ELY – Despite the desire to add a seventh period of instruction into the school day at Ely Public Schools, it appears that the School District’s current financial health does not make it feasible, at least for next year.

Following months of study, discussion with staff and parents, and budget analysis, Interim Superintendent Kevin Abrahamson told School Board members at a study session Monday night that he would not recommend the school day change for the 2016-2017 school year.

“Everyone on the administration team, teachers, and probably every parent, is very interested in expanding and enhancing opportunities for students, and one way to do that would be through the seven-period day,” Abrahamson said. “I can’t in good conscience make a recommendation to implement that next year.”

He said his reasons were essentially all financially based. “A lot of thought went into this,” he said. I’m not saying we can’t implement some of those things like course changes, but in looking at this year’s budget, it indicated we have $15,000 in revenues over expenditures at the end of the year. That is just a hiccup.”

He said he thinks the revenue excess could be larger than that and will have a clearer budget picture at the end of next month when he goes through the revised budget figures.

The district moved from a seven-period to six-period day in 2007 when a negative assigned fund balance threatened to move them into SOD or statutory operating debt. The move was purely a cost-cutting measure.

According to the superintendent, teachers salaries, including certain retirement benefits and employer contributions, will increase by just over $100,000 next year. He noted that the Teacher Retirement Association is looking to recommend to the legislature a one-percent employee increase starting in 2017. “A one -percent increase by the TRA is somewhere around $30,000,” he said. Any increase would need approval by the legislature and governor.

Salary increases in ISD 696, under the AFSCME contract will rise about $22,000 next year, he said.

Another factor in Abrahamson’s decision not to recommend the implementation to a seven-period day was the fact the voter-approved levy runs out next year without re-authorization.

He also cited the economy in northeast Minnesota as a factor in his recommendation. “A headline this morning said 1,380 mining and logging jobs were lost in 2015,” he said. “The economy is not real good in this area. The concern that I have with that is the impact on our taconite tax revenue. If they are not making taconite, we’re not getting the money. It may be a small amount of money but it all counts.”

He also predicted an increase in health care costs for the School District next year.

“My recommendation is to work to attempt to keep all existing staff employed for next year,” he said.

“Our enrollment is up and has been steadily growing but it is not back to the pre-six-period day numbers. In 2006-07, school enrollment was at 609 students. In 2007-08, enrollment dropped to 582 students.”

This year, enrollment stands at 566 students. “Every indication for student numbers is that we should stay the same or grow,” he said.

Other

opportunities

Abrahamson and the administration continue to look for ways to expand and enhance the learning opportunities for students. “We want to keep the seven-period day discussion going, and explore other options in the interim,” he said.

He downplayed conducting a parent survey at this time. “It would probably be smarter to do a survey once we know that we can sustain this,” he said. “Next year you could afford (implementing a seven-period day), and you would probably dip into your reserves, but the real question is: Can you sustain it?”

He stressed that he could not guarantee sustainability.

The board could put the seven-day period approval, without Abrahamson’s recommendation, on their agenda for the Feb. 8 business meeting. The board could also choose to not act on the issue at this time.

Board member James Pointer asked about options to expand class offerings if the six-period day policy remains.

Abrahamson suggested looking at smaller wage increases for full-time employees.

“Before that I think we should look at the current curriculum and see what we can do to enhance, modify and restructure, and to look at that from the standpoint of addressing the needs of our students,” he said.

He praised the teaching staff. “I think you have a very good staff and program. The high school is a Rewards School this year and there have been a number of awards and accolades that the school has received. Numbers are increasing slowly. Things are going in the right direction,” he said.

Board members and 6-12 Principal Mary McGrane discussed tweaking the current six-period day, such as adjusting the advisory period, to allow for more online and tele-presence classes with other Iron Range schools.

McGrane said a main goal in the discussion to move to a seven-period day was to offer more electives to students and expand course offerings, such as engineering and college writing classes.

“You can’t have three electives in a six-period day,” McGrane said. “And students were dropping out of band because they couldn’t take foreign language and another elective,” she said.

Board Chair Ray Marnsik asked if anything could be eliminated from the curriculum as a way to add other classes. He suggested adding more computer classes to the curriculum. “Are we looking at anything that may be outdated to remove?” he asked.

McGrane stressed that the seven-period day discussion continues. “I hope that what comes of tonight and on Feb. 8 when you meet, that the message is said with hope, that this conversation won’t die,” she said. “Even though you might have to make a hard decision that isn’t popular, I hope that there is some positive energy that the door will remain open.”

Board member Rochelle Sjoberg agreed. “I do want to move forward with some sort of options that we can put forward, because I am concerned that if we don’t stay on top of some expanding and some additional enhancement to what we can or can not offer here, it is an easy out for some people to not want to stay here,” she said.

Board member Scott Kellerman suggested proposing a larger levy to voters next year to help fund a seven-period day. “The community can weigh in then if they want a seven-period day and want to pay for it,” he said.