Enrollment in the Haines Borough School District is at a five-year high, with 29 more students attending class than was budgeted for in the spring.

The school receives per-student funding, known as base student allocation, every year based on enrollment. If the enrollment numbers hold through the end of October when the final count takes place, the district will receive more than $100,000 in additional funding.

“We’ve had a period of decline over several years and to see that reversal in one year is a good sign I think for Haines and for our school district,” district superintendent Roy Getchell said this week.

Current enrollment stands at 259 students, compared to the 230 the district budgeted for.

The district was forecasting a budget draw based on promised cuts to state funding by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Getchell said while the district is safe this year, education is a major line item in the state budget that Dunleavy has said he plans to continue cutting.

“I’ve been warned by legislators, bipartisan, to be ready,” Getchell said. “That budget comes out in December this year instead of February. Our local delegation is really concerned, but we’ll see.”

At Tuesday’s meeting, the board also approved the hire of two new assistant teachers, “paraprofessionals,” because the number of students requiring one-on-one support has increased. Each position, budgeted for one year, will cost the district between $55,000 to $60,000.

The board also accepted the resignation of community education coordinator Earleen Lloyd.

Getchell said the 25-hour-per-week position, which is responsible for organizing evening classes and other activities for residents, along with organizing and facilitating open gym and community bazars, will be posted this week.

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