Area youngsters head back to class

SANDPOINT — Tuesday morning found dozens of youngsters walking toward Farmin Stidwell Elementary, clutching a lunch box in one hand and  a parent’s hand in the other.

It’s a sight that popped up all over the county, and it can only mean one thing: School is officially back in session. The first day of class in Lake Pend Oreille School District came to a successful close as students from kindergartners to high school seniors checked their class assignments and prepared for another year of learning.

“Everyone had lots of positive feedback,” said Superintendent Shawn Woodward. “The parents are excited, and the kids are excited.”  

The new school year will bring a fresh set of challenges to administrators, teachers and students.

For one thing, the loss of Coldwater Creek is being felt once again as LPOSD first-day enrollment numbers dropped noticeably for the first time in years. At 3,522 students enrolled as of Tuesday, the total number of students in the district dropped by 106, Woodward said.

That puts the district at 149 students below what officials estimated for the annual budget, he added.

While second day enrollment almost always improves, the loss of students is still a setback. Woodward ties that to the number of families that moved away since Coldwater Creek shut its doors.

“We definitely think that had a significant impact on enrollment,” he said.

It’s a worrying turn, since district funding is determined by student enrollment. However, Woodward said there are several measures in place to protect the district budget. The LPOSD accounting department builds safeguards into the annual budget, including an enrollment buffer and contingency fund, which protect district programs in the event of mishaps. What’s more, Idaho ensures that districts will keep at least 97-percent of its state funding following an enrollment drop, Woodward said.

Teachers and students alike will also find challenges in implementing Idaho Core Standards this year. A more rigorous set of standards that include an increased focus on writing and critical thinking, the measures will require a little legwork to find the most effective form of implementation, Woodward said.

Even so, there’s plenty to celebrate with the completion of the first day at school, Woodward added. Even older students typically more reluctant to return seemed excited, energetic and happy to see their friends once again. The highlight of the day for Woodward arrived when he saw parents pick up their kindergarten students at Washington Elementary late Tuesday morning. The young students came out wearing paper crowns and eager to talk about everything they learned.

“They were so effusive and excited to share everything they had done that day,” Woodward said.