CHERRY VALLEY — Enrollment is continuing to climb in the Cross County School District.
Cross County Superintendent Dr. Nathan Morris told board members this week that the district’s enrollment is now over 700 students. Morris noted that when he came to Cross County 10 years ago, enrollment was in the 500s.
With the addition of 60 on-campus Pre-K students, Morris said the district has about 760 kids on campus each school day. He said there are more students in the elementary school than in the high school, so he does not expect Cross County to move from 2A to 3A in athletics any time soon.
School board members also received an update on the addition to the elementary school and the roof repairs to the gymnasium at the high school. Morris said he expects construction on the gym roof to begin around October with repairs to the gym floor following afterward. He said the Cross County basketball teams will likely play on the road until the repairs are completed.
Morris also reported on the first volleyball practices held this week for girls in grades 6-8. The district is currently teaching players the fundamentals of the sport with the goal of holding a scrimmage game by the end of the season and a competitive team by next year. There are about 20 sixth-graders and 17 seventh- and eighth-graders signed up for volleyball.
Elementary principal Jessica Stacy and high school principal Cody Goulart both gave reports to the board. Morris said most classes at the elementary are nearing capacity and the addition currently under construction will help alleviate crowding. However, the high school is also growing in seventh and eighth grades. Morris said there are 30 students enrolled in 91 college courses this fall with the goal of receiving an associate degree upon their graduation from high school.
The Cross County School Board also approved the purchase of a new 77-passenger bus on a three-year lease from Rush Truck Centers for $149,950. The bus will be used for activities. The board agreed to sell older buses and vehicles that are not in use, and accepted a bid from Scott Petroleum for $1.26 per gallon on LP for up to 25,000 gallons.
The school board also approved a bus driving contract for Bryan Lowery.
