Candidates on the Strong Leaders slate disputed the cost estimate for additional children enrolled in the WW-P district as a result of the new residential units at the InterCap train station project. InterCap’s financial consultant estimated that each child would add about $2,300 per year in costs; the Strong Leaders suggested that the additional cost would be closer to $15,000 — and make it far less likely that the InterCap development could be tax positive.
The difference stems from InterCap’s assumption that school enrollment will fall in coming years, and that the children moving into the new housing would fill empty desks at existing schools rather than necessitate the construction of new schools.
The WW-P district has seen enrollment flatten out in the last year. There are currently 9,840 students enrolled, two fewer than in 2010-’11. Spokesperson Gerri Hutner said “we are compiling the state data on projections for student enrollment, which is a combination of long-range projections and review of current housing trends. I do not have further information at this time.”
The district is required to report its projected enrollment to the state each January.
