Schools to fill with boomers' grandkids

By Letitia Stein Times Staff Writer
Published October 23, 2007

TAMPA - The only real driver for growth in Hillsborough schools right now is local births.

Demographer Jim Hosler on Monday reviewed trends for a committee monitoring school capacity. They explain why Hillsborough is not seeing significant student growth from families moving into the county.

He noted a dropoff in the flow of Hispanic immigration, citing changes in laws and decreased demand for low-wage labor.

Hosler added that increased housing costs and living expenses are economic factors affecting overall movement into Florida. That leaves live births as the main source of students.

"Really now, it's just natural causes," said Hosler, a consultant on enrollment trends.

Still, births are on the upswing, as the children of baby boomers start their own families. Hillsborough school officials expect a significant enrollment surge from these baby boomer grandchildren in the future.

At Monday's meeting, school officials also shared building plans with the three members of the School Capacity Advisory Council in attendance. The committee counts about 30 members.

Cathy Valdes, the district's chief facilities officer, noted plans to open an elementary school in the south of the county and a middle school in northwest Hillsborough next school year. She is hoping to move up the opening of an elementary school in the university area to 2008-09, but the timing remains uncertain.

Letitia Stein can be reached at lstein@sptimes.com or 813 226-3400. Visit the Gradebook at blogs.tampabay.com/schools.

[Last modified October 23, 2007, 07:07:36]