[Winona Online Democracy]
Dear Dr. Bartleson,
Thank you for your thoughtful response to my Winona-on-line posting. And,
while I'm at it . . . let me also thank you for your thoughtful leadership
as Supt. of the Winona Area Public Schools. It has been a pleasure to work
under your skilled and knowledgeable leadership during this school year.
Joanie Heydt-nelson
Winona Senior High
Social Studies Department
>Joanie is technically correct. We did cut teachers last night at the board
>meeting. However the number was 23 teachers and 1 administrator. Of the
>23 teachers cut 19 were non-tenured staff. For the most part these people
>were cut as a precautionary measure so the district does not end up with a
>number of teachers in positions that are not needed or that we cannot
>afford. We do not yet know our revenue for next year, and probably will
>not have a definitive figure until late May or early June. We also do not
>know the exact number of teachers needed in the elective areas at the high
>school. These numbers will be determined once final student registration
>is complete and staffing numbers are determined. Another factor to be
>considered is the reduction of 3.2 positions at the middle school due to
>declining enrollment. A reduction of this magnitude will probably result in
>the loss of a program area that has not yet been determined. The process
>for making that decision is still taking place and will involve meeting
>with parents of middle school students. Since the program area has not yet
>been determined we needed to make reductions in a number of areas that may
>or may not be affected.
>
>The only staff reductions that the board has approved to date are the 2.9
>FTE positions to be reduced due to declining enrollment. We also needed to
>anticipate the possible closing or chartering of the Ridgeway building and
>this resulted in another 2.5FTE reduction.
>The remaining four tenured teachers were PROPOSED to be placed on
>unrequested leave of absence. These people have statutory and contractual
>rights to a hearing to determine the validity of the reasons cited for the
>action of the board. Strict statutory timelines
>need to be considered in this process. These people may or may not be
>recalled to partial or full positions depending on enrollment in the high
>school and middle school.
>
>The remaining position that was reduced involved an assistant principal at
>the high school. This person needed to be cut to provide a position for
>Ron Helmers who may be returning the assistant principal position due to
>the elimination of the interim high school principal position.
>
>Also, two or three of the non-tenured staff were hired as one or two year
>replacements for teachers on leave of absence who will now be returning to
>district. These people needed to be cut to make room for those returning
>teachers.
>
>When all is said and done, we anticipate that up to 65% -75% of the
>non-tenured staff that were reduced may be offered a position in the district.
>I realize that this is a very confusing explanation, but we are taking a
>very conservative approach staffing based upon our current financial
>condition and the uncertainty of additional funding from the legislature.
>
>0500, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>>[Winona Online Democracy]
>>
>>Last night 34 teachers were 'cut' by our School Board. Today, there is no
>>news coverage of this event. I have to ask . . . does anyone care?
>>
>>Recent research out of Princeton directly relates class size with student
>>achievement (class sizes above 23 leading to lower student achievement).
>>Class sizes at WSHS are already reaching 36, 38, 40. I have to ask . . .
>>does anyone care?
>>
>>I do know that parents and grandparents of public school children care. I
>>know that educators of public school children care. I know that our Supt.
>>cares. I know that our School Board cares.
>>
>>But, I need to know . . . Does anyone who is not directly connected to the
>>education of our community's children care?
>>
>>Does anyone else REALLY AND TRULY care?
>>
>>Joanie Heydt-nelson
>>parent, teacher, taxpayer
>>507-452-5814
>>
>>
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