Several parents of Walker-Hackensack-Akeley students expressed concern about the current six-hour day for high school and preferred returning to the seven-hour period next school year.
Erica Frizzell, Laura Bauerly, Theresa Henning, Cristin Undem, Lori Koch and Marlee Morrison each said the six-hour day leaves fewer opportunities for students. They say their children can’t always choose the classes they want to take — especially non-elective ones like art, band and choir — or are limited to what they can take.
“I would like to see the opportunity for kids to be able to develop interests. It not only affects them, but it affects their futures too. Colleges look at the classes that our kids are taking. Employers look at the classes that kids have had at school,” Bauerly told the board. “Without those essential opportunities to expand and to grow, we’re severely limiting that right now by taking away one hour every semester for the full four years they are at WHA.”
Some also mentioned the cutting of Pack Time, where students can catch up on homework or take tests, as hurting their children.
High School Principal Tom Cooper outlined the reasons why the administration chose to move to a six-hour period day. The slide presentation showed the pros for staying at six hours including financial constraints. Cooper showed stats provided by Cass County that document the baby birth numbers dropping in the county, test scores for WHA and other neighboring school districts, and that students can still choose electives classes they want to take.
Board member Shannon Pfeiffer said the real concern should be about the number of WHA students who open enroll at other school districts: 238 out versus 32 in.
“I’m super concerned about losing more kids. These are not families we want to lose to open enrollment,” Pfeiffer said.
Nevis School has put together a plan to build a new school, with a marketing plan that would intentionally seek to increase non-resident enrollment.
“Nevis took 127 of our kids last year. Now they are going to intentionally seek to increase [that]. We have got to be intentional about how we are providing a scheduling model.”
Board Chair Lori Stein and Superintendent Kevin Wellen both suggested the best course going forward would be a work session to discuss enrollment numbers.
That work session was held Monday night.
School reports
Elementary Principal Jill McGowan spoke about just one item outlined in her report. The READ Act literacy training for the 2024-25 school year will be conducted over the next few months. The training the teachers will receive is going to be rigourous, but McGowan said the staff is excited for this.
Community Ed and Activities Director Jeremy Digiovanni talked about fine arts and spring sports which, thanks to an early spring, started the week before. Both the WHA Choir and Band received superior ratings at the State High School League contests.
In the American Indian Education report, 27 high school students attended the Leech Lake Career and College Fair at Northern Lights on March 20. The state application for aid has been approved and the Title VI grant was completed by the deadline.
In the High Reliability Schools report, Sue Freeman spoke about the Sourcewell AVID Education Program where several professionals came to the school to talk to high school students about their careers. Freeman also mentioned new shop teacher and how the students have immersed themselves in a world of creation and discovery.
“The shop is bustling with activity as students dive into new projects and embrace the joy of hands-on learning,” Freeman said in her report.
In other school business, the board:
Accepted the resignations of Lindsay Hoffman, a special education teacher, on June 30; Mathias Weinmann, an Up North Learning Center teacher, on June 30; Patty Knight, who has taught at the school for 39 years, May 31; and Erica Strandlie, an Early Childhood teacher, after 28 years of service.
Knight will be hired back part-time at the May Board meeting and will continue to teach Spanish.
Hired Hoffman as school psychologist for 2024-25 school year conditional on obtaining the required license; Callie Theisen as a Special Education paraprofessional; Brad Johnson as a long-term high school art teacher through the end of the school year; and Mary Roberts as long-term sub for Family and Consumer Science starting April 26 through end of the school year.
Approved bills to be allowed.
Eliminated the 1.0 instructional coach for 2024-25 school year and added a 1.0 assistant principal position. Superintendent Wellen said the assistant principal can do all of the duties of an instructional coach plus some administrative duties as well for only $12,000 more.
Approved addition of 1.0 assistant principal for 2024-25 school year
Approved Driver Contract for 2023-25.
Approved overnight trip for speech to National Individual Events Tournament of Champions.
Accepted donation of $100 from Lillian Aird to the Wolf Pack Pantry.
Set a work session date for April 29 at a time to be determined.
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