This year’s school enrollment numbers are in for Paola and superintendent Matt Meek says numbers are down, nearly as low as they were 25 years ago. 1,940 students, down 20 from last year are enrolled in Paola schools. Enrollment has dropped 117 students over the past 2 years and officials says it equates to nearly a $400,000 decrease in state funding for the 2020-2021 budget, wiping out the increases scheduled for this year. However, Meek says the district has managed its money well and the drop will not create an emergency situation. He says the drop comes from families simply moving to another area but hopes that this year’s kindergarten class is a sign of hope. It’s up 27 students from a year ago. Statistics show that the Paola district has been steadily dropping from a high of 2,083 students in 2010 to this year’s 1,940.
