OTTAWA — Ottawa schools will likely report an increase in enrollment when Supt. Dean Katt reports the numbers to the state Sept. 20. The numbers are still fluid but Katt said it appears the biggest increases will be in the elementary schools. This year’s kindergarten classes will be larger than normal, he said. Because of the poor economy, more Ottawa students will qualify for free school lunches, a key indicator of poverty. That’s bad news but that could also be good for the school district.. If the number of students qualifying for free lunches in Ottawa schools reaches 50 percent – and presently, the district is close to that percentage, Ottawa would qualify for thousands of dollars more in special state aid, he said.
Wednesday, Sept. 14, 11 a.m.
