Menahga School District grapples with online education – Park Rapids Enterprise

Students are leaving brick-and-mortar schools for online learning.

The Menahga School District is considering combating this trend by providing its own online educational program.

Elevate Online is a Minnesota Department of Education-approved online provider through Southwest Metro Intermediate District 228.

Eric Schneider, executive director of Elevate Online, presented a partnership agreement at the Monday, March 18 school board meeting.

All school districts are wrestling with this as parents become more aware of online educational opportunities, he said.

If approved, program options would be available to Menagha families (both K-12 live-virtual as well as 9-12 self-guided), including special education and English Language services.

The Menahga School District has the option to waive the 50% maximum for “supplemental learning, thus allowing students to remain fully enrolled for graduation status and/or athletics/activities. Students continue to earn Menahga credits, and if a student openly enrolls into Menahga, the student would be able to participate in Menahga athletics and activities.”

Schneider explained students would technically be considered “supplementally enrolled” at Elevate Online.

“So they’re coming to us for part of their schedule,” he said. “We really do behave as an extension of your school.”

Superintendent Jay Kjos recommended approving the partnership.

“Kids are still leaving public education in order to go to online school,” like Blue Sky or Fergas Fall Online, he said. “I do believe this is good for Menahga because we still get to retain some of the ADM (Average Daily Membership) money and lower class sizes or keep key programs in place.”

ADM brings roughly $11,000 per student to the district.

Board member Julie Kicker said there were a lot of unresolved questions. She urged the board to have all its ducks in a row before signing the agreement.

The board tabled discussion until the Monday, April 15 meeting.

After reviewing the results of a parent survey and a lengthy discussion, the school board voted, 4-1, to approve a pilot project for before- and after-school care. Board member Helen Lehto was opposed, and Katie Howard was absent.

The program will be for school-age children only – kindergartners through sixth graders.

If staff is available and families utilize the program, Kjos said it could work. In order to operate in the black, he said there must be at least 12 to 15 paying $4.50 per hour. Twenty children would be ideal, he said.

Community Education/Athletic Director Mike Weerts noted there is an educational element to the program as well.

In other business, the board did this:

• Approved the purchase of a new bus from North Central Bus and Equipment, not to exceed $142,000.
• Authorized the new business manager, School Management Services, LLC representative Heidi Hagen, to perform financial transactions, make wire transfers and investments on behalf of the school district.
• Heard a presentation by Alex Coker from World Classrooms about a Washington DC trip available to sixth through eighth graders.
• Accepted the bid, presented by J-Brothers Mechanical Plus of Menahga, for a new boiler in the bus garage. The cost is $6,220.
• Discussed progress on the strategic plan.
• Tentatively set a board retreat for 5:30 pm on Saturday, April 22. The location is to be determined. The meeting is open to the public.
• Approved these coaching assignments: Tamara Aho, Assistant Softball; Mackenzie Zetah, Junior High Softball; Emily Huotari, Junior High Softball; Lindsey White, JV Softball; Randy Thompson, JH Boys Baseball; Holly Westad and Kriss Koll, Junior Varsity Boys Baseball; Isaiah Usher, JH Boys Baseball Step 1 pending successful background check;
• Approved a teacher contract with Nathan Luetgers, elementary special education teacher, beginning with the 2024-25 school year, contingent upon successful background check.
• Accepted letters of resignation from Timbr Berttunen, paraprofessional, effective March 27; and Bruce Bolton, teacher, effective at the end of the 2023-24 school year; and Julie Eck, paraprofessional, effective March 22.
• Approved a long-term assignment for Katri Haapala, beginning March 19 and ending on May 24.
• Approved a FMLA request for up to 12 weeks, starting on or about Oct. 12.
• Changed the interim assistant principal position to a full-time assistant principal position, starting with the 2024-25 school year.
• Approved reducing the PLTW/STEM position from 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) to .80 FTE, effective the 2024-25 school year, as a voluntary reduction.

The next regular meeting is 6:30 pm on Monday, April 15.