by Mike Knaak
news@thenewsleaders.com
There are fewer younger students attending school this fall and parents’ concerns about Covid-19 are at least part of the reason.
There are 250 kindergarten students this fall, compared with 311 at the end of last year. Sartell-St. Stephen school district leaders expected a year-to-year decrease of about 35 students instead of the actual drop of 61.
Preschool enrollment of 3-year-olds is 15, down from 76 last year. But that drop is because the district is only offering services for special education children in that age group.
Enrollment of 4-year-olds stands at 91, down from 112 at the end of last year.
Superintendent Jeff Schwiebert said the numbers are “not a surprise.” Parents are waiting to send their children, especially those at the younger end of grade age range, to school.