District 84 to drop out of CRTC

Move saves $70,000 to reach cuts of $350,000

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- The District 84 School Board passed a resolution late Thursday afternoon to opt out of the Cottonwood River Technical Center next fall.

The decision came on a 6-1 vote during a 4 1/2-hour budget work session in the school cafeteria.

Board Chairman Reynold Dittbenner cast the dissenting vote.

Superintendent Jay Haugen said the decision came after the meeting bogged down without reaching the anticipated $350,000 in cuts.

The board's decision to get out of the co-op center followed a long discussion about CRTC and other budget-cutting options.

Lack of student interest in CRTC played a part in the decision, according to Haugen.

"We had just eight juniors and seniors signed up for CRTC so far," Haugen said. "We reached $293,000 in cuts and weren't getting anywhere before making the decision.

"Cutting out CRTC saved us $70,000 and put us over the hump. We feel we can offer much of what was taught at CRTC for less money. No matter what we cut, somebody won't be content."

The district plans to expand its vocational program next fall and share it with Sleepy Eye St. Mary's.

"We would like to teach construction trades in school in the morning," Haugen said. "There is also interest teaching medical careers and graphic arts. Perhaps, we can get help from community experts and have some classes in the hospital."

The prospect of adding automotive and aviation classes now offered at CRTC to the Sleepy Eye school curriculum remains undecided.

Haugen will now explain the vocational program concept to St. Mary's.

Items that did not fall to the budget ax included the finance director's time and the wrestling program.

"While it might look good on paper, we thought cutting the finance director's time wouldn't work," Haugen said. "Other districts that don't have a finance director have had problems losing money by not following time lines. We were really afraid of that."

Haugen said the board decided not to eliminate the wrestling program that is shared with Springfield and Comfrey.

The district plans to increase athletic fees for all sports by a small amount to make up the difference.

High School Principal Elia Bruggeman presented the board with a revised rough draft junior and senior high block schedule for next fall. Classes would begin at 8:35 a.m. and end at 3:05 p.m.

Teachers would hold preparation time from 7:30-8:20 a.m. Block 1 classes would be held from 8:35-10:05 a.m., block 2 classes from 10:20-11:50 a.m., lunch would be served from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and block 3 classes would be held from 1:30-3:05 p.m.

Haugen received a letter from St. Mary's School requesting that the board keep the school day close to its current length.

The letter also requested that the district remain in CRTC.

Another Souper Forum featuring homemade soup, bread sticks and coffee and milk is set for 6 p.m., March 15, in the school cafeteria.

"We have lots of selling to do now," Dittbenner said. "Something had to go. We didn't want to cut college or advanced placement courses."