Riverland could house learning center

The Albert Lea School Board unanimously approved entering into an agreement that could move the Albert Lea Area Learning Center to Riverland Community College.

The board approved the action for the 2015-16 school year during its meeting on Monday.

The ALC’s possible move came up during the board meeting on May 5, when ALC secondary programs coordinator Kathy Niebuhr and ALC lead teacher Tonya Prouty presented to the board about what happened at the ALC over the 2014-15 school year.

Superintendent Mike Funk said the approval of the action allows the administration to coordinate an agreement with Riverland and get square footage estimates. He said no contract has been completed yet.

Board member Dave Klatt asked if the contracts are one year at a time, and Funk confirmed that.

Board member Bill Leland commented that the presentation given by Niebuhr and Prouty at the last school board meeting was good and very thorough, and helped explain why this move would be beneficial for the ALC.

In other news, the school board:

Celebrated student success. A national merit scholar, the wrestling team, the swimming team and a custodian at Southwest Middle School and Sibley Elementary School were acknowledged.

Heard the superintendent’s report. Funk said Diane Schultz, an assistant principal with Glencoe Silver Lake, has been hired as the new principal of Sibley Elementary School, as Ross Williams is leaving. Niebuhr will be moved to secondary programs director on July 1, and her position will not be backfilled. Mary Jo Dorman, district reading specialist, will become elementary programs coordinator, and Funk said the district hopes to backfill her position with help from a grant.

Heard the student school board members’ report. Student school board member Quinn Andersen said spring sports are wrapping up and said this year was a successful school year. Student school board member Gabe Minear said seniors are anticipating graduation.

Heard an update from Gayle Brownlow on gifted and talented programs. Brownlow went over what gifted and talented programs the district has at the elementary and secondary levels. She also discussed enrichment opportunities students have had, including the spelling bee, science fair, Destination Imagination and Math Masters. Brownlow said her goals for next year are to work with English language arts and math curriculum more, incorporate more technology for enrichment, give more opportunities for extracurricular enrichment and communicate with parents more.

Heard an update from Chris Chalmers on adult basic education, early education and community education. Chalmers said 146 participants earned 17,844 contact hours, nine students earned a GED, seven students earned U.S. citizenship and ABE served 79 inmates at the Freeborn County Jail. He went over some of the challenges of ABE, such as space, child care funding and transportation. He also highlighted some things ABE hopes to improve on in the future, such as transition to work certificates, intensive GED and collaboration with the community and Riverland Community College. For early education, Chalmers said 206 children were screened by district staff and 76 were screened by Head Start staff. For the 2015-16 school year, he said they hope to increase that number by 100 students. For early education, some of the challenges Chalmers highlighted were space, transportation and funding. The future of early education includes community early education collaboration and expanded learning time.

Unanimously approved an action to pay for AP tests for all students in College in the Schools, or CIS-AP, and AP courses at the high school. High school principal Mark Grossklaus presented to the board about how offering AP tests for students will create a more rigorous learning environment and also verify the course is as rigorous as expected. In spring 2015, Grossklaus said one student out of 182 took the AP test. AP tests cost $91, but the Minnesota Department of Education will rebate $40 of that cost. The cost is then $51 for students and free for free or reduced lunch students. Grossklaus estimates that with the number of students signed up for AP classes next year, the cost to the district will be $7,926.