Story originally printed in the Holmen Courier or online at www.holmencourier.com
Published - Friday, May 16, 2008
Holmen SAGE funding in danger
A source of school funding that keeps class sizes smaller in kindergarten through third-grade classes at Viking Elementary School is in danger of ending.
The Student Achievement Guarantee in Education program pays the salaries and benefits for about three full-time teachers in those grades. At a public hearing Monday night, Holmen School Board members discussed the district’s need to file a waiver with the state in order to keep the funding.
The SAGE program was designed to improve student achievement through smaller class sizes in grade K-3. Viking Elementary is the only school in the district that receives SAGE funding.
According to Viking Elementary Principal Teri Staloch, maintaining the 15-1 ratio has been a challenge for administrators because of increasing school enrollment, a surge of third-graders when Viking Elementary opened and shifting enrollment capacity from the other elementary schools to Viking. There are currently 343 students enrolled in K-3 grades, with 94 of them third-graders.
Staloch also said they have not met the student-teacher ratio requirement in prior years, but the state has not, until now, requested Holmen apply for a waiver. The application for a waiver of the requirements will be for the remainder of this year and for the next school year.
The state pays the school district $2,250 for each low-income student at the school. Viking Elementary received $147,482 for the 2006-2007 year.
Staloch told board members the situation should be alleviated when the new elementary school opens for the 2009-10 school year. She also said they have traditionally not included the teaching assistants and others in the teaching numbers and if those were included, the class size ratio would be met.
In response to a question from board member Tim Medinger, Superintendent Fred Frick said the Department of Public Instruction has been putting pressure on schools that are not meeting the 15-1 ratio and some schools have dissolved their SAGE programs because of being unable to meet those requirements.
While he said the DPI is aware of the district’s increasing enrollment and the new building, Frick said he couldn’t determine whether a waiver would be granted. “I can’t say to you the request will be approved,” Frick said. “But without putting in a waiver request, you will not have SAGE.”
The board approved submitting the waiver, but doesn’t expect to hear back until the end of June.
People
The board formally approved hiring Dale Carlson as district superintendent effective July 1, replacing Frick. Carlson will be paid $120,000 for the 2008-09 school year.
The board accepted the resignations of three more staff membes, effective June 30.
Larry Manske II is resigning from his position as ESL/TAG teacher at Evergreen Elementary. He has been with the district since August 2004.
Michelle Shirel is resigning from her position as seventh grade social studies teacher at Holmen Middle School. She has been with the district since September 1999
Brenda Parmenter is resigning from her position as ESL/TAG teacher at Holmen High School. She has been with the district since August 1997.
And in a move sure to be greeted with delight by this year’s seniors, the board approved issuing diplomas for 260 students graduating from Holmen High School. The graduation will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at the La Crosse Center.
All stories copyright 2006 Holmen Courier and other attributed sources.