Brownsville school board OKs transitional kindergarten class
HILLER — The Brownsville Area School District will offer a program next school year for students who may not be ready for kindergarten.
The school board last week approved a transitional kindergarten class for 2018-19 that will be housed in Brownsville Area Elementary School and consist of up to 20 students who do not meet the district’s pre-kindergarten assessment, said district Superintendent Dr. Keith Hartbauer.
“These are for kids who are kindergarten age, but maybe they’re just not ready cognitively or socially to be there. So we’re offering this as transition from pre-school to kindergarten,” Hartbauer said.
Curriculum for the class will be designed and implemented by Brownsville staff. The class will be taught by a current Brownsville teacher.
Hartbauer said students will be selected following the district’s kindergarten registration, which was held last week for incoming students.
“How they do on that (pre-kindergarten) assessment will dictate if we recommend the transitional (class) or if we place them right into kindergarten,” he said.
The district will collect data throughout next school year to monitor student progress. At the semester mark, results will be analyzed and a proposal will be made to the board to increase class offerings, if necessary.
The addition of a transitional kindergarten class comes in addition to ongoing talks by the district in recent months to add a pre-K program at the elementary school to provide more early educational opportunities.
Hartbauer said data from the past several years suggests Brownsville students are starting school cognitively and socially behind.
District administrators and the school board are continuing to discuss possible pre-K program options.
Turning to other matters, school directors approved several purchases last week to upgrade educational software and to make improvements to buildings and grounds.
The district plans to upgrade to a more efficient student management software program from Alma Inc. at a cost of $24,400, which includes an annual fee $17,200 annual fee. The addition of a data analysis program through OnHand Schools Inc. for $4,000 will be used to direct instruction in the district — a first for the district, said Hartbauer.
The purchase and repair of exterior doors at the middle and high schools were approved at a cost of $15,749, as were repairs to walkways at the same buildings for $3,024.
Several coaches were hired for this school year and next.
The board approved matching three-year contracts for Harry Ruffcorn as boys’ head soccer coach and Cedar Bruchante as girls’ head soccer coach, with salaries starting at $4,300 in 2018-19 and increasing $200 each year.
For 2018-19, Ed Bohna will serve boys’ assistant soccer coach and Leanna Wright as girls’ assistant soccer coach, each with compensation set at $3,600.
Directors approved Rachel Rosiek as high school cheerleading coach for 2018-19 at $3,400 salary. Von Braddock was hired as middle school head baseball coach for the current school year at a rate of $2,900.
The board also:
n Amended a motion passed at last month’s meeting that formed a tentative agreement with Joel 2 Missions Inc. for the sale of Central Elementary School. The amendment states the district will have the right of first refusal to purchase the property at the fair market value (rather than the original sale price) if Joel 2 Missions Inc. decides to sell the property.
n Purchased a multi-use Kubota tractor at a cost of $20,000.
n Approved a 5-year lease of a school van through C Harper Auto Group at a total cost of $25,000.
n Approved the 2018-19 school calendar, with Aug. 27 as the first day for students and May 31, 2019, as students’ last day and graduation.
n Announced a date change to next month’s board voting meeting to April 17 at 7 p.m.