VENETA - Home building is moving at a good clip, but school enrollment continues to drop. That's the problem baffling Fern Ridge School District managers.

Fortunately for the district, a boost in state funding is keeping things on an even financial keel.

It's the break between classes at Elmira High School.

But the ranks are getting thinner at the Home of the Falcons. The latest report shows Fern Ridge schools have 71 fewer kids this fall, compared to last year.

District managers say the high school alone has taken a
loss of 38 kids.

District 28J Business Manager Olivia Meyers explains, "Really what it means is that we won't receive as much funding from the state. When our enrollment declines, we receive less money because it's based on a per student amount."

District officials are frustrated because new home construction should mean more kids. They believe other factors are at play, including other educational options.

Elmira High School Principal, Gary Carpenter, says those options are mainly, "At the elementary level, where there are several others, whether kids are home schooled or go to some of the private schools that are available out here. Parents make that choice."

Officials also think only 20% to 25% of the new home buyers in Veneta are families with children.

Long term, however, that enrollment slide may not last much longer. This is part of a huge subdivision going in, in the Veneta area that may involve over 500 homes. That could affect future student numbers at Veneta Elementary School, the only district campus at capacity and with more kids this fall.

Volunteer parent Jeff Muir expects they'll see young kids from those new homes at some point, "So it will be tight. It'll be hard to service all the kids here but we'll make the best with what we have."

Another volunteer, Nikki Todd, tells KVAL, "My only theory is that there may be some people who are sending their children to school in Eugene for whatever reason."

Officials say they'll keep a close eye on the numbers through the year, and hope for a turnaround. Above all, Principal Carpenter says he's not hitting the panic button. "We expect one thing and the next thing you know, we've got 75 more kids than we expected. Change can happen that quickly," says Carpenter.

Total enrollment in the district is 1,437 students.