Board adds two teachers to address hot spots

by Julia Brolin
Contributing Writer
The Elk River Area School Board voted unanimously on Aug. 30 to hire two additional elementary teachers just one week prior to the start of the school year.
The new teachers will relieve large class sizes at Parker and Lincoln elementary schools — two of the district’s nine elementary schools
“These student-to-teacher ratios are simply too high and not something we’re comfortable with,” interim Superintendent Bruce Watkins told board members at a special meeting to discuss the emerging class size concerns.
At Parker Elementary, the average second-grade class is 29 students – a number the district believes is too high. Currently, there are three second-grade classes at Parker. With the addition of a fourth classroom teacher, the average class size drops to 21.8 students.
Another area of concern is the fourth-grade classes at Lincoln Elementary. Forty-six percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch and 26 percent are special education students. The district recognizes the benefits of smaller classes for this specific group of students. With the addition of a new teacher, the average class size at Lincoln will drop from 32.3 students per class to 24.3
“At three sections (classrooms) each, they have the largest student-to-teacher ratio, but with four they drop to the smallest class size ratio,” explained Joe Stangler, District 728 director of research and assessment.
This is the second year in a row a staffing recommendation like this has been made. A similar staffing recommendation was made around this time last year to also accommodate larger than projected class sizes.
“Student enrollment data is something we look at every day leading up to the new school year. It’s a constant conversation filled with calculations and models,” Stangler said. “It’s not uncommon for us to come to the board in the fall asking for additional staff, as we tend to be conservative with our enrollment numbers.”
Lincoln and Parker second-grade students were on the minds of administrators a week earlier when they recommended and the School Board voted to close open enrollment in the second grade at two elementary schools on School Street in Elk River.
Newly elected School Board Member Gregg Peppin questioned how many potential students and families would miss the opportunity to open enroll. Stangler reported there were no waiting lists, and it would be impossible to know. He said each building has about 40 total open enrollments or about six per grade level.
“Most parents have made the decision to open enroll (by now),” Stangler said. “We typically see that in January, February or March. Whether this will prevent anyone from coming is unknown at this time.”
Those interested in open enrolling into a school and grade level that is closed could open enroll at Meadowvale Elementary School.
Stangler said on Aug. 22 the school district has been adding about five to 10 students a day across the school district and offered a prediction that would continue to happen. Once school starts the numbers will tick down somewhat, based on past experience, he said. Organic growth of District 728 students tipped the scales to ask for help in second grade at Parker and fourth grade and Lincoln.
Watkins said he’s conscious of the set budget and explained how the district would prefer to hire extra teachers close to the school year, as opposed to having too many teachers and not enough students.
The district has already interviewed teachers and plans to have them in place before the first day of classes on Sept. 6. The new hires will cost the district approximately $130,000, but could be more depending on the teachers’ experience. Funds will be taken from the district’s unspecified general fund.
Watkins said it’s all a balancing act between demand and economics. One or two new students only generate between $7,000 and $14,000, but or two new teachers come with a cost between $60,000 and $140,000 depending on their experience.
The administration asked for Twin Lakes open enrollment to be re-opened in all grades but third grade for the coming school year, but School Board members nixed that idea and went as far to say they don’t even want to discuss it for some time.
Outgoing Board Members Sue Farber and Dan Hunt, half-jokingly and half-seriously, said they didn’t want to see it until after Dec. 31.
“I think we all understand,” Vice Chair Shane Steinbrecher said. (Note: Editor Jim Boyle contributed to this report.)