The Albert Lea school board decided to try an experiment during Homecoming Week — free admission to sporting events for all students and staff in the district.

Superintendent Mike Funk brought up the idea Monday at the board meeting and said he and Mary Williams, director of teaching and learning, had been discussing the idea. He said he was interested in whether the board would like to look at the idea to increase student attendance at events. Board Chairman Bill Leland and members Linda Laurie, Jill Marin and Jeshua Erickson all expressed that they were interested in the idea. Board member Mark Ciota was not present.

“Considering the economic times we’re in, this is a really good idea,” Leland said.

Funk then suggested the district try out the idea for a week to see what kind of economic impact it has on the district. He said no other schools in the Big Nine Conference are doing this but added he thinks it demonstrates the board’s aim of having safe, healthy and welcoming schools.

One issue with having free athletics is whether to charge for fine arts like plays and music concerts. Marin brought up the fact that the high school’s auditorium doesn’t have unlimited seating and said the arts programs rely on ticket sales. Funk also proposed the idea that it would be possible for the school to try to get corporate sponsorship for games and events to help with the loss in funding from ticket sales.

“The intent is what’s best for the kids,” Funk said.

Laurie brought up the fact that concessions would probably make more money with more students at the events, but was unsure about possible corporate sponsorship since many local businesses already fund athletics through booster clubs.

“We’ll try doing it for a week and just see what kind of feeback we get from the public,” Funk said.

In other action Monday, the board:

• Approved a proposed levy for the 2012-13 school year with a 2.5 percent increase. Lori Volz, director of finance and operations for the district, said the increase is very good news considering all the projects the district is funding for heating and ventilation upgrades.

• Discussed how to interview candidates for the vacant board seat. At the Oct. 10 meeting the board will interview six candidates. Five candidates were named at the last meeting, and the board agreed to accept Jenny Edwin, Christian education director at First Lutheran Church, as a candidate after technical difficulties kept her application from meeting the deadline. The board agreed that each candidate will be asked one question by each member, and that there will be a 15-minute break in between the third and fourth candidates.

• Approved an annual report on curriculum, instruction and student achievement that was presented to the board by Williams. She also gave a brief summary of recent test scores and told the board that the district is starting the gifted and talented program. About 100 students in third-, fourth- or fifth-grade will start some separate programming soon. The students were chosen based on teacher referrals and scores of 92 percent or higher on tests last year.

• Recognized the custodial staff for all the work they did over summer break. Funk said the staff not only moved many boxes with all the teachers moving around, but that they performed the deep cleaning that’s required each summer.

“I don’t think enough things can be said about the professionalism of our maintenance staff,” Funk said.

• Discussed the annual yearly progress scores the school will receive Friday. Funk said the district will look at the results as if there is no change to the federal program, even though the state may be getting a waiver later this year.