SMETHPORT — Like many rural school districts in the state and nation, Smethport is facing declining enrollments brought on by such factors as the economy, changing demographics and the rise of charter schools.
At Monday’s school board meeting, Superintendent David London briefly summarized an enrollment report that has been given to the directors and shows the third day enrollment for this school year stands at 802 students: 432 in grades pre-kindergarten through sixth grades and 370 in grades 7-12, a decrease of 28 from last year.
The only increase in recent years was a gain of five students between 2016-17 and 2017-18.
“There was a steady decline in the teen years,” London said. “We hope for better numbers in the years to come.”
In the 1966-67 school year, district enrollment was 1,626: 847 in grades 1-6 and 779 at the junior-senior high school.
Declining enrollments are impacting schools’ athletic programs, causing nearby districts to enter cooperative agreements for certain sports rather than see them discontinued due to low numbers. Smethport school directors approved just such an agreement later in the meeting, one with Port Allegany for the wrestling and junior-high wrestling for the current and future years.
The Port Allegany School Board was also expected to vote on this proposal Monday night.
In another report to the board, London provided an update on the district’s current renovation project, which is nearing completion.
The board approved some district add-ons to the project, such as carpeting in the hallway between the elementary and secondary schools at a cost of $12,004 and replacing two sections of the sidewalk at the elementary school for $3,600.
At the request of the district administration, the directors approved the carpeting of a section of the elementary office and painting the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms at the junior-senior high school if each project can be completed for less than $10,000.
Reporting on the management of the district’s food service program, London said one company that has submitted a bid will be on site for a walk-through this week. Bids are to be opened Sept. 24. A special school board meeting is slated for Oct. 1, when the bid is to be awarded.
Since the district has been unable to hire a school psychologist after advertising the position, school directors approved a motion to contract with Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9 for these services at $500 per day or $75 per hour on a temporary basis. London recommended re-advertising this job at the end of the first semester in the hopes that recent college graduates would apply.
Several curricular items were approved. One is for an applied mathematics course for juniors and seniors this school year.
London said, “This course is for those students preparing for technical schools or careers.”
The second one was for a textbook adoption — 20 copies of “Mathematics for the Trades” at cost of $172.80 each.
The board also voted for officials of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, including Thomas Kerek of Kane as Section 2 PSBA Sectional Advisor.
With other approved items on the agenda, the district will continue the Community Based Vocational Instruction Program and participate in the Community Work Instruction with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation with support from IU9 at no cost to the district.
