Albert Lea’s position as the lowest-spending district in the Big Nine is secure after Tuesday’s defeat of the $358 per student referendum, which officials say hampers the district’s ability to compete for teachers and staff within the conference.

Thursday, November 08, 2001

Albert Lea’s position as the lowest-spending district in the Big Nine is secure after Tuesday’s defeat of the $358 per student referendum, which officials say hampers the district’s ability to compete for teachers and staff within the conference.

&uot;It’s discouraging. We’re definitely scratching our heads over the sheer number of ‘no’ votes,&uot; said Superintendent Dave Prescott. &uot;One of the tough things is the gap between us and the other districts in the conference has widened.&uot;

Albert Lea’s referendum suffered a 60-40 defeat with just under 53 percent of eligible voters weighing in. Mankato voters also denied their district’s excess levy requests. But Rochester, Winona and Austin all passed their referendums, as did smaller nearby districts like Blooming Prairie, Byron, Lyle and Grand Meadow. Statewide, about two-thirds of the 181 districts that sought referendums this year were successful.

&uot;We’re not going to have the same kinds of class offerings that those districts have,&uot; Prescott said.

&uot;We’ve been doing the best we can with our limited resources, but now we can’t really afford the extras anymore.&uot;

Nancy Hockenberry, a KIDS II Committee member and avid school supporter, said she wonders how the community will react to the cuts.

&uot;This is going to be a difficult time for this city on top of the other events we’ve suffered through this year,&uot; she said. &uot;It’s too bad because for many families who are in crisis, the schools offer some stability and support. The kids find a lot of consistency at school, particularly with after-school activities.&uot;

Hockenberry is also concerned about the possibility that Albert Lea will lose a lot of its younger teachers to the upcoming cuts.

&uot;These are the teachers that inject new enthusiasm and energy into the system. They bring their young families to the community. But now, I’m afraid we’ll see a lot of those teachers moving on.&uot;

Title I para-educator Sue Blenka said the atmosphere at Sibley Elementary School was bleak Wednesday. Not only were staff members wondering about their positions, they’re also concerned for students.

&uot;Everyone was shocked at the referendum results. As it set in through the day, you could just see people getting used to the idea of big cuts,&uot; Blenka said. &uot;How are we going to deal with bigger class sizes? How can we even think about closing a school right now?&uot;

Prescott said the administration and school board would not keep the district in suspense for too long. &uot;To be fair, we’re going to outline the cuts as soon as possible so our employees have a chance to react and make plans,&uot; he said.

Despite Tuesday’s disappointment, Prescott said the district needs to move ahead and work diligently to have the best year possible.

&uot;We’ve got a lot of terrific professionals who will continue to look out for their students’ best interests. No one here is going to give up on kids,&uot; he said.