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ESCANABA -- The Escanaba School Board discussed making Webster Elementary School the only school in the district that would house kindergartners during its committee of the whole meeting Monday.
Superintendent Coby Fletcher proposed the idea as an alternative to moving the Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District Learning Center (DSISD) into Webster.
At a Feb. 20 meeting, the board discussed blending Learning Center students and staff into the elementary school as a way to share services and bring financial benefit to both sides.
With the Learning Center option possibly off of the table, Fletcher said one choice is to leave Webster as it is now housing kindergarten through third grades. The other option is to combine all of the kindergarten and begindergarten students and staff into one facility. By doing so, it would create smaller class sizes and make for one "kindergarten center," noted Fletcher.
Fletcher explained he is meeting with elementary principals to talk more about the possibility of making Webster the only kindergarten option in the district. Board Vice-President Kathy Jensen questioned if class sizes could be reduced without moving all the students into Webster.
Fletcher noted currently there is enough space to shrink down the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes and distribute them through the three elementary schools in the district. Some problems arise when the students move up in grade level and then are shuffled around, making it hard on students and staff, he said.
By making Webster the one centralized location, the transition could be made easier for all involved.
"If we move all begindergarten/ kindergarten programs to Webster, we have a campus that's focused
towards that," said Fletcher.
Soo Hill Elementary Principal Paulette Wickham and Webster Elementary Principal Craig LeClaire voiced their opinions about the possible transition during the meeting. Both agreed it would allow teachers to share services and ideas easier.
"I see a lot of good," said Wickham. "I love my little ones too and that would be a change in our buildings, but we would just adjust with different grade levels at the other two elementarys, so I do see a lot of benefits."
LeClaire noted it could offer an opportunity to alter the start times at the elementary school and also update the playground equipment to make it more age appropriate for the younger students. The matter will be more thoroughly discussed at next Monday's regular meeting.
Athletic Director Nick Nolde also spoke to the board about different bid requests for refurbishing the Escanaba High School gymnasium floor. The Escanaba Fan Club has pledged $30,000 towards the project.
Nolde explained the process of updating the gym floor would entail taking off the wax that is currently on the floor, sanding the wood boards, updating the logo at center court and resurfacing. The last time the floor was completely stripped was in the mid-1990s, noted Nolde.
"If you've been in our gym compared to other gyms in the area, I think you'll agree it's probably needed," said Nolde.
Bids came in from three companies--two out of Grand Rapids, Mich., and one out of New London, Wis. Nolde recommended the board move forward with Floor Care Concepts out of Grand Rapids, which placed a bid of $30, 075. If approved, the company would like to start on the gym floor the first week after school is dismissed for summer break, said Nolde. The process would take up to four to six weeks to complete. Board members will vote on the recommendation at the Monday, April 12, regular meeting.