Early counts show enrollment increases in area schools

So far, it looks like enrollment is up in Johnson County schools.

Based on unofficial headcounts taken on the first day of the 2010-11 school year, Blue Valley, Shawnee Mission and Olathe have more students than last year.

The numbers are not considered official until the state’s designated count day, Sept. 20. The numbers taken on Sept. 20 are reported to the state and used to determine funding.

Shawnee Mission’s first day enrollment numbers surpassed last year’s official number and surpassed the estimated enrollment. District officials anticipated a decline of about 25 students. But, on the first day, Shawnee Mission schools had about 130 more students than last year, spokesperson Leigh Anne Neal said.

“That is very encouraging,” she said. “For many years the district experienced a pretty continual decline in enrollment.”

Blue Valley celebrates 20 years of educational foundation

Community members celebrated a birthday Friday as they gathered for the Blue Valley Educational Foundation community breakfast. The foundation, created in 1990, has provided more than 285 grants and more than $1.9 million in financial support to Blue Valley schools during its 20 years.

That support has a “tremendous impact” on Blue Valley students every day, Superintendent Tom Trigg said.

“Happy 20th birthday to the education foundation,” he said to begin his annual State of the District address.

Trigg said the school district needs the support of the foundation and the community.

“That’s absolutely one of the essential components to having a successful school district – to have the community come together supporting the education of these outstanding students,” Trigg said.

Aug. 25 School Briefs

Student earns perfect score

Blue Valley North High School senior Charles Wolock recently learned he aced the ACT test. He earned a perfect score of 36 on the college entrance exam taken this summer.
The ACT tests English, reading, math and science. About 1.4 million students take the test each year. Less than one-tenth of one percent of ACT test takers earn a perfect score.

Some school supply lists grow to help relieve school budgets

Some schools in Johnson County are asking parents to help more with school supplies this year. Items often shared by students or traditionally provided by schools, such as sanitizing wipes, tape, paper towels and copy paper, have crept onto school supply lists.

Teachers at Mission Trail Elementary School in Blue Valley added a ream of copy paper as a new item to its list this year to help with the school’s budget, Principal Debbie Bond said. It was not a requirement, but parents were notified that if they could donate the item it would help the school, she said.

“It does help us because if we’re not spending money on paper we can maybe get other supplies that our school provides,” Bond said. “That helps our overall budget.”

Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies opens

The Blue Valley School District’s Center for Advanced Professional Studies is open for business.

About 270 students took their first classes last week in a building designed to house the district’s unique CAPS program.

CAPS, open to juniors and seniors, allows students to explore professions, work on real-world projects, and collaborate with professionals and mentors while still in high school.

“We are very much creating a new model,” CAPS Director Chad Ralston said.

College bookstores start textbook rental programs

Vincenzo Sallustio says every time a new semester rolls around, he expects to spend big bucks on textbooks. The books he needed for this fall semester at Johnson County Community College cost nearly $500.

“It’s more than I wanted it to be,” he said.

Last year, students at four-year colleges spent an average of more than $1,000 a year on textbooks, according to the College Board. That is about 30 percent higher than five years ago, according to the board.

But, a new option at the college bookstore this semester gave Sallustio’s wallet some relief.