SALEM TOWNSHIP — Directors of School Administrative District 58 will hold a public workshop Thursday evening to discuss declining enrollment and its effects.

The two-hour workshop begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Mt. Abram High School library.

“I hope all take advantage of this event as a means to give input into the future decisions of the board,” Superintendent Susan Pratt said.

After four public workshops last fall in Kingfield, Phillips, Strong and Salem Township, directors agreed they needed to hold a public session to present the suggestions and concerns that were made.

Thursday’s session will focus on demographics and trends from 2008 to the present, Pratt said.

According to her data, 795 students were enrolled in three elementary schools and one high school in 2008. Now, there are 631.

Mt. Abram High School had 312 students in 2008, but dropped to 205 this year.

“The board is faced with declining enrollment in all four schools,” Pratt said. “At some  point, the feasibility of running four schools for our population will have to be considered.” 

The district schools are Kingfield Elementary, Phillips Elementary and Strong Elementary, and Mt. Abram in Salem Township. Avon, which is also part of the district, does not have a school.