Projections for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District indicated a district-wide enrollment of 9,047 for the 2009-2010 school year, but 9,082 students are actually attending classes, according to data provided by the district. That's good news when the per-student allocation from the state is $5,580 per student enrolled in a traditional, neighborhood school and approximately 80 percent of that per student in Connections, the district's homeschool program.

This is the second year the district has seen an increase, rather than the anticipated decrease, according to Assistant Superintendent Dave Jones. The projection for 2008-2009 was 9,053 students, with an enrollment of 9,172.

"In previous years, district-wide, we were experiencing about a 2 percent a year decline," said Jones. "That takes a straight-line projection moving everybody up a year and adding kids coming into kindergarten and then loses 2 percent. What we're seeing is that's not happening anymore. We're flattening off and not experiencing that decline beyond normal turnover."

On the southern Kenai Peninsula, schools from Ninilchik south, there was an overall drop of 66 students. Ninilchik School saw the biggest increase, with 159 projected and 171 enrollees. Homer High School had the biggest decrease, from 402 projected to an enrollment of 375. The three schools at the head of Kachemak Bay Voznesenka, Razdolna and Kachemak Selo also experienced an overall decline in enrollment.

"We ended up with 16 students in kindergarten and typically have an average of eight," said Ninilchik Principal Terry Martin. "We didn't have 16 on our radar anywhere."

As a result, Ninilchik has hired a full-time kindergarten teacher, Sarah Compton, a certified instructor and former special services aide from Anchor Point's Chapman School.

Comments from parents of other incoming students reflect people moving into the Ninilchik area to be "where they have family support, so we are seeing relatives moving to town," Martin said. "The other part is our school has a great reputation. We can't offer football like SoHi, but for what we have, for the size of our school and community, I think we have a pretty good reputation. That's what new parents coming in are telling us. It certainly pleases me to hear that."

Kachemak Selo saw a two-student drop from the projected 84 students; Razdolna was projected for 53 students, but has 37 enrolled; and Voznesenka was expecting 112, but dropped to 100.

Jones attributed those decreases to space problems at the three schools, resulting in some students enrolling in Connections. Earlier this year, the district met with families to discuss the possibility of constructing one facility to serve the three communities

"If you look, Connections is up district-wide, and that reflects some of that movement," said Jones, referring to a projected 935 enrollment in Connections compared to 1,062 enrolled students. "Part of the reason they're leaving (the neighborhood schools) is because the facilities are less than ideal. If they had a new school, I believe we would bring a number back from Connections."

With an eye toward the 2010-2011 school year, Jones said the district would not anticipate a 2 percent enrollment decline.

"We're still very early in the budgeting process, still looking at things and talking to principals, but we're thinking at least that it will at least be flat next year for enrollment purposes," Jones said.

District budget meetings for the 2010-2011 year will be held in the Homer High School library at 5 p.m. Jan. 20.

"We won't have the complete budget done by the time we get there. It will be more of an informational-type meeting, trying to explain to people how it works," Jones said of the budget process.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky.@homernews.com.