According to Mark Benesh, Director of Education, Chinook enrollments are running roughly on par with previous years and trending upwards, although he is waiting a while longer before giving final numbers.

After opening day, it certainly didn't look that way, as he estimated that the schools in the division were down roughly 86 students from previous years.

"Lots of people just away that weren't back yet. So the numbers have changed dramatically. So we're actually hopeful that we'll see an increased enrollment rather than a decline this year. We'll wait because things have changed dramatically in one week. We'll wait until September 30th and then we'll be able to know what our funding will be and whether our projections are accurate."

In response to a question from the assembled school board members, Benesh explained that the students returning in the week after opening day weren't necessarily students who were choosing to return from Cyberschool, although that certainly may have been a component.

"They're just students who hadn't returned to school yet. So they weren't necessarily cyber, though our projected cybers are down from what it was. Predominantly about two-thirds to the number that initially expressed interest. When we do our opening day enrollment it's really who's there. It's who's there that day. So what's happened since that time is that many families have returned."

More concrete numbers should be available at the end of September.