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WSBT photo (August 30, 2012) |
SOUTH BEND – Competition is everywhere, even among your local schools.
The state of education in Indiana is not quite a dog eat dog world, but the state's school voucher program has changed the game.
Students equal money and competition is fierce.
And if recent advertisements from South Bend schools are any indication, school corporations are fighting for students and the thousands of dollars that come with them.
"We lost more than we anticipated due to the vouchers," said Superintendent Carole Schmidt. "We're hopeful the marketing campaign has made a difference."
A preliminary count day will get Schmidt closer to that answer.
South Bend enrollment last year was down 617 students. It cost them more than a million dollars.
"We're incredibly hopeful that our numbers hold perhaps where we ended last school year or within that range we budgeted for," said Schmidt.
If enrollment declines continue, we could see more cuts and for students and programs -- fewer choices.
"The more students we lose, the more difficult those decisions will be," said Schmidt.
The count continues on Friday. The official count day is in two weeks, September 14.
