Marathon votes for extra class section

The Marathon Board of Education last week Wednesday voted to add a third section of fifth grade for the 2021-22 school year following a plea from school board member Lia Klumpyan.

The vote took place with the school board acting on teacher contracts for next fall.

Klumpyan said the school could not provide a quality education for 56 students in two sections given “some concerns and different situations” with members of next year’s fifth grade class and called for hiring an extra teacher for a third section.

Marathon Area Elementary School principal Ryan Mc-Cain said the upcoming fifth grade class did have academic challenges with English Language Learners and special education students. “The data does support a third section,” he said.

Administrator Rick Parks said he could find funding for the additional teacher--even if it meant taking money out of the district’s otherwise healthy fund balance. He said the district’s overall financial position depended on how much money the school district would eventually get from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) and what that money can be used for. Parks said the district could get $255,000 from three ESSER payments, but possibly as much as $800,000.

Board member considered putting off the decision in order to get clarification about the ESSER funding. In the end, however, board members said it was more valuable to start a teacher recruitment effort now.

“I don’t want to wait until the last minute,” said board member Ted Knoeck.

In other school board business:

_ Board members approved raises for teaching, administrative and support staff. The teachers will receive a 1.91 percent bump in pay, while the district’s three administrators (two principals and a superintendent) will receive a lump sum of $7,000. Support staff will receive a 50 cent per hour raise which equates to a 3.58 percent wage hike.

Board members voted to increase high school office staff worker Kris Barber’s contract to 35 hours per week. It also approved the resignation of Lisa Freund as district bookkeeper and hired Nicholas Barnes as volunteer assistant baseball coach.

_ Board members approved a five year contract with Fischer Transportation, Fenwood. The contract is similar to past agreements except it specifies that the district will pay actual cost for busing when St. Mary’s School is in session but not Marathon Public Schools.

Administrator Parks reported the average age of Marathon school buses is 5.9 years and the oldest bus is 12 years old. “That meets our criteria,” he said.

Board president Brian Gumtz abstained.

_ Administrator Parks reported a six school consortium, including Marathon Public Schools, voted to rebid health insurance after current provider Security Health Plan offered an 8.9 percent premium increase for next year. The consortium will look for health insurance quotes from Arise and the Wisconsin Counties Association.

_ High school principal Dave Beranek said high school seniors will have graduation, an end-of-the year picnic (with parent permission), see a movie as a senior trip, hold an awards ceremony and athletic banquet, but, due to COVID-19 caution, not hold a junior prom. Principal McCain said an eighth grade graduation has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 2.

_ In a report of this year’ summer school, principal McCain said classes would be held on snowmobile, ATV and UTV safety.

“Excellent job,” commented school board member Knoeck. “It’s madness to schedule those classes during the school year.”

_ Principal McCain said the Marathon Venture Academy would apply to become a charter school for another five years. He said the school could be eligible for a $750,000 charter school grant.