Independent School District 166 Principal Gwen Carman told the school board that K-12 enrollment for 2011-2012 was 462. “We have 40 kids new to the district and 33 kids left the district,” said Carman, who appeared before the board at its September 20 meeting.
While classes continue to get smaller—Carman said that there were 22 first graders this fall—she noted that there were 56 kids in the junior class and 52 eighth graders. “So there are still some bigger classes, which is a good thing, but makes scheduling classes tricky,” said Carman.
A new challenge for the district is students who take classes in school and online. Carmen said this fall 177 kids are taking classes for college or high school online as well as attending some of the regular classes. Because the students aren’t in school full-time the district can’t be paid for their fulltime attendance. “This is a rough estimate, but the district will lose about $50,000,” said Carman.
Superintendent Beth Schwarz presented the board with a fiveyear enrollment and budget projection, which shows declining student population and declining funding from the state. If the trend continues there will be 429 K-12 students attending ISD 166 in 2016-2017, and the district will go from an estimated 2012-2013 fund balance of $938,271 to a negative balance of $126,671. And that’s with all of the cuts and reduction of staff figured in, said Schwarz.
Legislative assistance sought
Schwarz said she fears that due to the bleak financial outlook of the state that aid will be cut for small schools. In a letter to Representative David Dill and Senator Tom Bakk she urged them to support schools.
In her letter Schwarz states, “The current omnibus bill contains revenue for small schools beginning in fiscal year 2013. Superintendents have been told that this revenue may be targeted for reduction in January 2012 if the state budget has not improved. ISD 166 is counting on these funds. If there is any indication that this funding will be eliminated, we would appreciate your help in protecting this very important revenue for our district.”
Schwarz also asked the legislators to help restore sparsity aid for ISD 166, noting that she made the same request in 2009. At that time, Schwarz said, Senator Bakk said sparsity aid was unlikely because of the state’s budget woes. Schwarz wrote to Bakk and Dill, “I was surprised and quite frustrated to see a provision in the omnibus bill for Kittson Central and Northland Community School to receive their sparsity aid.”
Schwarz included a copy of her original letter written in 2009.
Transportation matters
Because parents in the west end of the county were upset by how late their kids were getting home from school, Director of Facilities and Transportation Mike Groth and his drivers have looked at ways to get kids home faster. Currently students leave school about 3:15 p.m. Students living at the end of the West End route get home at 4:50 p.m. Groth reviewed bus routes with the school board and said he can get those kids home by about 4:30 p.m. under a new route. First, however, he needs to ride along with several drivers and see how much time can actually be saved before okaying the new routes. He will get back to the school board at its next meeting. “Tell the parents we care about this very much and are working hard to figure out the best solution we can,” said Groth.
The board approved the purchase of a 2004 Chevy 14-passenger van for an amount not to exceed $22,000. The van will be used to transport sports teams to events and will save the district the cost of sending small teams in large 77-passenger seat buses. Plus, said Schwarz, the drivers only need a Class D driver’s license. Head Custodian Mike Groth said that background checks and training would be conducted on van drivers. The drivers must also work for the school.
Personnel changes
Jeanne Smith was hired as the Community Education youth program coordinator and Hans Hall was hired to drive school bus.
The board unanimously accepted a letter of resignation form Kaye Tavernier. Board Chair Mary Sanders accepted the letter with regrets and said the school was grateful to Kaye for her more than 25 years of service. Kaye said she would continue to volunteer to the school.
In other business:
. St. John’s Catholic Church donated $1,000 to help pay athletic fees and $500 to help buy school clothes for kids in need. Lyle Gerard donated $100 for the Senior Show. Joni Leonard gave $115 to be used for the baseball team and Dave Stewart/Northwestern Mutual put $3,000 in the ISD 166 fund. Schwarz and the board commended and thanked everyone for their gifts.
. Principal Carman said the recent open house at the school was a big success. She thanked the North Shore Credit Union for donating the food and the tent and providing workers. “They served over 400 hundred hot dogs. “I would also like to thank Bernick’s for donating the water bottles,” said Carman.
. Superintendent Beth Schwarz thanked the maintenance staff, secretaries and teachers for all of the extra work that they did to prepare for this new school year. Extra work came about when the Grand Marais Public Library temporarily moved to the district office because of its renovations.
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