By AUTUMN GROOMS agrooms@lacrossetribune.com | Posted: Thursday, April 1, 2010 12:05 am | (6) Comments
Area school officials responded positively to the possibility that class size expansion in a state program that aims to boost student achievement may be only one vote away.
The state Senate Education Committee approved a bill Wednesday that would allow SAGE classroom limits to increase from 15 students and one teacher to 18 in kindergarten through third grade. It also opens up SAGE enrollment for one year to all districts in the state.
“This may have just helped save SAGE,” said Steve Sedlmayr, Alma School District superintendent.
Many school districts are at their “breaking point” and allowing them flexibility to increase class sizes could be enough to keep the program thriving, Sedlmayr said.
The bill was introduced as part of the Rural Caucus education reform package, which also includes a plan to improve the school transportation aid program. The committee also approved that plan.
“We want to offer school districts some flexibility in mandates or rules the state sets,” said state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, who co-authored the bills.
The Assembly Education Committee recommended a companion bill, and Vinehout expects the Senate and Assembly to vote on the measures the week of April 12.
School districts throughout the Coulee Region have looked at discontinuing SAGE because of restrictions and continued costs.
“In this fiscal environment, a little bit of flexibility goes a long way,” Brad Saron, Cashton Schools district administrator, said.
With fluctuating class sizes at its three elementary schools, Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Superintendent Troy Gunderson said the increase in class size to 18 could mean nine more students in three sections of one grade at a school, Gunderson said. “That would be a winner for us.”
Dropping SAGE was discussed by school districts in La Crosse and Cochrane-Fountain City but officials ultimately kept the program because of the benefits small class sizes provide students.
The districts have since seen an increase in the number of students qualifying for free and reduced cost meals making SAGE more affordable.
Cochrane-Fountain City received $96,255 during the 2008-09 school year and expects to receive about $148,050 this school year, Superintendent Tom Hiebert said.
“We’re not excited more people need (free or reduced meals), but we’re excited the program is helping,” Hiebert said.
La Crosse expects its SAGE funding to increase from $1,978,827 during the 2008-09 school year to $2,049,961 this school year. That’s based on an increased enrollment at the elementary school level and more students qualifying for free and reduced cost meals.
“As it is right now, it (SAGE) is not costing any district dollars to maintain,” La Crosse Superintendent Jerry Kember said.
SAGE schools receive $2,250 in state aid for each low-income child in kindergarten through third grade.
Expansion of class size could save money for some school districts, Sedlmayr said.
“Right now rural school districts to outlying suburban school districts can’t afford to keep SAGE,” Sedlmayr said. “ Even with the money they’re given, they are forced to drop.”
Posted in Local, Education on Thursday, April 1, 2010 12:05 am
