MONROE - The Monroe school board Monday approved a request by the high school and middle school principals to add a full-time Spanish teacher who will be shared by the two schools next year.
The board was told the schools expect an increase in the number of students taking Spanish classes in the school district. The increased number of students and the additional teacher could lead eventually, by the 2012-13 school year, to a Spanish V class offered at the high school. The high school currently has a Spanish IV class.
However, more middle school students are taking Spanish I classes, middle school principal Lynne Wheeler told the board. The Spanish class was expanded from a semester course to a year-long course this year, due to popularity of the class, she added.
According to Wheeler, there are 52 eighth-grade students taking Spanish classes at the middle school. Next year the number is expected to increase to 77.
As a result, the number of Spanish I students at the high school will decline from 127 to 57. However, high school principal Mark Burandt told the board the number of Spanish II students will increase from 103 this year to 143 next year.
"More students will be coming to the high school at the Spanish II level," Burandt said.
Although the board approved the initial request, District Business Manager Ron Olson said the final decision to hire another Spanish teacher will be made after the initial 2010-11 school budget is finalized. The district can advertise for the position and accept applications, but the board won't make a final decision for a few weeks.
Olson said that if there's money in the budget for an extra position, the board can hire a teacher if it decides to at that time.
The board was told the schools expect an increase in the number of students taking Spanish classes in the school district. The increased number of students and the additional teacher could lead eventually, by the 2012-13 school year, to a Spanish V class offered at the high school. The high school currently has a Spanish IV class.
However, more middle school students are taking Spanish I classes, middle school principal Lynne Wheeler told the board. The Spanish class was expanded from a semester course to a year-long course this year, due to popularity of the class, she added.
According to Wheeler, there are 52 eighth-grade students taking Spanish classes at the middle school. Next year the number is expected to increase to 77.
As a result, the number of Spanish I students at the high school will decline from 127 to 57. However, high school principal Mark Burandt told the board the number of Spanish II students will increase from 103 this year to 143 next year.
"More students will be coming to the high school at the Spanish II level," Burandt said.
Although the board approved the initial request, District Business Manager Ron Olson said the final decision to hire another Spanish teacher will be made after the initial 2010-11 school budget is finalized. The district can advertise for the position and accept applications, but the board won't make a final decision for a few weeks.
Olson said that if there's money in the budget for an extra position, the board can hire a teacher if it decides to at that time.