Budget limits trigger differences

They report that there will be one teacher assigned for 33 students in each of the three classes. The topic was discussed at length at Monday’s school board meeting and has created a division of opinion among board members.

Adding to the concern of the decreased one-on-one time available, is the second consecutive yearly report from the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment II test showing the district’s sixth graders (among most of the district’s grades tested in April of this year) as below average in math and reading.

Superintendent Don Langan was questioned by board member Stuart Nordquist Monday whether the district could possibly add another sixth grade section with an additional teacher.

Langan replied that he would not make that recommendation.

Nordquist told The Journal that he believes bringing the class sizes into the 20s is necessary.

“Thirty-three is quite a few to handle,” Nordquist said. “There will be less one-on-one and there’s more discipline problems. A good foundation is very important in the primary grades, K-6.”

Langan said if the time that some of these same students spend with Title 1 instructors and special education professionals as well as with an additional teacher who was hired to fortify math and reading skills is counted, the sixth grade student-to-teacher ratio of 33-to-one may be closer to 27-to-one.

But Nordquist said those details have always been there and occur for all the grades no matter what size. He noted that the math and reading teacher is paid with Title 1 funds and a general education teacher with an assigned class is paid with general funds.

“We’re talking about the general classroom time when they’re all together,” Nordquist said. “We also have kids who are absent some days, but that shouldn’t figure into the general equation.”

Langan estimates that hiring a new sixth-grade instructor would cost the district a minimum of about $45,000. And adding that amount to the current cost of the extra elementary math and reading teacher would tip the budget. “Should we do both? Will the 2009-10 budget tolerate that?” Langan asks.

In response to budget limitations, some board members question the appropriateness of a recommendation that Langan did make for a retirement plan which would keep technology director Dave Skwarok in a two-year, part-time position to train an incoming director, who would also receive a salary. Langan’s proposal would pay Skwarok a portion, essentially one half, of his yearly salary for each of those years.

Nordquist said that some board members were confused by the priority of that expenditure if a new sixth grade teacher was calculated as too costly. And he said that he had not yet seen anything regarding Skwarok’s actual retirement intention, which he believed should be the starting point for any discussion on the matter. Langan said the comparison was not a fair contrast.

Asked why such a long training period would be required if a qualified candidate was hired, Langan replied that it was because the district has such a complex, and one of the more complete, technical systems. Asked why this is so, he replied that the results of a 2001 referendum question indicated that this was what the public wanted.

“The commitment was that we would develop and maintain one for our district and for our kids,” Langan said. “Without that, we wouldn’t have the system we’ve got now.”

Nordquist recalls that the approved referendum question addressed technology, textbooks, teaching supplies and extracurricular activities. He added that another 2001 referendum question on that same ballot rejected levying money for the Backus building, and for activities.

Nordquist was quick to point out that Skwarok has “absolutely done a very good job in all aspects for the district,” but that the priority of recommending a tentative retirement plan for a technology director over the immediate need of a sixth grade teacher is misguided. He said that board member Roger Jerome proposed that a candidate should not be hired if a two-year training period was necessary.

The board rejected the proposal, but requested that Langan develop a revised training plan with a transition period that would not exceed one year. That new proposal is due by November of this year.

Open enrollment

On another issue, the board rejected on a 3-3 vote closing open enrollment in grades 6, 7, 8 and 11 for the 2009-2010 year.

Open enrollment programs allow parents to apply for their children to attend school districts other than the one in which they reside.

Board member Willi Kostiuk poses the question “Should we be turning kids away?”

Nordquist agrees that the topic should be scrutinized.

Langan said that ideally, grades would remain open, but a closer examination reveals that it’s only half of the equation. “There are limitations and restrictions on any system — bricks and mortar, expenses and staff issues. What expenses does that open enrollment generate?

“To take a position that we are obliged to teach every kid would be nice with unlimited resources,” Langan said. He explained that while three new students may add about $18,000 to the district, it may actually cost $150,000 if a new classroom is needed to facilitate them, and an additional $45,000 if another teacher is needed. He cited Hermantown and other districts that have closed open enrollment for that reason.

Langan noted that the district cannot refuse openly enrolled students unless a declaration of closing is made by Jan. 15 of the preceding school year. “The problem with unlimited open enrollment is that if you then need to add four or five residents, you can’t send the others back to their own districts,” he said.

Nordquist said the issue of a few open enrollment students isn’t something new to the district. “What is new is closing the enrollment,” he said.

“If classes are busting at the seams, it’s one thing,” Nordquist added. “The number isn’t that great nor has it ever been that great. This is being proactive to something that may or may not occur.”

Nordquist said that there’s a problem “when you close classes and you deny kids who were part of this school district at one time. Are they our kids? Then we want them to vote for extending this operating levy (a referendum ballot question for this November).” Nordquist did acknowledge that the decline in students which began after the early 1970s forced the district to operate with less buildings.

“The superintendent has many things and many responsibilities to consider,” Nordquist said. “Many things are discussed (at board meetings) and that’s what the board should do. But we (board members) should hear the public’s viewpoints. More parents talk to us on the street than come to meetings.

“We should express their concerns, that’s why they voted us into office.

“If several people are asking, there is something to it. The administration also wants what’s best for our kids. We have to reach a consensus of what is the best.”

The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment II test results for District 361 sixth graders show proficiency rates as follows:

Reading International Falls Reading state

2009 — 60.0 2009 — 72.5

2008 — 58.5 2008 — 69.6

2007 — 71.9 2007 — 66.6

2006 — 79.8 2006 — 71.6

Math International Falls Math state

2009 — 50.0 2009 — 63.8

2008 — 53.7 2008 — 64.6

2007 — 60.0 2007 — 60.8

2006 — 42.3 2006 — 59.2

Grades 3-8 and 10 also tested below average in the state for reading. Grades 4-7 and 11 also tested below average in the state for math.

Most of District 361 grades, including grade 6, which were tested in the Northwest Evaluation Association scale, met or exceeded the national RIT growth rate average in math and reading.

Falls School Board News Notes

• The Falls School Board Monday approved contracts for two half-time family home interventionist positions.

• The board approved the hiring of Ashley Lillemoen as a full-time early childhood special education teacher for the 2009-2010 school year, to replace Roxanne Skogstad who is on leave of absence. Also approved was the hiring of Wendy Mayer as a full-time secondary special education teacher for the 2009-2010 school year.

• The Falls School Board will interview candidates to fill positions vacated by physical education teacher Jamie Bodette, and elementary teacher Michelle Holbeck. The board accepted the resignation of Linda Menard, support paraprofessional, and approved the hiring of Christina Foreman as an educational support paraprofessional I - library aide.

• Appointed for the Falls school district was Brenda LeDuc as the homeless liaison for the 2009-10 school year.

• Derek Dowty was hired as head boys basketball coach and Rachel Hasbargen-Glowack was approved as the assistant volleyball coach, for the 2009-10 season.

• Assistant Superintendent Kevin Grover reported to the board on the collaboration and contracting of a new industrial technology (building trades) program with Rainy River Community College. District 361 teacher Ladd Kocinski will instruct at both the school and the college.

• Elementary Principal Gerald Hilfer presented the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment II test results for the district which showed several grades rated below average in state comparisons for proficiency in math and reading.

• Superintendent Don Langan reported to the board on tax/aid shift effects for 2009-10 as established by the state Legislature, as well as on his China delegation trip.