By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Dowagiac Union Schools anticipated losing 31 students for the 2006-07 school year, but as of Wednesday, the 2,626 blended enrollment shows an additional 16 for a total of 47.
Superintendent Peg Stowers explained to the Board of Education Monday night that the official Sept. 27 head count will combine 25 percent of February 2006's total and 75 percent of the pupils present next Wednesday for the number upon which state aid is based.
"We're certainly hoping we can make up that additional 16 through Pathfinders (alternative education) and other ways," Stowers told the school board in the Dowagiac Middle School cafeteria.
Dowagiac showed a net gain of 34 students through Schools of Choice.
Fifteen transfers included one from Edwardsburg, two from Marcellus and the rest from Cassopolis.
The 20 approved from Berrien, Van Buren and St. Joseph counties included Berrien Springs, Lakeshore, Decatur, Eau Claire, Niles and Benton Harbor.
The district lost one elementary student to Berrien Springs.
Stowers said the district tries to follow up when students leave to find out why, even if the departure is not preventable.
The board dispatched with its relatively light agenda in 15 minutes so it could meet in closed session to discuss contract negotiations.
"Overall, our summer school numbers were slightly down," Assistant Superintendent Dawn Conner reported. "We had five buildings with an increase, four buildings with a decrease and one stayed the same.
"A couple of changes from years past, we are doing pre- and post-testing of all of our students to gather data. K-8 we implemented small group instruction. This is the first year we've tried that at middle school to give kids the individual attention they need. Another thing that was slightly different this summer was we hired a writing consultant and a person who worked with FastForward for our migrant program," Conner said.
The board granted leaves to Kristie Bussler of McKinley Elementary, Kyrie Krenz of Union High and Connee Canfield of Sister Lakes.
Added to the certified staff were half-time kindergarten teacher Jennifer Dykstra at Justus Gage Elementary and Karen Miller in special education at DUHS.
Co-curricular appointments made Sept. 18 include: Betsy Collins, kindergarten grade level; Debbie Barber, NCA chair, Sister Lakes; Sara Park, DMS school improvement chair; Jeff Robinson, K-12 fine arts chair; Kim Deering, DMS Student Council sponsor; and Ashley Jessup-Frontczak, DUHS junior varsity cheerleading coach.
Stowers reviewed the mentor teacher process for the board.
"It's four years to receive tenure," she said. "In the first three years non-tenured teachers are given a mentor teacher who works with them."
The board also adopted the resolution to participate in the state-funded early childhood or school readiness program.
Inside Track will again serve 72 eligible 4-year-olds at Justus Gage Elementary School.