Luverne High School science teacher Jerry Jensen has 28 students in one of his science classes.
His class limit is generally 24, but the push to improve high school science and math standards is shifting a disproportionate number of students from other elective courses to his classrooms.
The shift is creating an administrative nightmare for high school curriculum planners.
On one hand, educators support the notion of higher standards, but Jensen said there is a shortage of classroom space and teachers to accommodate the sudden enrollment in math and science courses.
Students, particularly those not bound for college, are abandoning other elective courses to meet the new requirements.
After meeting with Curriculum Coordinator Jan Olson, Counselor Craig Nelson and Principal Gary Fisher, Jensen took the concerns to School Board members Thursday night.
"This is a big national move," Jensen said. "It's been shown that kids who are successful later in careers are those who have had more science and math."
Jensen told the board he wants to add new, non-core courses to the curriculum to meet the individual nees of student not on a college track.
He said all indicators are pointing to the need to hire additional science and math teachers. How this affects funding for other existing programs remains to be seen.
For the past several years, Luverne School District has been implementing state standards for graduations, but this year’s freshman class will be the first to graduate with all the necessary requirements.
Biology and chemistry used to be offered as college prep courses, but now that they're required for graduation, all students, regardless of future plans, are enrolling in those courses.
"This year, I've had the largest classes I’ve seen," Jensen said. "What it's coming down to is we need more staff in the sciences, and it's not easy to find someone to hire in that area."
In other business Thursday, the board:
oElected new officers. Don Bryan is chair, Dan Kopp is vice chair, Becky Walgrave is clerk, and Bill Stegemann is treasurer.
oAccepted a $12,000 check from the Tri-State Band Festival Committee to help with the school’s bleacher project.
oHeard a report from school psychologist Renee Guy on her work in the district.
oApproved district bills and noted that the natural gas bill for the month had more than doubled. The district will pay $20,500 for one month’s use of natural gas.
oAgreed to replace a 45-year-old oven in the middle school high school cafeteria. With the heating, cooling and ventilation project planned for that area of the building, the board agreed now would be a good time to replace the oven. Quotes for a new one have come in at $7,300.
oApproved its annual resolution directing administration to make reductions in programs and positions. "In light of heating costs, salaries and insurance costs, you can rest assured we’ll be looking for ways to make things work," said Superintendent Vince Schaefer.
oApproved bids for district vehicles. A Grand American Blue Bird 72-passenger bus will be purchased for $56,317, including $4,500 for a trade-in.
Three vehicles will be purchased from Papik Motors. A four-door Chevy Impala will cost $16,500 including $3,699 for trade-in of a Ford Taurus. Two suburbans will be purchased for the combined price of $55,400, including $285 apiece for the additional towing package.
oAgreed to work with the Rock County Land Management Office on ordering trees through the government CRP program. The trees will be planted along the border of the new school property to the north and west of the campus.
oTabled action on bid dates for the heating, cooling and ventilation project at the high school-middle school. Separate bids will be accepted for the asbestos removal related to the project.
The board met in special session Monday afternoon to set those dates, after acquiring information that was not available Thursday night.
Bid opening will be March 6 for asbestos removal, and March 13 for HVAC and electrical work.
