connor Weber is leading the weight room effort. He said his main takeaway from discussions about the project is that “(students) want a place they can call their own.”

He said students will benefit from improved mental health and better athletic performance. In addition, the room can be used by students in the personal fitness and P.E. classes.

“We got people excited, and now we need to follow up,” Weber said.

Board members noted that the issue with the weight room in the past has been access.

“If we are going to put this money into the weight room, it’s going to get used,” member Kevin Wolsky said. “The downfall in the past has been access.” He suggested offering a summer program and keeping it staffed.

Edland replied that the district had issues finding adults to supervise students in the past. Members agreed that the access details will need to be worked out as the project moves forward.

“I think it will only benefit our kids,” Helm concluded.

Funds from the maintenance account will go towards a new base for the bus parking area. The district will purchase millings from Pat Biel and install a 4-5 inch base, then use a box blade to level it off. Next time the asphalt on the school grounds is chip sealed, this area will also be.

The school board approved the final 2022-23 budget, with 131.07 total mills levied, each worth $31,669.53. The budget is balanced, with both revenue and expenses totaling $7,552,847.06.

The board also approved open enrollment/no charge tuition agreements for 12 students. Nearly all the students (11 total) are coming into CPS from other neighboring districts such as NR-S, Kensal and Midkota. According to Lemer, transportation is only included if the family is on an established bus route or is bringing their students to a current stop along the route. There is one student in the Carrington district attending school at NR-S.

Kim Edland, Jenna Helseth, Connor Weber and Janelle Helm comprise the district’s Title IX team for the 2022-23 school year, as approved by the board Tuesday.

The school board also approved a co-op agreement with Jamestown for girls soccer. There is a seventh grader who wants to play soccer in Jamestown. The district already has a co-op agreement with Jamestown for boys soccer, so the agreement was approved with no further discussion.

Missy Hansen is leading a zero-hour independent ag class this semester. As she explained to school board members, her effort is in response to changes anticipated for the FFA program. She explained that state FFA will be considering a new policy at the end of October requiring students to be enrolled in a state-approved ag education class in order to be an FFA member.

The ag classes available through distance ed are from Montana, so they may not qualify, Hansen said. Other schools in the southeastern part of the state offer an independent class over the summer.

“I was trying to be a little bit proactive” in organizing it, Hansen said. She has two students in the class right now, each with a different plan of study. She’s requiring them to do hands-on ag work and then provide weekly reports to her in order to get ½ credit and fulfill the new requirement.

Upcoming Meetings:

• Technology Committee will meet Oct. 12 at 5 p.m.

• Facility Committee meeting is scheduled for Sept. 27 at 7:30 a.m.

• Next regular school board meeting is Oct. 11 at 4 p.m.