ESCANABA — The Escanaba School Distrtict’s official student count has declined since the last school year, but not as much as anticipated.

Escanaba Area Public Schools’ Director of Business Services Kevin Pascoe informed the Escanaba School Board Monday the official full-time equivalent (FTE) student count in the district is 2,322 — down 15 students from a year ago.

“We’re pleasantly surprised that it’s only 15 because we had budgeted closer to 50,” said Pascoe. “We’re actually 35 students better than what we figured.”

The FTE is a count of enrolled students who currently receive educational instruction from teachers in the district. The count includes students who go to Escanaba a portion of the day. For example, students from Holy Name attending Escanaba for music education are counted the fraction of the school day they attend Escanaba. The FTE numbers are blended between spring of the 2018-2019 school year and fall of the 2019-2020 school year. Pascoe reminded the board the student count can change through the school year.

According to Superintendent Coby Fletcher, the budget Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed provides Escanaba $8,111 per pupil.

“$8,111 per pupil is better than what we budgeted,” said Fletcher.

In other business the board:

– Certified Kathy Jensen, board secretary, as delegate to represent Escanaba during the Michigan Association of School Boards’ (MSAB) Annual Leadership Conference. The conference provides attendees educational opportunities, general session speakers, and a place to share ideas with other school board members from Michigan. The MSAB’s vision is to aid in providing a well governed, effective public school for every Michigan student.

– Received a copy of the 2019-2020 school calendar that includes a change passed by Michigan Legislature. Currently professional development can be counted as instructional time. There are three fewer half days in the school district’s schedule.

“An instructor’s professional development hours can now count toward Instructional hours according to Michigan Legislature,” said Fletcher.

In a June meeting the board approved two drafts of Escanaba’s school calendar. They decided which draft to use once the State of Michigan passed legislature regarding teacher professional development.

– Reviewed a contract with Northern Lights YMCA regarding the Before and After School Program.

– Had a first reading of Board Policy 2410, Prohibition of Referral or Assistance — In accordance with Michigan statute, any officer, agent, or employee of the board of education is prohibited from referring a student for an abortion or assisting a student in obtaining an abortion.

The State of Michigan made two changes to the statute that need to be adopted by each school district in Michigan. One change adds the parent/child relationship and the other change puts the punishment of a school official in line with a school board’s discipline action.

“The new policy does not apply to a parent who is working with their own child who is a student of a district,” said Fletcher.

In the previous law there was a 3 percent financial penalty and now it is left up to the school district to decide the punishment of an employee that defied the law.

– Received maps from Fletcher regarding the approximate locations of students going to Soo Hill Elementary. Recently, some of the board members asked him to find out where students enrolled at Soo Hill Elementary live. Fletcher and Director of Operations Amy Cseter created maps showing five areas. According to the map, there are about 52 students in the Soo Hill area going to Soo Hill Elementary, and 38 students in the outlying areas being bussed to Soo Hill.

At next week’s meeting, Fletcher will provide the board his recommendation regarding the consideration of closing one of the schools in the district.

The Escanaba School Board will hold its next regular meeting at 6 p.m., in the courtyard room at the Escanaba Upper Elementary, Monday, Oct. 21.