PORT ANGELES — Enrollment has ticked up since the start of the school year and student participation in sports remains strong, the Port Angeles School Board learned.
Karen Casey, the school district’s director of business and operations, reported that full-time enrollment rose from 3,213 in September to 3,234 in October.
“I was gasping a little at first, so I’m happy to see that increase,” Casey said at the board meeting Thursday night. “I’m hoping now that we just grow.”
The district developed its budget for 2025-2026 on an enrollment of 3,223. The number of students enrolled in the first four months of the school year significantly impacts state funding.
The district’s online program, Seaview Academy, also grew from 260 to 301 students, with 121 of those from outside the district.
“That’s phenomenal,” Casey said, crediting the program’s staff for their outreach in building enrollment.
Special education enrollment also continued to climb, from 633 students in September to 652 this month. Roughly 20 percent of district students now receive services.
“We’re seeing steady growth,” said Michaela Clancy, the school district’s director of special services.
She added that the district had increased preschool screenings and early interventions in partnership with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and community programs.
Athletic programs
The school district’s new middle and high school athletic directors, Scott Soule at Stevens Middle School and Jarom Packer at Port Angeles High School, provided updates on their programs.
Soule said construction of the new middle school on the Stevens site and the closing of the gym next spring has created some challenges, such as locating a place large enough to store wrestling mats and not having a football field.
The football players suit up at Stevens and take a bus to the high school, where they practice on the upper field next to the track.
Finding students who want to play sports hasn’t been difficult, he said.
“There’s no question that when we face other opponents, we have way more people,” Soule said. “We have great participation.”
Packer, who is also the high school vice principal, said participation numbers are slightly down from last year, particularly for winter sports, but he hopes the addition of a girls flag football team will boost numbers.
Student representatives
Superintendent Michelle Olsen administered the oath of office to the board’s 2025-2026 student representatives, Julianna Getzin of Port Angeles High School and Nura Barid of Lincoln High School.
Hamilton Elementary School sixth-graders Samuel Reiners and Josie Turner were recognized as students of the month.
The board passed resolutions recognizing the district’s 11 principals for National Principals Month, its food workers for National School Lunch Week (Oct. 13-17) and its transportation workers for National School Bus Safety Week (Oct. 20-24).
Aaron West, the school district’s director of transporation, said the department is seeking drivers due to recent retirements.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
