Larry Blaskey/The Daily Dispatch

After years of declining enrollment, it appears that student numbers have finally stabilized.

That good news was based on a report from Judy Herbert, Assistant Superintendent, at the regular meeting of the Douglas Unified School District Governing Board on Tuesday at Faras School.

Total student numbers have actually increased from 4,222 in January 2004 to 4,318 in January 2005. But that increase is due to allowing three-year-olds into the Early Learning Center program. Last year, only four-year-olds were in the program.

Even though the count has declined slightly, nine students, it is still an improvement over past years.

In January 2003, student population was 4,320, and the school experienced a drop from January 2003 to 2004 of 98 students, 10 times the loss this year.

The news is good for the district because some of the state funding is based on full-time students counts, not including the ELC.

The board also approved an expenditure of $204, 133 for the new Houghton Mifflin reading series which will be used in the elementary schools.

The purchase ensures there will be enough books and supplies for every teacher's class along with the necessary training.

In other action, the board:

€ Approved the adoption of the Bergwall Automotive online curriculum for the Douglas High School automotive class.

€ Approved Huber Middle School fundraising activities and a DHS Spring Carnival in March.

€ Approved the hiring of Lois Clark, first grade teacher at Joe Carlson for the remainder of the year at the pro-rated salary of $21,233.

€ Approved middle school basketball volunteer Alfronso Acosta.

€ Approved IT student interns from Cochise College at a rate of $5.15 per hour - Guadalupe Amaya, Marco Durazo and Tim Matthews.

€ Approved the resignation of Veronica Acuna, Teacher's Aide at Sarah Marley, and a leave of absence for the remainder of the year for Mary Jo Ruppert, kindergarten teacher at Joe Carlson.

€ Approved the retirement of Maria Grijalva, library aide at Ray Borane Middle School.

€ Approved the web hosting services bid of ScribeWrite creations.

€ Postponed the policy deadline on notification of intent to retire until the April board meeting.

The next meeting of the board will be on February 15 at The Central Administration Building board room, the old Joe Carlson School.