Exciting news

During the 2006-07 school year, a total of 125 students open-enrolled outside the B-B-E district who lived inside the district borders. At the same time, 40 students open-enrolled into B-B-E.

Fast forward to 2012-13, and those figures have changed dramatically. Open-enrollment into B-B-E was 61.95 pupil units while open-enrolled students leaving B-B-E was 98.

What's hurt the school is the loss of resident pupil units, or a figure representing the number of school-age children living inside the district borders either attending B-B-E or open-enrolling out.

In 2008-09, the resident pupil unit figure for B-B-E was 754.83. For 2012-13, that number was 694.96.

Between the 2011-12 school year and the 2012-13 school year, the open-enrollment figures coming into B-B-E increased from 55.95 pupil units to 61.95 pupil units.

Since 2008-2009, open-enrollment coming into the district has increased by 38.4 %, while open-enrollment leaving B-B-E has declined by 19.8 %.

In conversations I've had with school administrators, I stated what I'll say here...the school climate at B-B-E and how the kids treat one another and also treat staff members is a huge reason why the school district is here to stay for years to come. I am convinced that gains in open enrollment are based in large part on the school climate issue. Is everything coming up roses at B-B-E? No, but what school is perfect? I think if you compare how things rate at B-B-E to other area schools, we've got it very, very good here.