Due to the redistricting of Wakefield Chapel and Bren Mar, or Edsall Park, neighborhoods by the School Board three years school year, the 2013-2014 school year has seen a dramatic decline in both student enrollment and hired staff.

According to PTSA member Emily Slough, due to the drastic decline in student enrollment, 11 positions were de-staffed between April and May, in addition to another six teachers who retired without replacement, totaling 17 positions.

“At one time, we were at 2,700 students, and changes in the boundaries have now reduced us to about 2,200 students,” Principal Vincent Randazzo said. “You don’t need as many teachers, so we adjust staff proportionately to the students that you have.”

While these staff decreases are made to cater to the student body, certain departments will experience rises, or falls, in teachers based on the fluctuations in this student population. According to Randazzo, when student enrollment is reduced by 100 students, there is a subsequent loss of about four to six core teachers in addition to elective teachers.

Student population also plays a factor in class sizes, limiting certain electives to fewer classes. One elective affected is the Journalism department, headed by Alan Weintraut. Journalism classes were reduced from 3 classes to 2, incorporating Journalism 1 into the same period as the Journalism 2 class. The reduced student enrollment combined with the necessity to take a required economics and personal finance class has many worried about the future of certain electives. However, there are some areas that are only not affected, but have grown despite less students, such as marching band, which has witnessed growth in membership.

“Sometimes you will lose sections, and we’re down to half a teacher in our electives in some cases,” Randazzo said. “Every department is impacted by the reduction of population, because teachers have to go to different buildings where the population increases”.

With the decrease in both teaching staff and student enrollment, there is also a concern for the future of clubs and there is much uncertainty about the future of AHS athletics.

“The biggest impact would be on the clubs. If you’re down 500 students there may be clubs that no longer exist”, Karl Kerns, Director of Student Activities said. “I think we are going to see a significant drop off of the number of students in the clubs.”

With fewer teachers on staff, there is concern that clubs will lose membership as well as sponsorship. For example, a reduced number of teachers means a smaller group of volunteers for ticket-takers and concession stand workers at the football games, as well as less hands to help with homecoming and other school events.

“With teachers gone, there are less teachers who can work in activities, clubs, sponsors, those who can help at games. Teachers who may have been here last year but aren’t this year due to lower enrollment may have been a club sponsor, and if we can not find a new sponsor, there can not be a club. We are hoping that does not happen,” Kerns said.

PTSA president Kathy Ryan noted however that shifting numbers in students and teachers have not affected the PTSA’s ability to stay involved in the Annandale community. According to Ryan, several departments have become involved in the PTSA, including leadership, the Biology team, and culinary, headed by Chef G.

“We have great interest and participation in the PTSA from not only our teachers, but also the administrative team” Ryan said. “What counts is not the number faculty or staff PTSA members we have, but how active these members are within the PTSA”.

Although fall sports have not seen an alarming decrease in participation due to student population, future athletic seasons have yet to see how they will be affected. However, Kerns reveals that he is still optimistic for the seasons to come.

“The good thing about Annandale is that teachers here step up and fill the needs because they understand that this is what is good for the kids” Kerns said. “I always say this: The best way to get involved in the community is to get involved with the school. Teaching, coaching, club sponsorship, helping out at games, attending homecoming or prom. You get to see the kids outside of the classroom and the students get to see you [their teachers] outside the classroom at their events. That was the best advice I ever received as a teacher.”