Enrollment down at both Su Valley High and Talkeetna Elementary; enrollment up at Trapper Creek

School officials say that fewer students than projected enrolled at two of the area’s schools.

Talkeetna Elementary School principal Carol Wadman said that student enrollment fell eight students short of the projection. By the end of each school year, school officials have to project how many students are expected for the next school year. Talkeetna Elementary estimated to have the same number as last year, but only saw an enrollment of 104 students instead of the projected 112.

The student numbers influence how many teachers are allocated to the school. As a consequence, two elementary school teacher positions that became vacant at the end of last school year were not filled. Fifth and six grade classes previously taught by two teachers are now combined into one class taught by Bruce Hamler.

Su Valley High School saw a drop of ten students from 175 to 165. For this reason a teacher position was cut and high school history teacher Dave Stull voluntarily transferred to Teeland Middle School.

Su Valley High School principal Rob Picou said that other Su Valley teachers divided up the classes Stull used to teach. According to Picou, Kathy Trump now teaches World history and U.S. history classes, Dean Darrough teaches government classes and Patty Bills signed up to continue the Academic Decathlon program.

One school that actually gained enrollment is Trapper Creek Elementary School. The school reports that enrollment is up three children, bringing their student number to 26 children.