Board explores options for large kindergarten class

By Lori EhdeWith a class of 118 students registered for kindergarten this fall in Luverne, district teachers and administration are considering options for absorbing the large class.One option is to hire a sixth teacher for smaller class sizes.Another option — one that’s being heavily marketed by local parent Cheryl Thacker — is allowing parents to opt out of the all day every day kindergarten schedule in Luverne.If a large enough group of students — enough for two classrooms — opt to send their children half days or every other day, the district could save money on a sixth teacher’s salary.Superintendent Vince Schaefer said half-day kindergarten would likely not be an option, because it’s too costly to bus students twice a day for only a half day of class.Teachers who attended the Thursday, July 22, School Board meeting (Shirley Harrison and Sue Hup) expressed concerns about the district allowing the kindergarten option.For one thing, they wondered how the half-time students would keep up with the full-time students once they reached first grade.Regardless, Harrison advised the board to consider the educational costs of not funding another kindergarten teacher."You can’t have quality education if you put 24 kindergarteners in a class," she said. "Make the commitment to hire a half-time teacher (for the half-time option) or another full-time teacher."Elementary Principal Stacy Gillette said, "I want to stress that at this point we’re just exploring the possibility."Hup said, "I’m glad to hear you’re discussing this … but if parents feel their kids can keep up going only half time, I think they’re going to be missing out."With class lists being put together in August, Schaefer pointed out that the board will need to move quickly on a decision on kindergarten staffing.Gillette reported there will be 91 students in first grade this fall, 88 in second, 94 in third, 84 in fourth and 100 in fifth.New playground equipmentThe elementary school booster club, Parents Partners in Education, has approved $5,000 for upgrades to the elementary playground.The board approved a 30-by-30-foot concrete pad in the southwest corner of the playground. It will have a Funball target in the center, and two Easy Shot basketball hoops on each end.Much of the equipment and labor will be donated, and the rest will be funded by the PPIE grant, up to $5,000.Activity feesIncreased activity fees by $5 across the board for all activities, and raised the family cap from $200 to $225.Schaefer encouraged the board to consider the increase to offset increasing transportation costs for many of the activities.Grades 7-8 currently pay $20, and grades 9-12 pay $30 for activities such as forensics, Math League, Mock Trial, Plays (cast only), cheerleading, band, choir and speech.Grades 7-8 currently pay $30 for all sports, and grades 9-12 pay $50.With Thursday’s action, all those will cost $5 more starting this fall.There is no charge for student council, annual, class officers, concessions, Echo, Honor Society, intramurals, Peer Helpers, FCCLA, FFA, Spanish Club, office workers and managers/statisticians In personnel matters Thursday, the board
Accepted the retirement of bus driver Joyce Hartz, effective July 31
Accepted the resignation of Roxanne Holtrop, elementary special services secretary, effective July 8.
Approved the salary for Technology Coordinator Wade Hiller at $45,600.
Hired James Lunder, half-time industrial technology teacher at $23,144.
Approved the additional assignment with Jan Olson for curriculum work, as needed, during the school year and summer, at $8,877.
Appointed Gary Fisher as middle school/high school principal and Stacy Gillette as Elementary Principal. Former elementary principal Melody Tenhoff resigned and the district will have two principals instead of three.
Appointed Todd Oye as half-time middle school dean of students and half-time activities director. This is also a result of the principal reduction.
Approved two-year contracts with the custodian union and support staff union at a step increase plus 3 percent for each of the two years.