Greencastle-Antrim School District has biggest enrollment drop in 20 years

Without a quorum, the Greencastle-Antrim School Board still went through its agenda, since no voting was expected at the worksession Sept. 18. Brian Hissong, Tracy Baer, Ken Haines and Lura Hanks were present. Eric Holtzman, Jim Winslow, Melinda Cordell, Mike Still and Linda Farley were absent.

Superintendent Greg Hoover reported that enrollment in the district was 3,092, down 27 students from last year.

“This is the biggest drop in enrollment in 20 years,” he said. He attributed it to kindergarten, and postured the reason. Fewer children was the result of the start of the 2008-09 recession, when people probably thought they couldn’t afford them, he said. Chambersburg, Tuscarora and Washington County had also seen a drop in kindergarten numbers.

“It gives us a little breather, which is nice,” Hoover said.

Chief educational officer Bob Crider explained the new INFORM system the district was adopting, which houses data on all of the students. Reports from many sources, such as MAP testing, PSSA and grade assessments, were being integrated into one place. Crider was excited about the properties of INFORM, which could analyze data in many capacities.

The school board will participate in a joint meeting with the Antrim Township Board of Supervisors and Greencastle Borough Council at 6 p.m. Sept. 25 in the middle school library.