The Manawa School Board denied a student’s request to change his Youth Options spring semester courses at its meeting, Monday, Dec. 16.
Cindy Kelm, counselor at Little Wolf High School, initially relayed the request to the board of education in a letter dated Dec. 11. The letter stated the student made the request because he changed the focus of his post-high school plans. The student decided he wants to attend a four year university instead a technical college.
The student was originally approved to take Fox Valley Technical College courses: Ecology and Psychology of Human Relations. Instead of those courses, he requested approval of UW Colleges Online courses: Intro. to Geographic Info Sciences and International Politics.
The administrations recommendation to the school board was to not approve the change request.
“Typically in other districts I’ve operated in, when a child or student does this, we do not allow the change of approval,” said Ed Dombrowski, district administrator.
Dombrowski said approving the change request could open the door for other students to want to change the courses they take in Youth Options. He said there is also a cost involved.
“I would hope at the point a student makes the request to take a college class they know the direction they’re headed in,” Dombrowski said.
Dombrowski did say change requests should be approved in emergency situations.
Board President Kurt Kreklow asked Dombrowski what happens to the student if the change request is not approved.
“The student is responsible for taking the classes on his own,” Dombrowski said.
Dombrowski added that the change request was outside the normal procedures.
The original classes were chosen in November.
Board member Helene Pohl asked if the classes were paid for yet. Dombrowski said they were not paid for yet, and he wasn’t sure if any of the books were purchased yet.
When it came time for a motion to approve the change request, no board member made a motion to approve the change request.
Other business
The board unanimously approved a librarian contract for Julie Vander Grinten. Her contract calls for an annual salary of $33,000 prorated to $20,537 for 117 days.
The board approved the non-renewal of long term sub EC teacher, Jill Seka.
The board approved Shae Coyle and Robin Dunnihoo as junior high wrestling coaches for the 2013-14 school year.
The board accepted the resignation of elementary school teacher Scott Hahn.
The board accepted a donation of miscellaneous tube and sheet metal drops valued at $500 from Custom Fab & Finishing in Waupaca.
The expenditures and receipts were not approved. Kreklow said the expenditures and receipts were not emailed to board members until 3:38 p.m., which was only one hour and 52 minutes prior to the board meeting. Other board members said they didn’t have a chance to review the expenditures and receipts.