news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Twelve days into the school year, Guilford County Schools’ enrollment appears to be lower than last year but a bit higher than projections.

Total enrollment at Guilford County schools as of Tuesday, the 10th day of the school year, was 71,079. That’s 573 students fewer than last year’s total but 210 more than projected.

School officials believe enrollment is likely to grow in the next two weeks when they tabulate enrollment on the 20th day.

That enrollment number is used to calculate state funding.

Teachers are being moved around based on the 10-day numbers; schools with lower enrollment give up teachers to schools with more students than expected. Half of the 105 traditional schools have an average of 21 fewer students than projected.

Forty-nine teachers are needed at the schools with more students. Many of those slots will be filled with 32 teachers being removed from schools with fewer students.

Union Hill Elementary reopened this year after being rebuilt and is 151 students over projection. It is scheduled to receive six additional teachers, more than any other school.

Anessa Burgman’s school just missed the cut. Burgman is principal at Claxton Elementary where enrollment is down by about 50 students.

Last year, the school exceeded its original capacity. This year, with the school under its target enrollment, Claxton is losing one position, but it was already vacant.

Dealing with the ups and downs of budgets and teacher allocations has made the past six months some of the hardest for Burgman, who has been a principal for 11 years.

“At the end of the school year it was very difficult,” Burgman said as she described telling the six teachers she had to cut from her budget this year.

Children also get shuffled as classes are split to become smaller or combined to become larger. Burgman has had to do both and says neither is easy.

“It’s not what you want to do,” Burgman said of combining classes. “But because (the students) are so young we try to make it as smooth as possible.”

The school board approved funding 20 additional teacher positions as schools need them in coming days.

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 373-7351 or brian.ewing@news-record.com