Enrollment Estimates Off by More Than 100

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District learned this week that it will likely have at least 100 more new students next year than it had anticipated.

A consultant hired by the district reported to the board Tuesday that nearly 1,000 new students are projected to enroll in district schools this fall. Earlier, the district had said it expected 816 new students.

The report said that the majority of the additions will be in kindergarten and first grade.

In light of the new figures, the district set a study session for March 5 to review its plans for next year’s kindergarten classes.

The board must decide if it wants to open new classrooms or offer double shifts, with two groups of kindergarten students--one in the morning and one in the afternoon--sharing a single classroom.

Board President Jim de Boom said the advantage to “stacking” kindergarten classes is that it frees up space at schools for other uses.

The surprise information may also affect the district’s master plan, now being prepared by district staff, to alleviate overcrowding at schools.

Steps that have been considered to accommodate increased enrollment over the next several years include adjusting attendance boundaries and reviewing policies that may affect class size, such as the student transfer policy.

Board members said they hope to have a draft of the master plan completed in March.