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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 Area private schools cut costs as enrollment slips Enrollment is down for the coming year, and schools are cutting spending as more parents ask for financial aid. By Kaitlin Manry Herald Writer As Washington's public schools lay off hundreds of teachers and slash programs, many private schools are hurting, too. Enrollment in the state's private schools for the coming year is down by up to 15 percent, said Judy Jennings, executive director of the Washington Federation of Independent Schools. Administrators at several private schools in Snohomish County say they don't expect dramatic enrollment drops next year, but they are cutting back on spending as record numbers of parents ask for help paying tuition. At St. Mary Magdalen School in Everett, for example, there are 10 fewer students enrolled for the coming year. "I think we're typical Americans in the Seattle area and the Everett area," said Sister Joanne McCauley, principal of the 420-student school. "When Boeing is down, we're struggling a little bit. When Microsoft is being cautious ... We're cautious." Like many private school leaders, she's surprised her school is faring as well as it has in the recession. Parents are cutting back on vacations, cars and dinners out to try to keep their children in private school. "We're cautious and we're looking around frugally, but things are going to be fine," McCauley said. Enrollment is down by about 5 percent at Cedar Park Christian Schools, which serve 2,000 students at six campuses in King and Snohomish counties. Usually when enrollment opens in February, there are people lined up at 4 a.m., waiting to register, Superintendent Clint Behrends said. This year, there was just one or two people. "I think we're being affected less by it than we could have been," he said. "Quite honestly, the parents here are more concerned, probably than ever, just about what their kids are being taught -- and that balances out and minimizes the effect on us." To save money, faculty at the schools aren't receiving their annual salary increase for the first time in 15 years, Behrends said. The Archdiocese of Seattle, which teaches 23,144 students in Western Washington Catholic schools, froze salaries for its school staff earlier this year. Enrollment in most Catholic schools is still open and the archdiocese hasn't collected up-to-date numbers, but it's not expecting a big enrollment drop, said Sandra Smith, assistant superintendant of curriculum. "I don't want to declare it's perfect, but we're not seeing abnormal changes," she said. "Six months ago, all of us were worried about what was going to happen, but what we're seeing is communities are rallying." With competition for jobs in public schools incredibly stiff, more teachers are considering jobs at private schools, which often pay less. Last spring, the archdiocese had 400 teachers apply for jobs. Currently, there are 1,100 applicants, Smith said. At private schools everywhere, requests for financial aid are up. Tuition can cost a few thousand dollars or tens of thousands, depending on the type of school and its amenities. As in previous recessions, many schools are keeping their students by offering their families more financial aid, said Myra McGovern, spokeswoman for the National Association of Independent Schools in Washington, D.C. Schools are cutting back on spending elsewhere in order to help parents who have lost their jobs to cover costs. Some schools are cutting back on paper by posting notices online, while others save on water and food by doing away with lunch trays. At Northshore Christian Academy in Everett, requests for financial aid are up by a third, but enrollment is actually growing, principal Holly Leach said. The school had 764 students this year and has 803 enrolled for next year. The school is near The Boeing Co., and usually loses students when companies lay off workers, but this year, parents are enrolling their children, hoping they keep their jobs and can afford the $5,300* annual tuition, Leach said. "People have said they're kind of stepping out in faith," she said. "They know that people are getting laid off and companies are downsizing, so they are hoping that they can weather through the economy in order to afford private school." Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292, kmanry@heraldnet.com. *Correction, May 27, 2009: This article originally used an incorrect figure for tuition at Northshore Christian Academy. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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