Staff shuffle

There will be a staff shuffle at the Medford Area Elementary school next fall as the district pivots to address a larger incoming kindergarten class while facing both space and financial constraints.

Elementary Principal Dan Miller explained that there are 17 more students registered for kindergarten this coming fall than last fall and that there are currently five sections of pre-kindergarten classes ranging from 13 to 16 students in each. The additional students are coming from Holy Rosary, Immanuel Lutheran and the Head Start program. Adding those students into the existing five sections of kindergarten would result in class sizes of about 22 children each. “That is too big for a kindergarten class,” Miller told board members at Monday’s school board meeting. He suggested the district go to six sections of kindergarten.

Miller said that with budget considerations and the need to minimize additional expenses, rather than adding another teacher, he would look at reducing the number of sections in the third grade from the current five to four and transfer teaching staff within the building. The impact of this would be to have next year’s third grade at 22 students in each section. “It would be staff neutral,” Miller said, noting he had already spoken to teachers about it and they were willing to make it work.

Board member Brian Hallgren opposed the idea, saying it was important to keep class sizes smaller. He noted that it would be increasing the class sizes for each of the sections in the third grade at MAES by 25%. “We have 88 kids affected by the move,” Hallgren said, noting that they have added positions in the district in recent years that have less impact on the kids than third grade teachers do.

“I don’t have the room,” Miller said, noting that it was a space even more than an expense issue, although the salary and benefits expense of an additional elementary teacher was estimated to add about $75,000 to the budget.

There is currently one section of third grade in Stetsonville Elementary School with 23 students in it. Board member John Zuleger suggested the district look at having that third grade class in Stetsonville. “Is there any flexibility there?” he asked.

Board member Don Everhard, who formerly worked as principal at SES, opposed forcing students from Medford to Stetsonville, noting that it usually came down to bus routes and if the student could get to the school.

Miller said that he agreed in general with Hallgren that having smaller numbers for students in the classes was better, but that teachers felt that class sizes up to 23 were doable. He said they may feel different if the section sizes were 25 or higher at the lower grades.

Hallgren said he felt the building principal would have to find the space to hold a classroom. Miller said it could mean doubling up special education teachers or having the special education teachers share elementary classrooms with other teachers.

“You can’t just open up a broom closet and put these kids in there,” said board member Cheryl Wibben, opposed to the idea of squeezing other classes to make room for five sections of third grade.

Special education director Joe Greget said the special education staff would do what was necessary to make things work whatever the board decided.

District finance director Audra Brooks noted the district’s budget was already projecting a $486,000 deficit for the draft 2021-2022 budget.

“We can all agree less kids in the classroom are better because it produces more one on one time,” said board president Dave Fleegel. He said he didn’t doubt they would find the money for the position if it was just a matter of cost. However, with the building space involved it added to the issue.

In the end, Hallgren’s motion to keep five sections of third grade while adding a sixth section of kindergarten failed without a second. The board approved the plan to add the sixth section of kindergarten and the reduction of sections at third grade.

In other business, board members:

_ Approved a plan to eliminate the French program at the Medford school district after the 2021-2022 school year. The current French teacher is shared between the middle and high school. District administrator Pat Sullivan said the numbers in the program continue to go down and it is hard justifying keeping it noting there were 20 students currently enrolled in the French program at all levels. “It is not something we like to do,” he said. The district will work with parents to connect them with online options for French. Everhard asked if the district would be adding to its Spanish class offerings without French being there. Sullivan said the district used ESSER grant funds to pay for a English Language Learner teacher to work particularly with students coming from Spanish speaking households. He said that position would also lend support to the Spanish education program and in the longterm be funded by the cut to the French program.

_ Reviewed building technology infrastructure as well as getting an update on the Taylor County middle mile broadband network project. Technology director Dennis Hinderliter said the permits for the broadband work have been applied for with construction set to begin June 1. This network will make it more desirable for outside internet service providers to offer affordable high speed internet to area families.

_ Approved second reading of policies communicable diseases, child abuse/neglect reporting, child enticement and suicide prevention. The board was also presented with first reading of policies for the scholarships and awards, Wisconsin Academic Higher Education Scholarship, Technical Excellence Scholarship, dress code, student volunteers for school and public services, student gifts, student fees and student records. Board member Steve Deml questioned the gift policy, noting while it discourages substantial gifts between students and teachers it is left up to the principal and administrator to determine what is substantial. Sullivan said that it would be a matter of looking at it and seeing if it was “over the top” with it up to their discretion if it didn’t look or feel right. “What is significant to one person may not be significant to another,” Deml said.

_ Recognized Jackie Strick as the May 2021 Taylor County Educator of the Month. Strick has been with the district for 23 years and has a total of 30 years as an educator. She is the Medford Area Middle School counselor.

_ Formally approved allowing firearms on the school grounds for the hunter safety program. The class is offered as part of the summer school program and under state law, the board must approve allowing the firearms.