Let there be light.....by the robot

Enrollment figures, academic eligibility policy and passes to extra-curricular events were among the topics covered by the Staples-Motley School Board at their Sept. 12 work session.

As of Monday, Sept. 12, the Staples-Motley School District has 1,152 students enrolled. Superintendent Mary Klamm noted that is  just three fewer students than last year at this time. 

Klamm said she was pleased with the figures considering they were anticipating a possible decrease of 20-30 students because of the Re-Start program and the reconfiguration of the grades. 

This school year began with grades K-3 in the elementary school in Staples, grades 4-7 in the middle school in Motley and grades 8-12 in the high school in Staples.  

The numbers per grade are: JumpStart, 26 in two sections; kindergarten, 68 in three sections; grade 1, 67 in three sections; grade 2, 71 in four sections; grade 3, 79 in four sections; grade 4, 91 in four sections; grade 5, 85 in four sections; grade 6, 95; grade 7, 87; grade 8, 91; grade 9, 104; grade 10, 88; grade 11, 94; and grade 12, 106.

Connections High School has 28 students including six open enrolled from other districts; three new students and three returing students.

Eleven foreign exchange students are also included in the count.

Academic eligibility

Mike Schmidt, high school principal, and Travis VanOverbeke, activities director, were asked to explain the system for determining academic eligibility for student athletes, when and how it was determined if they could particpate. 

VanOverbeke said an eligibility list comes out on Wednesday every two weeks during the school year listing the students who are not meeting the academic requirements. Students on the list are given the opportunity to pull their grades up and help is available to them, either from the teacher or from study groups.

Schmidt explained there are three tiers of consequences:

o First time on the list is a warning, but the student can still play.

o After the second time they are pulled from competition.

o The third time on the list means they’ve been failing for six weeks and “Their playing time is over,” Schmidt said. 

Schmidt noted the system has been in effect for four years and he has seen an improvement in accountability on the part of the students. More students are increasing their grade point averages.

He explained that previously they checked grades only at semester time which did not give the students time to recover, they were too far behind. This way, they can start working on improvement while they still have a chance to play and finish a season. 

Dave Hoemberg expressed concern about delays in the posting of grades to the Skyward system available to parents. 

VanOverbeke and Schmidt both said they work with the students and teachers to provide opportunities for reporting and improvement on a timely basis. 

Schmidt added that other departments like FFA and fine arts have also adopted the elegibility lists.

Activity passes

Klamm asked the board to consider a change in the policy for activity passes for contracted staff. At present they can receive two passes for two events of their choice.

At staff meetings she has been encouraging staff, especially those who live out of town, to attend school  events. In hopes of encouraging this, she asked if contracted staff could be given passes for all activities. 

She described it as removing a barrier, not necessarily a financial barrier, but as a gesture for the principle of the issue.

Chad Longbella worried about the preception in the community when parents have to pay for everything. 

Bryan Winkels agreed that the district would not be “missing out on a huge revenue and it would be a great gesture to staff” but he also expressed concern about the perception.

Winkels and Bruce Lund noted that this district does charge activity fees which allows for many more activity opportunities for Staples-Motley students than those in other districts. 

VanOverbeke agreed that “student athletes would like to see staff in the stands.” 

“So who would you rather see, staff or students?” Longbella asked.