Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Calling All Sleuths: The Kaukauna Area School District Mystery


Link to February 23 Appleton Post-Crescent article, "Kaukauna Area School District recommends $2 million in budget cuts".

Excerpt: Compounding financial difficulties is the district's possible loss of a large number of students to neighboring school districts. A total of 276 students living in the district applied to leave during open enrollment. Last year, 120 student residents left.

Schafer noted there was no particular pattern in who wants to leave. The applicants came from every grade level. He anticipates the loss could cost the district $1 million.

Add to that a $1.46 million hike in salary and benefits, provided the district and Kaukauna Education Association settle a contract with a 3.6 percent increase, and $300,000 in textbooks and other curriculum materials.

Board member Jim Meyers urged administrators to get to the bottom of why parents are opting for other districts.

"It'll never stop if we don't know what's causing it," he said. [Emphasis added.]

He said teachers should be particularly concerned.

He called on administrators to collaborate with them and find out what is on the minds of parents.

"If I were a teacher, I'd be calling parents and asking them, what can I do different as a teacher?"

According to its website, Kaukauna Area School District employs 4 library media specialists.

Lynn Kobussen (Kaukauna High School, Dr. H. B. Tanner Elementary School)

Mr. Dressler (River View Middle School)

Sherri Wolf (Electa Quinney Elementary School)

Mary Vander Loop (Park Elementary School, Victor Haen Elementary School)

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