Luverne finds a way to keep classes small

By Lori EhdeA large incoming class of kindergarten students has prompted concern about large classes, but administrators this week came up with a solution most are happy with.With 119 students, the previous five teachers would have had 23 to 24 students in each classroom, a number most educators say is too high for such young students.Adding a sixth teacher’s salary, however, at a time when the district is cutting its budget hasn’t been a popular option.A small crowd of parents and elementary teachers attended Tuesday’s meeting, prepared to urge the board to hire a sixth teacher.An announcement by Elementary Principal Stacy Gillette early in the meeting eliminated the need for those prepared statements.When she and the teachers took a closer look at the actual numbers attending this fall, they noticed a smaller-than-expected first grade.So, she announced Tuesday, that a first-grade teacher will be moved to kindergarten, bringing the kindergarten class sizes to a more manageable 19 to 20 students per classroom.There are 89 students in first grade, so the remaining four first-grade teachers will have 22 to 23 students per class, instead of 17 to 18 students.She said first-grade teachers receive help from Reading Recovery teachers, so that will offset the higher numbers in those classrooms.In recent months, some parents have requested the district offer the option of every-other day kindergarten or half-day kindergarten as a solution to the large class sizes.Gillette said that’s no longer a formal option."We’ve always made adjustments for parents who want to home school their children part time," Gillette said, "but I can’t guarantee what part of the curriculum they’re going to get, especially if they’re going every other day. There might be gaps."She said of 106 families questioned this summer about the part-time kindergarten option, six families were interested. In personnel matters, the board …
Accepted the resignation of Tracy Cornish, paraprofessional.
Accepted the resignation of Shelley Krueger, Early Childhood Family Education parent educator.
Hired Krueger as Early Childhood Special Needs teacher and Interagency Early Intervention Committee coordinator at a salary of $20,050.
Hired Tim Homan, middle school social studies teacher, head wrestling coach and ninth-grade football coach at a combined salary of $47,590.
Hired Lindsey Bonnett as EBD teacher at a salary of $28,643.
Hired Amy Anderson as English teacher and Fall Play director at a salary of $28,643.
Approved supervisory and confidential employees salaries (the Star Herald will follow-up on these next week).Budget cutsThe board approved the following budget cuts Tuesday:
a cheerleading advisor will be for football only (there hasn’t been interest in cheerleading for other sports lately, anyway).
middle school and high school classes need to have a minimum of 15 students for the class to be offered.
the district will provide busing for Minnesota State High School League activities only during the season.District Finance Officer Marlene Mann reported that these cuts, along with all others the board has made this year, plus staff resignations, puts the total budget cuts at a total of $342,000.The goal was to cut $350,000 to $375,000 to compensate for projected losses in state revenue in order to keep the district out of deficit spending.In other business:
The Aug. 3 storm ripped off part of the elementary school gymnasium roof. A temporary fix is in place, but it still has not been repaired. It’s unclear whether or not there will be long-term damage to the floor.
A steak fry from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at the Eagles Club will benefit the Luverne School Foundation.
Approved University of Sioux Falls student teaching agreements for Jessica Christensen, who will student teach in Linda Gulden’s second-grade classroom, and for April Wessels, who will student teach in Pam Christensen’s third-grade classroom.
The board reviewed quotes for a wide-area mower with snow blower. Sun Turf, Sioux Falls, had the lowest price of $34,800.
The next School Board meeting is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26.
The first day of school is Wednesday, Sept. 1.