The Paton-Churdan School District recently released its certified enrollment figures for this school year.

Superintendent Kreg Lensch tells Raccoon Valley Radio the District was down six resident students for a total of 162, and there was a decrease of 11 students for a total of 210. Lensch points out resident students are those that live in the district and are directly tied to certified enrollment. He adds, the overall number of students takes into account those that have open enrolled into and out of the district. 

Lensch notes the main factor for the decrease is the COVID-19 pandemic, causing several families to choose remote learning/homeschooling options. Because of the reduction in certified enrollment, the Iowa Department of Education is allowing the District to have a 101-percent budget guarantee. This will allow P-C to make-up for the shortfall in state funding for next year’s budget.