BOISE, Idaho — During a school board meeting on Monday, the Boise School District reviewed its monthly enrollment report, which showed decreasing enrollment numbers.
Spokesperson Dan Hollar cited declining birth rates in Ada County, rising housing prices and lack of affordable housing, gentrification of portions of the district, and the fact that older adults are moving to Boise at higher rates than families.
BSD data shows it has about 22,500 elementary and secondary students this year. Last year at this time, the district served nearly 23,000.
Despite the decrease in overall enrollment, Hollar said there are some areas of growth within the district, including Southeast Boise.
The district is currently figuring out what staff they need for next school year based on current and projected enrollment numbers. Hollar said part of that means letting some employees on a one-year contract go or potentially rehiring them for different jobs later this summer.
"We monitor enrollment, we adjust accordingly, and our resources are always going to be focused on the children we have and the children we are educating and making sure we're providing the best education possible in that regard. And we're committed to doing that," he said.
Declining enrollment is not just a Boise-specific problem. Other districts around the country and Idaho are experiencing similar issues. The Nampa School District board recently voted to consolidate, close and repurpose several schools because of the financial strain of not having as many students.
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