Last Day Of School: Spirits Up, Enrollment Down

SEBRING - With the whole school assembled at the bus loop at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, something special had to be in store for the Woodlawn Elementary students and teachers.

Cheers and applause erupted when they spotted a horse-drawn carriage with three special passengers - retiring teachers Carol Todd and Freda Hoffman and Assistant Principal Laura Waldon, who is departing to be principal of Fred Wild Elementary School.

"Isn't this exciting," Woodlawn Elementary Principal Kaye Bowers said as the retirees and Waldon prepared for the carriage ride around the school.

"Last day of school; summer vacation; retirement for two of them," she said.

Hoffman kept a hanky in one hand to wipe her tears of joy as her third-graders surrounded her.
Some students had signs that read "we love you."

Student Jordyn Day said of Hoffman, "she's very nice; she throws parties a lot and she teaches us really good."

Student Sabrina Penagos said "she helps me a lot and she's really nice to me."
Hoffman started teaching at Woodlawn in 1972.

After teaching at the school since 1970, Todd's fifth-graders congratulated her and cheered as she, Hoffman and Waldon walked a "red carpet" (red poster board) placed along the covered walkway to the school.

Physical Education Ted Boehme, who started teaching at the school in 1971, also retired, but he was not present for the grand send off.

Enrollment DownM
The end-of-year enrollment fell by 69 students (.6 percent) from 12,303 in 2007 to 12,234 in 2008. This contrasts last year's numbers, which showed a 2 percent increase in end-of-year enrollment compared to 2006.

The district's enrollment predictions are not always on the mark, Superintendent Wally Cox said Wednesday.

"The year before (2006-07 school year) an increase of 200 students was predicted, but enrollment increased by 300, he said. This year an increase of 180 was forcast, but enrollment decreased by 77.
The downturn in the state's economy may have reduced the number of migrant families coming to the county, Cox said.

"We are estimating very small growth next year," an increase of about 50 students, he said.
Numbers aside, Cox said it was a good school year.

"I think we had a very succesful year and like always I'm very thankful for all the teachers and support staff and administrators," he said. "The ones who aren't working on a 12-month contract - I hope they have a great summer and get some time off and spend more time with their families and have a safe summer."

Hill-Gustat Middle School Principal Chris Doty said "we've had a phenomenal year."

The FCAT scores thus far have been very strong and discipline has improved, he said. Only two students will likely not be promoted to the next grade out of 675 students.

Construction continues on the classroom addition, which is scheduled to open in December. Two portable classrooms are being removed this month and the remaining 10 will likely go when the new addition opens.

Most of the portables are being leased so the district will save money when they go, Doty said.
Reflecting on his first year as principal at Hill-Gustat Middle and his first eighth-grade class, Doty said, "I'm fortunate to have been able to spend time with some amazing young people."