School enrollment holding steady in Marlboro district

MARLBORO- Pupil enrollment for the 2008-09 school year in Marlboro's schools is projected to remain generally flat, according to Assistant Superintendent Marc Gaswirth.

A presentation of the K-8 school district's enrollment projections was offered during the Board of Education's workshop meeting on Dec. 11.

In a subsequent telephone interview, Gaswirth reviewed the projections with the News Transcript.

Overall the district's projections for the next school year agree with those of a professional demographer who examined the district, the assistant superintendent said. It appears the district's total enrollment will remain flat, if anything having an insignificant decrease of about 26 students, Gaswirth said.

When looking at the schools themselves, most are expected to have a decrease in enrollment.

The Frank Defino Central School, Route 79, is projected to decrease by 20 students; Marlboro Elementary School, School Road West, is projected to decrease by four students; and the Frank J. Dugan Elementary School, Topanemus Road, is expected to decrease by 15 students.

The Robertsville Elementary School, Menzel Lane, and the Marlboro Early Learning Center, Tennent Road, are projected to have the same enrollment as the current school year. The Asher Holmes School, Menzel Lane, is projected to have an increase of about 20 students for 2008-09.

Gaswirth said at present the Marlboro Middle School, Route 520, has 1,142 students in grades six through eight, but the projection is a drop to 1,132 pupils for the 2008-09 school year.

The assistant superintendent said it is estimated that the school's enrollment will not change dramatically over the next few years.

Marlboro Memorial Middle School, Nolan Road, is estimated to have a slight increase in enrollment over the next two years, Gaswirth said.

The current enrollment is 1,024 students in grades six through eight, and that number is projected to rise to 1,042 children for the next school year.

With these projections classroom sizes are expected to remain near their present levels. First-grade classes will continue to have about 20 students per classroom, while fourth- and fifth-grade classes may reach 25 students, Gaswirth explained.

The projection numbers were not clear on what the impact would be on special education and whether there would be a need for more classes in the 2008-09 school year. Gaswirth said that matter is scheduled to be discussed at the Jan. 8 Board of Education workshop meeting.

As of Oct. 15, the Marlboro K-8 School District's total enrollment was 6,127 pupils.