Sprung: MLC

partnership working

well, but class size

problems not solved

Paraprofessionals

also work with students

By RACHEL WEDDIG

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- With a Nov. 6 referendum vote only days away, District 88 has been providing the public with information about the referendum and listing many reasons to vote yes.

One main reason is to prevent increased class sizes, the district says.

The district is seeking to raise $450 per pupil unit in the referendum. This would generate $1.2 million for the general fund in 2002-2003. The amount generated would vary for each of the 10 years due to declining enrollment.

If the referendum fails, class sizes will increase as a result of fewer teachers. The district already has 22 fewer teachers than last year after it made budget cuts.

Curriculum Director Bill Sprung has presented projected increased class sizes if the referendum fails.

If the referendum fails, Washington and Jefferson Elementary class sizes would increase from 20-31 students to 26-30 students next year. The Middle School class sections would stay about the same at 28-31 students next year, and then would increase to 32-33 during the 2004-2005 school year. High school classes would increase from 24-31 students to 28-33 students next year, and then increase to 30-35 in 2004-2005.

Predicting which class sections will increase the most if the referendum fails is difficult because the decision is up to the school board.

Currently, the district has a partnership with Martin Luther College that places MLC students in classrooms. There are two types of MLC students in the elementary schools. Currently, the district has 13 junior-level MLC students who are observing and nine senior-level MLC students who are student teaching.

MLC students observe or assist teachers as part of their educational studies. MLC recently was granted status from the Board of Teaching, which is a part of the Department of Children, Families and Learning, to recommend state teaching licenses. As part of student requirements, they must perform clinicals by observing or student teaching in various schools around the New Ulm area.

"The student teachers are taking their first steps towards classroom learning," Sprung said. "The student teachers are learning how to asses learning. The teachers are serving as a mentor to the students, providing feedback to student teachers."

The number of student teachers varies because they stay for a few months and then change to another school.

Having the student teachers does provide extra work for the teachers.

"The teachers have to plan for the student teachers and spend time with them," Sprung said. "It certainly is helpful for the teachers to have another person in the classroom, but it's not the answer to lowering class sizes."

Sprung is glad the district is able to work with MLC students.

"It's a good partnership between us and MLC," Sprung said. "MLC students get an experience they otherwise wouldn't have had prior to the partnership. MLC is sending us a high quality of students."

Paraprofessionals spend time in and out of the classroom. The district has five different types of paraprofessionals who spend the majority of their time with the students. They are not licensed teachers and require less education than teachers.

Title I paraprofessionals work with students who need extra help with reading and math. The majority of these paraprofessionals are paid through federal grants.

Special education paraprofessionals work with students who are emotionally and mentally handicapped. The amount of time a paraprofessional works with the student is based on an individual basis. A portion of these salaries are reimbursed through the government.

Middle school and high school paraprofessionals work in the resource rooms. Students seeking extra help with homework assignments use the resource rooms. These paraprofessionals are paid for through the district's general fund.

Paraprofessionals also in the middle school work in the Assurance of Mastery program that is similar to the Title I program. They work with students who need extra help in reading and math and are paid through state funds.

The last type of paraprofessionals supervise students as they get on and off the buses each day and watch the students during noon recess. They work limited hours.

"The paraprofessionals can assist in the delivery of the education but are highly dependent on the teacher to know where the students' education level is at," Sprung said.

The district's message is clear -- smaller class sizes are essential to student achievement.

"Extensive research shows that lowering class sizes allows our students to do better than they would have with larger class sizes," Sprung said. "The students in smaller class sizes learn more and retain more material over the course of time."

New Ulm Education Association President, Eric Torgerson, said teachers have been volunteering their time to help with local referendum committee efforts by making phone calls, making buttons and going door to-door passing out information.

"Passing the levy on Nov. 6 will allow kids to learn in class sizes that really work," Torgerson said. "This district is renowned for its great educators and quality of kids that attend school here. But good educators will very likely not be encouraged to stay, and bright young educators will not be encouraged to come here, if quality is not a priority in this community."