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By MaryHelen Swanson
Last week, after months of research and hours of discussions, the North Branch Area Public Schools’ board of education came to a consensus that the district should try a four-day week schedule.
There was no formal vote as it was during a working session that the board members agreed such a schedule would be one major solution to the the $1.3 million deficit for the coming school year.
Superintendent Dr. Deb Henton went through a comprehensive power point showing how the district has come to this decision.
As she has done with every presentation on the four-day week, she opened by noting that three things lead to this consideration: declining enrollment, flat funding from the state and the failure of an operating levy. She reminded all once again that she said a year ago if these conditions existed by budget time that the district would consider an alternative schedule.
Because these three conditions existed late last fall and because there is that $1.3 million deficit looming, administration proceeded with a serious consideration for the four-day week.
Public meetings brought many parents, community members and business people together recently. Both sides of the issue have been vocal, but Dr. Henton believes that those favoring the four-day week were somewhat reluctant to speak up at the public meetings.
Last Thursday was the first time building administrators and special program directors responded to the board on the subject.
They included Asst. High School Principal Lora O’Hern, Middle School Principal Todd Tetzlaff, Sunrise River School Principal Jason Hartmann, ALC Director Lori Zimmerman, Activities Director Mike Cunningham and Community Education Director Jeanne Leland.
Generally speaking, these leaders said their staffs were in support of the four-day schedule. O’Hern noted that the desire at the high school was to provide a comprehensive program to all students, and there was concern about continued staff cuts and increasing class sizes.
Tetzlaff noted support from his staff also, again, class size being the major concern. He noted that the fifth day could be very advantageous for additional help and services to students. The alternate schedule would prevent the loss of programs and staff, he believes.
More personally, he noted that he has three children in the NB schools and they love it. He said they won’t love it any less in four days.
Hartmann said his staff feels the four-day is a workable solution, and they have communicated a “we can make it happen” attitude.
He also talked about the advantages of the fifth day for targeted services.
Cunningham noted that there is a lot of support among the extracurricular folks, but it’s not unanimous. But he told the board that he has learned that once an activity is gone it is almost impossible to bring it back. An alternative may have been cutting those activities.
The four-day week will be inconvenient, he said, but he assured the board his programs and coaches could make it work.
In talking with ADs from Warroad and MACCRAY, where they have four-day weeks, Cunningham learned that they did not see a drop in the competitive process.
“We can make it work!” was the statement over and over from principals and directors that night.
Leland noted that she initially thought the four-day week would be the demise of Community Ed, but after she participated in committees, researched and talked with community members, she decided the program could operate successfully.
She spoke of the after school programs for children saying “we have safe places in our community” for that fifth day.
She also shared her personal story of her family’s struggle in difficult times, to show that she does know what local families are going through.
“We can make it work” summed up all their voices.
Following words of assurance from finance director Randi Johnson that the district may actually see savings of more than the announced $156,000 through the four-day week, Dr. Henton presented her recommendation.
She said the administration has listened to the people, as she presented a second option for the four-day schedule that included adding only 45 minutes to each day, instead of one hour. It would add four days to the school year, and reduce the savings about $23,000, but it addresses some parents’ concerns for their younger students.
School would start at 7:45 a.m. for the high school students, 8 a.m. for the elementary students.
The question was posed “If not this what?”
There will be cuts in teachers even if the four-day week is implemented, but if something isn’t done those cuts will be harsher, including three full-time equivalent positions each at the high school and middle school, and that would undoubtedly increase class sizes even more. Two weeks ago, high school teacher Cha Bettendorf noted that class size is already pushing 40.
In addition, according to last week’s presentation, without a solution like the four-day week, there will more than likely be reduced opportunities and fewer elective options, as well as reduced vocational/technical opportunities.
Among the board members there was visible sadness and regret that the North Branch district had to come to this.
It was particularly hard because state funding is not the same for NB as many other districts.
Member Jeanne Walz was very reluctant to say yes to the proposal, citing the fact that there would be cuts anyway, and expressing concern about the children, particularly the fatigue factor.
Supt. Henton noted that the fatigue level is already high on teachers who have to have more and more kids in their classes.
Walz reminded the board that they are not considering this for the educational value of the students, but for the money. “I know we can make it work,” she said, her voice low. But she said she is struggling with it.
Henton, acknowledging Walz’ struggle, said she knows it hurts, but the decision has not been made in haste.”It’s been a hard year,” Dr. Henton said, adding it’s a hard time of year to be in district leadership.
Board member Kirby Ekstrom thanked administration for the positive outlook, saying he sees going to the four-day week as a positive step, adding it’s better to try and maybe fail than never to have tried at all. He can see the value if it keeps the staff reduction down to two, rather than four or six.
Sometimes change is a positive thing, he said.
Member Vicki McDougall’s concern was for the length of the trial, suggesting a pilot of one year.
And it would be, said Dr. Henton, noting that there will be no three to five year recommendation.
It has to be evaluated annually, the superintendent stressed, reminding them, though, that achievement will be difficult to gauge because there would not be any length of time to track it.
Chairwoman Kim Salo thought it important to give it a chance over cutting programs and teachers.
The board members gave the second option their approval and directed administration to provide a budget recommendation that includes the four-day week, with the option 2 calendar, and requiring an annual review of the schedule.
Board member John White was absent.
The school board will hear the full budget recommendation at a special meeting tomorrow night, March 4, at 7 p.m.
On March 11 at 6 p.m. there will be a public hearing on the budget recommendation followed by the regular school board meeting at 7 p.m.
On March 18 the school board will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. in room 204, at the Main Street School, to vote on the budget recommendation.
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