Enrollment is still going up, Supt. Roger Reardon told the Mokena Elementary District 159 school board Wednesday night.
Reardon said that though last year’s enrollment projections were quite accurate, it won’t be certain how many students actually may enroll until at least midsummer.
“We could be surprised and have more students come in than we are anticipating,” Reardon said.
The latest enrollment estimates for the 1998-99 school year indicate the district can expect 34 new pupils in kindergarten through 8th grade, Reardon said.
At present, 2,019 pupils attend kindergarten through 8th-grade classes at Mokena Elementary and Mokena Junior High Schools.
The latest staff projections indicate there will be 2,053 pupils in the schools next year.
The increase may require the hiring of a few additional staff members, such as a half-time reading recovery teacher and a half-time learning disabilities teacher at the elementary school and a half-time dean at the junior high school, Reardon said.
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He said the additional hiring will depend on finances.