Brainerd School Board members, presented last week with five options for handling projected elementary school growth, have tentatively scheduled community meetings to discuss the district's demographics and gather community input on the options.
The district is projected to have about 300 more elementary students within five years than it has room for now. School administrators presented school board facilities committee members last Thursday with five options:
Re-open Whittier School for one section of K-4 and a half section, or four classrooms, for the Lowell enrichment program, creating space for 225 students.
Relocate Baxter fourth grade to Forestview Middle School, creating four open classrooms at Baxter, allowing the school to become a five-section K-3 school.
Purchase new portable classrooms at Riverside School to create a kindergarten wing, creating 100 spaces for students.
Purchase two used portable classroom units from the St. Cloud School District and install at Lowell School, creating 100 spaces for students.
Open Washington Educational Services Building to one-section of K-4 and the Lowell enrichment program, adding 225 spaces for students.
The board will host a community forum on demographics on Oct. 27 at the Brainerd High School Little Theater, a session similar to a forum previously held on class sizes. A time is yet to be determined. Superintendent Steve Razidlo said the forum will include a panel of speakers who will discuss demographics of the area and where growth is anticipated.
During the week of Nov. 16-20, a public meeting will be scheduled at Forestview Middle School to present the district's five options and to gather community input on those options. Razidlo said a facilities committee meeting will be held sometime the week of Nov. 30 to discuss the public input and for committee members to develop a recommendation for board approval on Dec. 14.
Razidlo said school administrators will need a recommendation by that Dec. 14 regular board meeting to move ahead with possible changes by next fall.
Also, the board approved the first reading of a pupil/staff ratio policy, which establishes guidelines for optimal class sizes in the district. The policy states that the acceptable maximum ratio is 25 students to one teacher in any class in kindergarten through fourth grade. A recommended student-teacher ratio for elementary specialists is an average of 250 students per day in K-4. The maximum number of students per day for a middle or high school teacher is 175. Teachers of performing music groups and physical education classes should see no more than 225 students per day. An acceptable class size for instruction in physical education should not exceed 40 students, according to the policy.
There are exceptions: classroom, facility and supply constraints; funding and financial considerations; curriculum and instructional considerations; student enrollments and demographics; and location of students and transportation considerations.
If the student-teacher ratios exceed policy guidelines, the superintendent must report to the school board on those circumstances.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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