The St. Paul School District took a budgetary hit for the coming school year when enrollment forecasts suggested it could be down 542 students in 2016-17.

But many families still relocate to the city or switch neighborhoods during the summer, and have decisions to make about where to send their kids in the fall.

To help, the state's second-largest district announced this week that it will be extending its student placement center hours in August.

On Tuesdays, the center will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning Aug. 2 through the first day of school on Sept. 6. (The center typically closes at 4:30 p.m.)

On Wednesdays beginning Aug. 17 through Sept. 7, the center will open at 8 a.m., instead of noon.

Portico Healthnet, a nonprofit health and human services organization, also will be on hand on Thursdays beginning Aug. 4 through Sept. 8 to provide health insurance information to interested families.

The placement center is located at 2102 University Av. W.

Services include intake for students not currently enrolled in the district and information about school choice and home schooling, plus early childhood screening.

Appointments can be made by calling 651-632-3700.