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September 21, 1999
District 88 startslong-rangeplanningTask force discussesjunior high status,technology, fine artsimprovementsBy ERIC SERRANO Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- District 88 took a step into the coming millennium Monday when residents, administrators, and teachers gathered for the inaugural session of the Long-range Planning Task Force. "We're going to begin the process of looking into the future," Superintendent Harold Remme told the group of about 30. "We have three areas we'd like to explore -- curriculum, the ways we deliver the curriculum, and the sites from which we will deliver the curriculum." The junior high school, the only building that did not receive any attention during the recently completed $10 million renovation project, drew significant comments from task force members when planning facilitator SGN's Gary Nyberg and Mark Lenz sought to establish goals for the task force. Many of the task force members rated the junior high school as a top priority. They feel the change in educational approach from a junior high to a middle school could be affected by the building's condition and facilities. Task Force members implied that determining whether to refurbish the building, located at Center and State streets, or build a new structure should be a major focus of their work. "What I'm hearing is that you want us to make a decision one way or the other with the junior high," Remme said. Technology, both the hardware and the knowledge to use it, is also expected to play a prominent role in the district's future, according to the comments submitted by task force members. Remme agreed computer and other advanced equipment are key components of the district's future in the face of declining enrollments and greater competition from other schools, both public and private. "I've heard a number of you express a concern about maintaining and enhancing enrollments. In order to compete, we need to offer programs that attract students, and we need to have the technology to do that," he said. Students in the future can likely be expected to take part in classes through the Internet, and even make use of an potential program of national open enrollment. "These may be another wave of the future," Remme said. "If we're not ready or able to address them, if we're not competitive, we run the risk of losing students to someplace else." Among the curricular issues raised by task force members in Monday's first session, expansion of fine arts offerings topped the list. Members cited issues such as developing a greater balance between athletic and arts offerings, expansion of gifted and talented programs, and even the construction of a theater for use by schools and community organizations, as possible areas for discussion. Some task force members suggested the district look to solve some of its facilities and curricular needs by developing greater collaborations with city and county units of government as well as the business community. No matter what the task force sets for goals and objectives, other panelists pointed out, any recommendations will have to be weighed against their fiscal impact on both the district's budget and the taxpayers in general. Nyberg told the group all of the suggestions will be compiled into a list for review at a future session. The task force's next meeting is Oct. 18.
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