WINONA, Minn. — Winona public schools have 150 fewer students this year, which puts an estimated $1.2 million in state funding at risk. State funding per child is about $7,500. Preliminary data show overall enrollment 2,169. Of greater long-term concern is that the loss is greatest in elementary schools through Grade 3. These elementary school grades dropped 11% to 666. This means fewer students will be moving into higher grades in coming years. Why the loss? Superintendent Brad Berzinski’s explanation: “Families have moved out of the city, out of the state, out of the country.” Berzinski acknowledged too that some loss may be due to parents unhappy with kindergarten being moved out of the Goodview school. Some Goodview parents, he said, may have chosen options in the Cotter Catholic schools or other private or charter school choices.
