Although Parkland School District experienced growth in several areas this past fall, the overall enrollment registered a slight decline since last term.

Reporting during the Dec. 18, 2012 board meeting, Assistant Superintendent Rod Troutman said 9, 216 students were enrolled as of Dec. 1, 2012.

That number is 57 fewer than on the same date last year.

However, a few surprises came along at the end of summer, just before the start of school.

At Ironton Elementary, 74 children registered for kindergarten, a number that had not risen above 60 for many years.

"A new pocket of children came in," Troutman said. "We added a whole new section."

A similar situation arose at Parkway Manor Elementary, which also meant hiring a new teacher to keep class size appropriate for the age level.

Both Ironton and Parkway Manor now have four kindergarten sections instead of three. Throughout the district, the average kindergarten class has 19 students.

Just in case this is a trend, Troutman is requesting two additional elementary teachers for 2013-14, to be used only if summer enrollment dictates a need.

He reported the number of students requiring English as a Second Language has also increased.

"We are at the minimum recommended requirement of instructors," Troutman said. "We got hammered this fall with students needing ESL programs."

He is asking for an additional ESL teacher for next year.

Troutman reported speech and language teachers are now at a ratio of 65 students for one instructor.

He would like to add another individual to the speech and language department next term.

Troutman presented a class size chart for grades throughout the district.

"Our class sizes are in really good shape," Troutman said.

He said if classes include up to 27 children, an instructional assistant is brought in and shared as an aide to teachers where needed.

The instructional assistant is a certified teacher.

Because of the generally static enrollment, Troutman said it will not be necessary to replace all retirees.

This will provide relief to the district in its effort to find sufficient revenue to meet students' needs and balance the budget.

Forty-nine teachers with 30 or more years experience are eligible for retirement this term.

By Jan. 15, administrators should know how many will retire. Then they can determine how many will need to be replaced and funded in the 2013-14 budget.

"Every single retirement position will be scrutinized to see if we can do without," Troutman said.

In other business, the board unanimously approved a sequestration resolution that will be sent to members of Congress and the Department of Education.

The resolution expresses the need to avoid across the board budget cuts for education. Federal funds are important for special education staffing and services.