School board closer to offering child care to district employees

Dec. 18--By approving the district's application Monday night, the Albert Lea Area Schools board has set up another building block in an effort to offer employees the option of child care.

The board approved an application to serve a total of approximately 64 children with two infant rooms, two toddler rooms and a preschool component. The infant and toddler rooms together would serve potentially 44 children, Deputy Superintendent Lori Volz said, while the preschool component would serve an estimated 20 children.

Volz said the district did financial analysis with Landon McKay of First Children's Finance, after which it put together an estimated staffing scenario of 19 positions with rates similar to infant and toddler rates around the community, thought slightly more. The first year of the program is anticipated to run at a slight deficit, while year two it is estimated the district will run a break-even program, Volz said.

"The reason of that is the first two months we're just running a hypothetical that not as many of our slots would be filled until we get fully operating," she said.

The district would also need to purchase new equipment for the startup, which Volz estimated would cost $50,000.

Bringing the district's childcare program to Brookside Education Center would also cause a shift for current Head Start preschool programming due to regulations set on infant and toddler rooms that require them to be on the main floor, Volz said. There are rooms on the second floor as well as office space Albert Lea Area Schools Superintendent Mike Funk said could be used to relocated the Head Start program within the building.

"That's what we're exploring moving forward," he said.

School board member Angie Hanson said she would like to see the district offer a before-school child care program for school-age children. Transportation is an issue for child care, said Albert Lea Family Y Executive Director and school board member-elect Dennis Dieser, and he spoke to recommend the district consider an on-site offering at individual schools should it choose to offer before-school programming.

"I think as time goes on, that is something that we could explore," Volz said. She noted there are additional funding streams utilized by a number of other districts to help support an overall daycare program.

According to Jenny Hanson, coordinator of early learning for Albert Lea Area Schools, McKay's financial estimate said 26 students would need to be enrolled at each elementary school to make a before-school program cost-effective.

Volz said the application, which was approved to submit, could take between three to six months for processing by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

In other action:

--The school board postponed its approval of personnel changes as Funk requested more time to speak with Paul Durbahn, whom the district has chosen to take over position of interim activities director. Funk said both the district and Durbahn have agreed he will take on the role but need a chance to review the contract. Durbahn's position as a math teacher at Albert Lea High School has been posted to be filled as he steps into the new role. He will stay on as wrestling coach, Funk said.

--An anonymous reporting system went live Monday on the district's website, and an app is to follow, Funk said. It's a step toward in increasing student comfort in reporting bullying, Funk said. Additionally, the superintendent reported the Minnesota Department of Education was able to take note of adjusted tax numbers for the district levy certified earlier in December. He said this will save taxpayers $58,820.

"That's another good thing for keeping our schools safe," Funk said.

--The Albert Lea Education Association has started conversations with the district regarding teachers' allotted number of staff development days during the year. According to Director of Elementary Services Kathy Dorman, staff are looking for an additional one to two days of staff development in lieu of student contact days, a move back up in staff development days after the school board voted a few years ago to increase student contact days. According to Funk, scheduling fewer staff development days means substitutes are typically brought in to cover for teacher classes as they attend staff development that may need to occur during the year. And as state standards change for subject curriculum -- as they have recently with art, math and physical education and will soon with science -- teachers need more time to align their practices with instructional standards, Dorman said.

"Taking teachers out of classrooms is a horrible arrangement," school board member Neal Skaar said. "On the other hand, I like a lot of student contact days with teachers."

ALEA and Albert Lea Area Schools will continue the discussion ahead of setting the district calendar for the next school year.

--The school board recognized Mark Ciota, school board treasurer, who will leave the board after he was not re-elected in November. Funk called Ciota one of the finest board members he has served with.

"Mark Ciota is a man of integrity, of selfless service ... and the best part about him is he always puts the interests of the students first," Funk said.

--The district recognized a partnership with area churches that helps feed over 300 students on the weekends. Principals and social workers from each elementary school as well as Southwest Middle School thanked the churches who fund the program.

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