Sleepy Eye school board candidates mull issues

Block schedule discussed,

disliked

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- District 84 school board candidates tended to agree more than disagree during a 90-minute forum Thursday in the school cafeteria.

Eight candidates seek four school board seats. Five of them spoke at the meeting -- Ronald Geiger, Darla Remus, Steve Gregg, Lori Hirschboeck and Anthony Skovbroten. Melvin Hoffman arrived late but presented written answers to three questions. Ramiro Briones and Patrick Schroepfer were not present.

Geiger, a Mankato Immanuel Lutheran grad, promoted sharing programs with other Sleepy Eye schools for the betterment of the community. He suggested getting rid of block scheduling in order to do so.

He blamed limitations of the block schedule as the reason his seventh-grade son left the band program this year. He hopes his son can rejoin the band in future years.

"I see the block schedule as a problem," Geiger said. "I don't see it working very well for the most part."

Sleepy Eye Superintendent Jay Haugen addressed that issue later in the evening at a school board meeting. Eliminating the block schedule would mean a 17 percent curriculum cut or 17 percent funding increase to maintain the status quo, according to Haugen.

Geiger suggested administrative cuts and/or combining duties as a way to deal with immediate declining enrollment revenue losses and other funding needs.

Remus, a life-long Sleepy Eye resident, said she didn't believe in the block schedule and stressed the need to work harder with other schools in town.

Gregg, another life-long Sleepy Eye resident, said the Construction Trades class home should be sold before it is built.

"A teacher told me a long time ago that if you have a complaint about something, do something about it," Gregg said.

Hirschboeck, a St. Peter High and Mankato State grad, described school as the place where you learn how to learn and assist young people to get a strong start in their lives.

Skovbroten, originally of Wisconsin, said he felt it was the right time to get involved with the school board because of the challenging times.

"The school can't do it all alone," Skovbroten said. "Kids need strong support at home."

Hoffman wrote a written statement that said students need math, English, science and a second language to succeed in a global society. He added that school boards should have more of a say and that more money should be spent on curriculum, books and other supplies.

Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.