Board

OKs

college

credit

program

Courses will be taught by local teachers

By KREMENA TODOROVA

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The District 88 School Board on Thursday approved an offer to participate in a program by Southwest State University, Marshall, that will give local students the opportunity to take classes for college credit without leaving their school.

The courses will be taught by local teachers, after potential curriculum adjustments resulting from consultation with Southwest State professors.

The idea was suggested by new High School Principal Mark Bergmann, who has had experience with the program.

The six courses to be included in the program are Government, Economics, Freshman College English I, Freshman College English II, Spanish I and Spanish II.

Superintendent Harold Remme explained that the program will cost the district $500 per course, or a total of $3,000, plus a fee of $100 for each participating student. With 147 students enrolled in the current corresponding classes, that will translate into a maximum investment of $17,700.

In return, students will receive college credits accepted statewide, and would not have to take AP tests in order to do so. The courses will be replacing current AP classes, plus a regular class. Students who wish to take AP tests will still have that option. The only current AP offering not covered by the new arrangement is a European History course.

Remme and board members also pointed out that the arrangement will provide an alternative choice to students currently taking classes on campus at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The school district loses about $700 of state aid for each student who goes to a college campus for classes, so the new program will likely have a positive impact on the district's finances as well.

"[The new program] has the potential of benefiting a number of students and also reducing the financial drain on the district," said board member Susan Nierengarten.

In other action, the board:

* Approved new contracts with several non-unionized employees. The contracts basically reflect the board's proposal of a 2-percent raise next year and another 2 per cent the year after. They also reflect slight modifications to fringe benefits paid by the district, including health insurance.

Negotiations are still under way with several other non-unionized administrators.

The board is also negotiating with unionized employee groups, but according to Nierengarten, one of the board's negotiators, those talks are all at a fairly early, information-exchange stage.

* Approved the sale of a house construction class students last year. The house fetched $48,000, which met the minimum expectations. It was sold to a construction company owner.

* As part of its non-action agenda, the board was informed by Remme that Hanska Charter school has requested District 88 to provide busing for its rural students.

A charter school can request a "regular" school district to provide the service, according to law. The public school district receives some state funds to help pay for the service, but, according to Remme, the amount falls far short of actual costs.

Remme informed the board that direct busing would cost the local district $41,150, after factoring in state aid.

Including Hanska students in District 88's shuttle service would be cheaper, at $15,970. That option, however, would be less convenient for the Hanska students, who would be shipped between New Ulm school sites before reaching their final destination.

No action was taken pending further talks with Hanska.

* The board also heard a report from Curriculum Director Bill Sprung that indicated which local third- and fifth-graders scored well above targets on state achievement tests measuring school performance under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Only fifth- and third-graders are part of this year's reports. Eleventh and tenth-graders will be included next year.