School District Enrollment Lowest in 20 Years; RHS Counselor Wins State Award

Ramona schools are losing students, according to a report presented to the district board at its recent meeting.

The projected district enrollment for the 2011-2012 school year shows a decrease of approximately 170 students, according David Ostermann, assistant superintendent of administrative services at Ramona Unified School District. Ostermann reported that this would be the lowest enrollment in 20 years.

That means a loss of more than $5 million in the district revenue. Ostermann explained that the average daily attendance (ADA) from the state is roughly $5,000 annually for each student.

“We get paid on the current year for the next year, whatever is greater,” Ostermann explained. “The revenue dollars are 70 percent of our revenue for the district.”

The largest decrease in enrollment will be at the middle-school level, Ostermann said. He projected there will be 55 fewer students in seventh and eighth grades, with this year’s enrollment at 835 compared to the projection for 2011-12 at 780 students.

“Our outgoing (senior) class is greater than our incoming kindergarten class,” Ostermann said, estimating next school year there will be 415 incoming kindergartners and 577 outgoing seniors.

The lowest enrollment was in 1991-92 with 6,311 students throughout the district. The highest was in 2001-02 with an enrollment of 7,271.

“Next year, we will be down 1,170 from the highest 10 years ago,” Ostermann said.

On Tuesday, he told Ramona Patch that he could not pinpoint any particular reason for the projected decrease in enrollment, but it could have something to do with the high number of homes going into foreclosure.

“The current economic state is not helping,” he said. Ostermann said he was told by someone in the county Department of Planning and Land Use that, “ a lot of people are moving from the Ramona area closer to the hub, to where the jobs are.”

However, he said the decline in enrollment began in 2003, “when we went through a boom and were starting a decline.” He conjectured that young families had moved to Ramona, raised their families, their children went through the school system and the parents stayed on, living in households with no school-age children.

With no major housing developments coming into the area, that also affects the enrollment, Ostermann said.

“We’ve never been able to say this is the reason why,” he said. “There are several factors involved.”

In other district news, Andres Martin, Ramona High School counselor, has been given the California Teachers Association Human Rights Award. The award, named for Cesar Chavez, is called, “Si Se Puede.” It will be presented to Martin on March 4 at San Jose. The award is given to teachers who work with the Hispanic community. One person is selected statewide.

Martin also serves as vice president of the BECA Foundation, a nonprofit Latino scholarships organization.

Other business discussed at the Feb. 17 board meeting included Joe Annicharico's retirement. Annicharico is assistant superintendent of human resources, and he will retire in July after 35 years with the district.

Annicharico was a teacher and coach at Ramona High School before moving to the administrative cabinet 18 years ago.

“He will be missed,” Superintendent Robert Graeff said.

Board members also heard how some students at Barnett Elementary School are getting extra help at “Barnett University,” an enrichment program geared toward at-risk youngsters.

Principal Kim Reed said the program is based on the Collegial Conversation program.

Staff involved with Barnett University includes general education teachers, specialized academic instructors, para-educators and teachers of English learners.

Another new program in the district is the digital photography class at Ramona High School. The pilot program began this month through the Regional Occupational Program. Enrollment is 134 students.

“There is a big interest for the students for this new class,” Angelina Uriostegui, student representative to the board, said.

The next school board meeting will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, at the Wilson Administration Center, 920 Ninth St., Ramona.