In November, Albert Lea voters approved both of the questions on a referendum for school funds, hoping it would bring back programs and staff that had been cut. On Monday, the school board held up its part of the bargain.

Mandatory study halls will decline along with class sizes, more younger kids will be allowed to take the bus, and students will be assured access to specialty classes like agricultural science, industrial technology, business and family and consumer science in the 2003-2004 school year.

Voting to add the equivalent of 10.1 full-time staff members to next year’s payroll, the school board made those changes, which will be paid for with the estimated $550,000 to be raised by the second question of the two-part levy referendum. The staff additions also include 5.4 new positions for the new all-day, every-day kindergarten program that the district promised to create if the second question passed.

That means more electives for middle schoolers and high schoolers, which will reduce the need for mandatory study halls; smaller class sizes in elementary grades; expansion of math, science, social studies, English and reading at the elementary level; the restoration of the cross-country running and dance programs as school-funded activities; and the reduction of the non-busing radius to one mile from the school for grades 1-6. This year, all students who lived within two miles of their school had to find their own transportation.

&uot;This is maybe the first or second time in 12 years that we’ve had a meeting like this, actually adding staff instead of meeting at this time of year to cut staff,&uot; said Superintendent David Prescott.

The school cut $1.1 million from its budget in December 2002; the cuts included the layoffs of 14 teachers and 2.5 other positions. State aid is based on the number of students attending a school, and Albert Lea, like many rural districts, has seen its enrollment decline, bringing on financial difficulties. The failure of a levy referendum in 2001 meant cuts were certain.

The 2002 referendum promised the following: If the first question passed, the school could avoid further cuts. If the second question passed, the school told voters, it could restore programs that were cut and add the all-day kindergarten program.

But since the second question will raise $550,000 per year &045; half the amount that cut &045; the school could not bring back everything that was sacrificed in 2002. A second foreign-language elective at the high school, assistant coaches for most sports programs and other electives and extra-curricular activities still won’t be back, and extracurricular fees that were increased in 2002 will stay the same.

&uot;We feel our fees are fair,&uot; said School Board Chairman Ken Petersen.

Expanding bus service will cost $40,000, but the rest of the changes don’t have a price tag yet because it will depend on how much salary the new teachers will command.

The board members said they were happy to restore and add programs the public wants, but member Tom Eaton said the school must decide on a long-term plan for what it should offer its students, rather than cutting or adding programs as its financial fortunes rise and fall.

&uot;It looks like funding will continue to be an issue,&uot; Eaton said.

&uot;At some point, the school board has to decide what we want this school district to look like,&uot; he said.

Petersen agreed. &uot;Ultimately, we need to go back and do some longer-range planning,&uot; he said.

WHAT WILL BE ADDED: The Albert Lea School Board restored or added the following programs, as allowed by funds approved in the second question of the November levy referendum approved by voters, along with the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff to be added.

&045; Restore or expand classes in math, social studies, English and reading. Add sections of math and science, reduce class sizes in core program. Adds one FTE staff.

&045; Reduce class sizes in grades 4-6. Reduce class sizes to average of 23.3 to 27 per room. Adds no FTE staff; class sizes reduced by not cutting staff despite enrollment decline.

&045; Restore elective/enrichment classes at Southwest Middle School, increase family and consumer science by .2, increase music/music tech by .7, and reduce class sizes. Adds no FTE staff; class sizes reduced by not cutting staff as much as enrollment decline dictates.

&045; Restore elective/enrichment classes at high school. Increase physical education, agricultural science, family and consumer science, industrial technology and business education. Adds 3.7 FTE staff.

&045; Return busing rules to 1-mile rule for grades 1-6. Cost: $40,000.

&045; Restore funding for cross-country running and dance team programs. Cost: $12,000 for cross-country, $4,000 for dance team.

&045; Add all-day, every-day kindergarten. Add five kindergarten teachers, six if enrollment is higher, and .4 physical education staff. Adds 5.4 FTE staff.

&045; Total FTE staff added: 10.1