Kenai Peninsula schools counted 258 fewer students than projected during state count

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District counted 7,881 students on Oct. 20, 258 fewer than the 8,139 it projected, according to an enrollment report for the school board's meeting at 6 pm Monday in Soldotna.

The count fell during the state's student-count period, which ran Sept. 28 through Oct. 23. The state pays districts through its foundation funding formula, and the governor's budget says those amounts are based on projected enrollment until they are reconciled with actual counts. District reports are due Nov. 6.

A Sept. 3 report also counted 7,881 students, 193 below that report's 8,074-student projection.

Soldotna Elementary had the largest gap, counting 292 students against a projection of 348. Soldotna High counted 650 against 693, a gap of 43. Chapman School came in 39 short and K-Beach Elementary 36 short. Kaleidoscope Charter and Skyview Middle each fell 34 short.

A few schools came in above projection. The Connections Program, which the district's budget lists under alternative education, counted 1,182 students, 47 more than projected. Aurora Borealis Charter counted 222, 27 above projection.

The district's draft annual financial report lists declining enrollment among its ongoing challenges, along with rising health care costs and uncertain state education funding.

In February, the district projected a revenue shortfall of about $7.8 million for this budget year, including about $4.5 million less in state funding than the year before.

Also on Monday's agenda is the proposal from Soldotna Elementary parents and staff to convert the school to a charter. District leadership recommends the board deny the application, citing a $1.1 million budget discrepancy and the lack of a secured facility.