AISD expects 490 to enroll for 23-24 year
By Donnie A. Lucas
Expected enrollment numbers are down by about 10 students for Albany ISD compared the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, with about 30 of those anticipated not yet fully registered as of Tuesday.
Following “Meet the Teacher” sessions at both Nancy Smith Elementary and the Albany Junior/Senior High campuses on Tuesday evening, there were still some registrations still incomplete at press time.
“We are looking for a total of about 490 students to show up for classes Thursday for the first day of classes,” Leigh Lowe, director of student services, said on Monday. “We have been calling parents of students we are anticipating being back this year if the registration is not complete or hasn’t been started.”
All students must be registered using the online parent portal system.
Last year, the count for the first day of school was 501 students, with 240 in grade 7-12 at the secondary campus and 261 enrolled at Nancy Smith Elementary.
The number expected at the junior high/senior high campus as of Tuesday was 235, with elementary numbers anticipated at 256.
“We knew we would be down this year due to some families moving,” Lowe said.
She added that projecting enrollment this year has been a little harder because a number of parents that started the enrollment process had still not completed it as of Tuesday.
On Tuesday there were still 29 students that had not completed registration. The district hoped all those were completed in time for Meet the Teacher on Tuesday or by Wednesday at the latest.
“It is of course important for us to keep our enrollment numbers up to maximize funding from the state that is based on average daily attendance (ADA),” she said.
Lowe said the district may still gain a few more students by the end of the week.
“We are still hoping there are a few stragglers who show up,” she said. “They still have to go through the online enrollment process, but we will be available to help them navigate signing up on a computer when they get here.”
Lowe said that a parent must accompany each student still needing to enroll, and if they are new to the district, they will have to provide documentation to determine if they indeed live in the district.
“We have to go through a verification process with people who are new to the district,” Lowe said. “At this point, they need to go to the principal’s office at the appropriate campus to get signed up. It is also probably best if they call ahead and make an appointment.”
She added that enrollment in Head Start and Pre-K are still being accepted with a total of 23 students in the two programs. Students must meet certain requirements to qualify for either program based on income or special needs.
There are still spots available for both programs.
Few Changes Noted
Both campuses will be using the same start times as last year. The elementary tardy bell will ring at 7:55 a.m., while classes will start at 8:00 a.m. at the secondary school.
Students can be dropped off at the elementary school at 7:30 a.m., which is also when the cafeteria opens for breakfasts. Students must go through the serving line by 7:45 a.m.
At the secondary campus, the doors open at 7:35 a.m. along with the cafeteria for breakfast.
Security Increased
Visitors on both campuses will notice an increase in security measures this year.
Parents or visitors just dropping off items in either school office or meeting with school personnel in the principal’s office will not notice much of a change.
The only entry point at both campuses will be the front main entrances, which have camera systems to see who is attempting to enter.
Any visitors seeking to enter a classroom, the cafeteria, or the auditorium areas will need to present a driver’s license at the school office in order for a visitor’s pass to be printed.
The license will be held in the office while the visitor is on the campus. It will be returned as visitors exit the main entrance.
If a parent or relative is just dropping something off at either office, they will not be required to be scanned in with their driver’s license. However, if they are coming onto a campus for a meeting with a teacher or someone other than the principal, or for a presentation of some sort, then they will be required to go through the process.
Fencing has been completed at the elementary campus preventing entering the campus other than by the front doors where security cameras are located and visitors must be buzzed into the lobby.
Entrance doors at the secondary campus are now locked with a magnetic door locking system that can only be accessed with a special pass or by entering through the main doors. Visitors will only be admitted through the front entrance.
