More than $127,000 pledged for Manawa Activity Complex
The Manawa Activity Complex Fundraising Committee has received pledges for $127,150 so far to go toward the Manawa Activity Complex. This complex would include a new football field.
At the Manawa School Board meeting Monday, Jan. 16, the fundraising committee stated the pledge total covers the next five years. It has received pledges of $63,775 for the first year, $21,600 for the second year, $15,900 for the third year, $13,500 for the fourth year and $11,300 for the fifth year. Members of the committee stated most of the pledges have come from businesses, and that there is a need to be able to collect smaller donations from individuals in the community. Members of the committee also said companies have been willing to donate items or services instead of money. They said this will help bring the total cost of the activity complex down. The committee will continue to solicit donations.
Most of the board's discussion Monday focused on Manawa High School switching to a block scheduling format for the 2012-13 school year. Duane Braun, high school principal, said the block schedule would allow one year of curriculum in a semester. Classes would be roughly 90 minutes long.
Ed Dombrowski, district administrator for the Manawa School District, said the block schedule would allow the district to offer more classes to the high school students. Roughly 20 new class offerings would be available under the block schedule.
Board member Stephanie Flynn said she was not opposed to the block schedule but wanted more time to study it.
Kurt Kreklow, school board president, also expressed concern about making a decision about going to a block schedule without more information. Kreklow noted that the new format would go from 45-minute classes to 86-minute classes. He was concerned about the students' attention span in classes that long, as well as the retention students will have of the material taught.
Dombrowski acknowledged that if the district went with the block scheduling, teachers would have to be more "project based" when teaching their classes. A survey of the teachers at Manawa High School found that the teachers were in favor of the block schedule by a vote of 17-7.
Kreklow also asked why Amherst is the only school in the conference that has a block schedule system. He said this is a big change and he cautioned the other board members about rushing into a decision.
A motion was eventually passed to table the block schedule decision until more information could be gathered. Tabling the decision will also allow local school board members to talk to members of school boards whose districts have block schedules.
Braun did state that a decision has to be made soon so students can start choosing their classes for next year.
The school board also approved $84,260 to upgrade the welding program. The upgrade will include purchasing new welders, a plasma cutter, helmets, a new ventilation system and building new welding booths. With the upgrade, the district will work to become articulated with Fox Valley Technical College. John Peterson, metals teacher, said it would not be possible to become articulated without the upgrades.
The Transition Committee requested to have the OPEB Benefit reinstated. This benefit, which was an early retirement benefit, was cut from the budget this year. There are six teachers who were eligible for early retirement last year, but they chose not to retire because of the uncertainty of the state and the district.
Dombrowski stated the school district can't afford the benefit anymore. He also said that whether it is this year, next year or the year after, there will be people who are affected by this.
No school board members made a motion to reinstated the benefit.
The school board also set a special school board meeting for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, to discuss renewing the contracts for the administrators.
At the Manawa School Board meeting Monday, Jan. 16, the fundraising committee stated the pledge total covers the next five years. It has received pledges of $63,775 for the first year, $21,600 for the second year, $15,900 for the third year, $13,500 for the fourth year and $11,300 for the fifth year. Members of the committee stated most of the pledges have come from businesses, and that there is a need to be able to collect smaller donations from individuals in the community. Members of the committee also said companies have been willing to donate items or services instead of money. They said this will help bring the total cost of the activity complex down. The committee will continue to solicit donations.
Most of the board's discussion Monday focused on Manawa High School switching to a block scheduling format for the 2012-13 school year. Duane Braun, high school principal, said the block schedule would allow one year of curriculum in a semester. Classes would be roughly 90 minutes long.
Ed Dombrowski, district administrator for the Manawa School District, said the block schedule would allow the district to offer more classes to the high school students. Roughly 20 new class offerings would be available under the block schedule.
Board member Stephanie Flynn said she was not opposed to the block schedule but wanted more time to study it.
Kurt Kreklow, school board president, also expressed concern about making a decision about going to a block schedule without more information. Kreklow noted that the new format would go from 45-minute classes to 86-minute classes. He was concerned about the students' attention span in classes that long, as well as the retention students will have of the material taught.
Dombrowski acknowledged that if the district went with the block scheduling, teachers would have to be more "project based" when teaching their classes. A survey of the teachers at Manawa High School found that the teachers were in favor of the block schedule by a vote of 17-7.
Kreklow also asked why Amherst is the only school in the conference that has a block schedule system. He said this is a big change and he cautioned the other board members about rushing into a decision.
A motion was eventually passed to table the block schedule decision until more information could be gathered. Tabling the decision will also allow local school board members to talk to members of school boards whose districts have block schedules.
Braun did state that a decision has to be made soon so students can start choosing their classes for next year.
The school board also approved $84,260 to upgrade the welding program. The upgrade will include purchasing new welders, a plasma cutter, helmets, a new ventilation system and building new welding booths. With the upgrade, the district will work to become articulated with Fox Valley Technical College. John Peterson, metals teacher, said it would not be possible to become articulated without the upgrades.
The Transition Committee requested to have the OPEB Benefit reinstated. This benefit, which was an early retirement benefit, was cut from the budget this year. There are six teachers who were eligible for early retirement last year, but they chose not to retire because of the uncertainty of the state and the district.
Dombrowski stated the school district can't afford the benefit anymore. He also said that whether it is this year, next year or the year after, there will be people who are affected by this.
No school board members made a motion to reinstated the benefit.
The school board also set a special school board meeting for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, to discuss renewing the contracts for the administrators.
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1 Comment for "More than $127,000 pledged for Manawa Activity Complex
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Sounds familiar. Didn't the city of Waupaca set up a system like this? How did that work out?
[quote]Duane Braun, high school principal, said the block schedule would allow one year of curriculum in a semester.[/quote]
Does this mean students could graduate in 2 years? That should save money.
[quote]The upgrade will include purchasing new welders, a plasma cutter, helmets, a new ventilation system and building new welding booths.[/quote]
I hope these kids are getting all of the required health screenings that goes with exposure to welding hazards. Also makes me wonder where the exhaust gas ends up, on a school campus.
lastpercentile Jan 18, 2012 7:03 PM