When closing school officials frequently argue student population decreases at the school targeted for closure. What we need to know is the historical data for any given school. However, when HHS was built in the 1930's, it had a basic enrollment of 180-200 students. Obviously, there had not been a decline. Yet apparently officials were uncomfortable stating what some feel was obvious.
False arguments erode citizens' confidence in public officials and in government as a whole.
However, certain areas of the state, particularly the coal mining counties may be suffering the most decline. Usually a decline will occur in the County seat and spread throughout the county. However in Mason County, though we've suffered population decrease in our county seat, as a county we had a small steady population growth. This is reflected in the population comparison Charts and Tables from 1970-1990. The new 2000 census is greatly anticipated since Hannan High School is nestled between Putnam County, one of the fastest growing counties in the state.