Marion Independent School District expecting enrollment increase of about 80 students

MARION - The Marion Independent School District saw an enrollment increase of about 80 students this fall, according to a preliminary report discussed at this week's school board meeting.

The preliminary report, presented by Business Manager John Donner, shows the district serving 2,072 students this fall, compared with 1,991 last fall and 2,000 the previous fall.

This fall's preliminary total includes 1,648 resident students, 423 students open enrolled and one student tuitioned into the district.

The report also shows continued strength in the district's home-school assistance program with 73 resident students and 773 students open enrolling for a total of 846 participants.

State officials are reviewing attendance figures submitted Oct. 1 by school districts. When finished, the state will certify an official enrollment for each district that will be used to determine state funding for the following school year. State funding for home-school students is calculated at three-tenths of what a district would receive for an in-classroom student.

Also at Monday's meeting, Marion board members gave first reading to three policies with changes reflecting the school district's decision this year to build its academic calendar on a minimum number of hours, instead of days, required for attendance.

Based on state law that went into effect this fall, the Marion district now is requiring a minimum of 1,080 hours, instead of 180 days, of attendance.