USD 480 Sets Enrollment Record

Seventh and ninth grade students begin school today. Superintendent Paul Larkin says this allows new students a sneak preview to the middles schools and the high school.

"We started this as a transition. We had some feedback that in particular the ninth grade students were a bit nervous about stepping into that big high school for the first time when there’s 12 hundred some students there. This is our third year and it’s been very well received."

Fourth grade students begin school Friday as their transition day into the intermediate schools. High school students and grade school students attend Friday other than pre school and kindergarten which begins Monday. Fifth and sixth grade students begin on Monday.

There are 83 new teachers and employees beginning work in the school district. Deputy Superintendent Renae Hickert says they come from a variety of places.

"They are coming from all over the United States including New Mexico, Wyoming, and Michigan. We even have a few from out of country including Jamaica. They came to town and many of them attended out Capturing Kids Hearts training in late July. They all started August 5 and we are really happy they are here."

July 30 and 31^st was formal enrollment and the district has enrolled 4,743 students. Larkin says the district continues to grow.

"We’re continuing to grow. We have 469 kindergarten students which is the largest number students of ever enrolled in a single grade at 480 since its inception."

This is Larkin’s first year as superintendent after Lance Stout left for Independence, Missouri.