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November 23, 1999
Home-schooled wrestler won't grapple for District 88Board nixesproposed partnershipfor student livingin GFW districtERIC SERRANO Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- A home-schooled ninth-grader living in the GFW school district won't be able to compete with New Ulm wrestlers this season. By a 4-3 roll call vote, District 88 school board members Tuesday night turned down a request from Glenn and Kathy Wenninger of Lafayette to allow their home schooled son to join the Eagles wrestling squad under a proposed Minnesota State High School League-sponsored agreement. Citing concerns about the fairness of taking a potential roster spot from students living within the district, board member Brian Wieland took the lead in voicing opposition to the proposed resolution. "My initial concern is that we have students within the district whose parents pay taxes that want to be part of what is a very popular program," Wieland said. "I don't think it would be right for an outsider to be bumping our kids." While the Wenningers declined to comment on the decision, Superintendent Harold Remme said the request was prompted in part by the recent defeat of an excess operating levy referendum within the GFW district and the perception that the lack of additional revenue could endanger a number of programs there, including competitive wrestling. "They indicated that they were also looking for a program that will have some longevity and will be competitive," he said. Remme added that discussions with Eagles wrestling coach Dar Arndt had not yielded any opposition to the proposal. The fact that a wrestling program still exists in the Wenninger student's home district spurred board member David Leuthe's opposition to the proposal. "They still have a viable program (at GFW). If that program were to fold, I might feel different. But by the same token, if we approve (the proposal) it could fold because others might start bailing to come here," Leuthe said. The district offers competitive and academic opportunities to the non-public schools within district boundaries in cases where those schools do not offer a similar program. In those cases, non-public students pay a fee of roughly $60, Remme said. The Wenningers had voiced a willingness to cover the full $330 cost to participate with New Ulm in MSHSL sanctioned matches. Board member Gene Forstner saw no problem with allowing the Wenninger student to compete with District 88 wrestlers. "I don't see what the problem would be. We take open enrollments, (MSHSL) has approved (the practice). It shouldn't matter if it's a home schooled student," he said. "It's a competitive sport. It's the nature of the game," Board member Steven Wachter said, agreeing with Forstner and rebutting Wieland's comments. "I'm all for competition," Wieland said, "but I would prefer that people look to our district for what it offers educationally first, not our sports programs." Leuthe, Wieland, Sue Ullery, board chair Mark Wiger voted against the resolution. Forstner, Wachter, and Donald Potter voted in favor of the resolution. In other action, the board unanimously approved the expansion of the district's volunteer coordinator position from 20 hours per week to 30 hours per week, and raised the rate of pay for the position from $6.35 per hour to $8.25 per hour. Remme said the position would be split among two individuals -- each handling about a 15-hour workload -- working in either an elementary or secondary capacity. Current volunteer coordinator Sylvia Leutmer, will handle secondary duties. The district will post a vacancy for the elementary position in coming days. Remme estimates the district utilizes more than 400 volunteers a year in a variety of capacities. The board also unanimously approved an increase in the rate of pay for district non-teaching substitutes. That includes custodial, health, kitchen, and other aide staff. The increases will be to the first step of contractually negotiated pay grades. District Business Manager Donna Luhring recommended the move to help the district draw more potential substitutes, something she said is in short supply. "Right now we're paying a lot of overtime because we can't find people to fill in when others are out," she said.
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