HOISINGTON – During the USD 431 Board of Education’s regular meeting Monday night, Superintendent Patrick Crowdis reported the student count as measured on Sept. 20. These numbers are used to determine state funding for the school district. 

Looking at pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and kindergarten through 12th grade, the numbers are dropping. “Our numbers are trending down,” Crowdis said. “I just want to be clear about that. If you look at K-12 numbers we are down 30.”

The district numbers peaked in 2022. Crowdis expects to see a drop of 40 students over the next two-year period when the current eighth grade and freshman classes graduate.

The district will feel the drop in numbers when the state starts funding the district based on the lower numbers. Board President Dean Stoskopf clarified that this year’s funding is based on the count from two years ago. 

“It was fortunate because it would have cost us $20,000,” Crowdis said. 

The question for administration is determine why the district is seeing the drop in enrollment. The daycare enrollment will not be included in the student count unless the children enroll in the district pre-K and kindergarten as they age. 

Crowdis has also urged the community to push for more quality housing in Hoisington. “Without quality housing, people aren’t moving here. They are choosing to move to Great Bend. That is a concern,” he said.

Stokopf summarized the importance of the count. “It’s one of those things to start looking ahead and start making some adjustments in the future for financing and class sizes.”