Superintendents and board presidents to discuss need for cooperation due to declining enrollment

MANISTEE -- What is the future of K-12 education in Manistee County?

That is a question Manistee Intermediate School District Superintendent Scott Crosby told his board of education Monday evening that would be discussed today at a breakfast meeting of county superintendents and board of education presidents.

“We have been challenged by declining enrollment changes looming in the next five years, and by the end of the 2017-18 school year we are projected to have a countywide enrollment of 2,278 students, which is nearly 450 students less than what we had at the beginning of this school year,” Crosby told his board.

The ISD superintendent went on to say that the loss of 450 students would mean the loss of over $3,150,000 per year to the county schools. It is a loss that he said would be quite devastating to most school districts.

“This loss of students would be larger than two of our local K-12 school districts (Bear Lake and Onekama) have in total enrollment,” said Crosby. “From your superintendent’s perspective, we absolutely have to change our delivery and work very closely together to be successful as rural school districts of the future. Working together will provide the only hope of offering a well rounded curriculum. So, we plan to talk about working together as we move forward.”

Crosby also took the time to fill the board in on some upcoming legislation that could impact area schools.

“They legislature currently has several bills before them that would alter the Michigan Merit curriculum,” said Crosby. “The most likely move would be to remove the foreign language requirement. Another possible movement would be to have a math option for the Algebra II requirement currently in place.”

Board member Mary Becker-Witt asked if they would be selling the students of this area out by not offering a foreign language.

“The are looking at dropping that, but it is my understanding that to colleges like Grand Valley and the University of Michigan you can’t get in without a foreign language. So are we setting our kids up?”

Crosby said that the legislative language he has viewed is leaning toward keeping it.

“The language I have seen for it says that it will be highly recommended, but not required,” said Crosby. “Some of the areas smaller schools have struggled to find or keep a foreign language teacher. It could be that in order to meet these requirements most effectively in the future, our schools will need to share qualified teachers. Without sharing teachers, we could be faced with preparing for four or five different math courses in a day, or schools will not be able to find a foreign language teacher because student enrollment would not warrant a full-time role.”

The superintendent also informed the board that the term of board member Mary Becker-Witt is expiring.

“She can seek to extend an additional term,” said Crosby. “People filing for it need at least six signatures and not more than 20 on a petition, or they can pay the $100 waiver fee. Anyone running has to file by May 6. The election is done by local school board members who are selected by their own boards to vote for the candidate they would like to see elected.”

Kris Mauntler explained the procedure school boards will follow.

“At their May meeting boards will adopt a resolution and support the candidate,” said Mauntler. “On June 3 there will be an open meeting here (at the ISD) and each board’s designee will vote.”

Board members also took action to approve qualifying for Best Practices funding. By meeting all the necessary standards in at least four of five categories, the ISD will receive an additional $16 per student in the 2013-14 school year as opposed to the $52 they currently receive from the state.

In other items from Monday’s meeting, Crosby informed the board that two bids came in for the insulation of the building at the ISD. The low bid was for $48,300 and the architect is currently checking references and looking at the bid. That work is expected to be down the two weeks following the Fourth of July when the building will be shut down.

Crosby also reported that they need to get the personnel committee together to discuss administrative and ancillary staff wages for the 2013-14 year. That meeting is being set for April 6.