By Harold Reutter
harold.reutter@theindependent.com

"Certified" state aid figures released Feb. 1 showed that Grand Island would receive an increase of $5.435 million for the 2008-09 school year.

However, the board that forecasts state tax revenue is scheduled to release its latest forecast today and most people are expecting that the prediction will be for lower state tax revenues.

If that happens, state aid for all Nebraska school districts may be reduced.

However, Joel told the Grand Island school board Thursday night that the district needs to look at a number of steps because of anticipated increases in enrollment and new state mandates to lower class size.

Joel said he would like to develop a preschool center to free up space in 11 K-5 classrooms. Ideally, that would be done prior to next fall. He noted that Grand Island has record kindergarten and first-grade enrollment and will likely see another very large kindergarten class next year.

Joel said having a preschool center has long been a goal for the school district, even without concerns over classroom space.

He noted that an unsuccessful bond issue had proposed building a new Starr-Stolley Park Elementary School and converting the existing Starr into a preschool building to better prepare "high-needs" students for kindergarten.

He said the transportation system could be used for preschool students if the district can get a preschool center. It also could be used to help equalize class sizes at the elementary levels, equalize enrollments between the three middle schools or help students who live in the Cherry Street apartments get to Barr Middle School and Grand Island Senior High.

Joel said the school district could benefit from having a larger alternative education system for students who do not do well in the traditional classroom.

With growing enrollment, Joel said, the district might need as many as five more first-grade teachers, two second-grade teachers, three third-grade teachers and two fifth-grade teachers to be spread out among its 14 elementary schools.

Other elementary staff needs include a new physical education teacher, a half-time music teacher, a counselor, a half-time high ability learner (HAL) teacher, and additional time for an instructional coach.

Additional elementary and middle school classified staff also should be hired based on poverty factors.

Two more teachers likely would be needed for the new Westridge, and one more social worker to be split between Barr and Walnut middle schools.

Senior High would seem to need a new counselor, math teacher, Spanish teacher, science teacher and social studies teacher.

Four new English language learner teachers also would be needed districtwide next year, as well as an additional K-5 literacy coach.

Joel said the district also needs to find funding to replace grants for before and after-school programs, as well as summer school programs.

He noted that the district's efforts to get its K-5 classrooms under 20 students helped provide additional state aid for the coming year.

In other action, the board:

Approved refinancing bonds, which will save the district a total of $169,000 between now and 2015.

Approved Kucirek Engineering as the district engineer and Cannon, Moss, Brygger as the district architect through 2012. The firms were hired to work on anticipated building projects that will be required because of continued enrollment growth.

Heard Activities Director Joe Kutlas say a feasibility study for a new fieldhouse did not provide a potential fundraising number that was as high as many people would have liked to have seen. However, that does not mean building a new fieldhouse is not feasible. Kutlas said that at this point, plans are being made to engage in a three- to six-month education campaign to teach people about the benefits not only for students, but also for the entire community.