CASTLE ROCK — School board members are inviting area lawmakers to discuss the education system with them next month.

The board is sending invitations to its Oct. 13 meeting to all area senators and representatives.

The board wants to highlight some of Castle Rock’s achievements, including a required summer reading program, tougher math standards and preventing middle school students with failing grades from advancing to high school.

In addition, the board would like to talk with lawmakers about education standards, funding, student testing and lawmakers’ “efforts in carrying out the duty to hold education of Washington students of paramount priority,” according to draft of the invitation shared with the school board Tuesday night.

District officials have attended similar meetings held by the Longview School District in the past. They decided this year to invite lawmakers to Castle Rock, Superintendent Susan Barker said. The idea came from board member Bill Schumacher.

The legislative meeting would last from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. with the regular school board meeting to follow. Lawmakers are asked to respond by Sept. 21 so officials will know if they have enough interest to move the meeting to a larger room.

Also Tuesday the school board:

• Learned that enrollment on the first day of school Tuesday was 1,255 students — the number the district budgeted for — though the high school had 15 fewer students than anticipated. The difference was made up by extra students at the middle school and elementary school.

Barker warned first day numbers are “soft,” especially because some parents take a longer holiday weekend and not all kindergarten students were scheduled to attend class Tuesday. The official enrollment count will be taken Friday.

Enrollment is important because districts are funded on a per-pupil basis. Fewer students can mean budget cuts. Barker said all Cowlitz County schools were flat or saw a decrease in students this year.

“Historically we have gained a few students the first week,” Barker said. “We’re watching it and will adjust if we need to.”