LISD first-day numbers head to 3,500 mark
By LISA CARNLEY Staff Writer

PHOTO BY GABE WOLF Kline Whitis Elementary first-grade teacher Dawn Jacques takes time out to read a story to her class on the first day of the 2007-08 school term.

Just prior to the start of the 2007- 08 school year, Superintendent Dr. Brant Myers said he wouldn't be surprised if enrollment in the Lampasas Independent School District this year surpassed 3,500.

Myers wasn't too far off the mark, as the new school year opened last week with a first-day enrollment of 3,419, up from 3,368 students at the beginning of last year, and 3,403 at the end of the 2006-07 term.

By the second day of classes, the total was up to 3,482, and that figure is expected to increase, as more students typically enroll after the Labor Day holiday.

"I still think that after the holiday, we will hit the 3,500-mark. That's not an unrealistic number," Myers said.

Each of the four Lampasas campuses recorded enrollment gains over the previous year.

Lampasas High School has begun 2007-08 with 1,088 students -- 24 more than at the start of the last school year.

The campus also boasts the largest grade, as sophomores edged toward the 300 mark with 295 students the first day. For the past two years, the 10th-grade class has contained more than 300 students on the first day.

The freshman class has 261 students, 34 below the 2006-07 beginning enrollment of 295.

In the junior class, 285 students reported to school last week, up 28 from last year's first-day total.

The LHS Class of 2008 began the year with the smallest enrollment at the high school, as 247 seniors showed up, compared to 207 last year.

Lampasas Middle School reflected an increase of 18 students. It had a first-day enrollment of 535, up from the previous year's 517.

Eighth-graders opened the term at 280 students, compared to 252 last year.

Seventh-graders totaled 255 -- 10 less than in August 2006.

At Hanna Springs Intermediate School, the starting enrollment of 1,025 is slightly more than the 1,023 at the start of the last school term.

Third-graders numbered 242, an increase of just one student from last year's first-day total.

There were 252 fourth-grade students on campus last week, or a decrease of five from the 2006-07 figure.

In the fifth grade, 261 reported to school, a loss of 10 from last year.

And in the sixth grade, 270 students showed up for classes, an increase of 16 for the start of school.

Kline Whitis had a net gain of seven students from the previous year, as 771 students were registered on the first day of classes.

The second grade opened with 239 students -- three more than in the 2006-07 term.

Among first-graders, an increase of just one student was noted from the previous year, as 235 were in class last week, compared to 234 last year.

The kindergarten class also showed a one-student enrollment increase, with 221 in that grade versus last year's 220.

Seventy-six pre-kindergarten students were in class the first day, compared to 74 at the beginning of the 2006-07 school year.

The superintendent has been at local campuses each day since the new term started. "I have had a lot of people tell me this is the smoothest start they've seen, and I think it's been an unbelievably outstanding beginning," he said. "People are upbeat, kids are smiling, teachers are well prepared, and everyone is getting down to business."

LISD remains within the state required student-to-teacher ratio on the primary campus. "I can say that now, but if we get a big influx of students, then we'll have to look at that issue," said the superintendent.

Myers acknowledged that passage of the $48.85 million bond issue is a plus for the district. "So many people think Lampasas is a beautiful town already. Add a new high school in, and it will be even more so," he said.

People who want to move to Lampasas will think the new high school campus is a plus, Myers added.

"It is so exciting. We're looking at drawings and making changes, and I've seen an excitement in the community that hasn't been there in a long time.

"We sure need it," said Myers of the new high school and east-end elementary campuses. "I don't see anything but growth in our future."

As for the new term, the superintendent said it is off to a promising start.

"There is a lot going on already. The Badger football team looks good, middle school athletes are working hard, our band sounds phenomenal, and everyone is getting down to work.

"We're ready for a great year."