Houghton-PT hires new teachers
By GARRETT NEESE, DMG WriterHOUGHTON - The Houghton-Portage Township school board approved the hiring of most of a slate of teachers Monday night, while sending one back to committee for more deliberation.
The board's new hires are: Christine Clark, high school Spanish; Christine Dabrowski, high school and middle school library specialist; Emilia Johnson, fourth-grade teacher; Gary Peters, middle school math teacher (three-fifths time); Derek Schmidt, junior varsity assistant football coach; Michelle Kuure, ninth-grade volleyball coach.
Michael Sullivan was recommended for a position at the high school teaching German and French.
But board member Brad Baltensperger objected, saying that French isn't listed in the district's strategic goals. Additionally, he said, having a beginning French class would create the expectation of more French further on.
"Just because somebody has a skill isn't a good reason for our district to decide it's something we're going to teach," he said.
Secretary Joy Naasko said Houghton students are taking French now through a distance-learning program offered out of Lake Linden.
"If it's cheaper for us to provide it in our own classroom . . . and we have enough kids, why not do it?" Polkinghorne said.
The board sent Sullivan's hiring back to the Personnel Committee. A special board meeting may be held before the start of the school year.
The board also heard reports on the district's enrollment.
The district is projected to be between 1,250 and 1,260. Estimates so far are 420 students in the high school, 287 in the middle school and 558 in the elementary school.
Polkinghorne said there were about 60 new schools of choice students in the district, making about 400 in the district overall.
Baltensperger said the influx of schools of choice students has kept the district partially insulated from financial problems.
"Imagine if we had to reduce our budget by $3 million, which is what the 400 students represent," he said.
In other action, the board:
accepted the elementary, middle and high school handbooks.
approved the sale of bonds.
met in closed session to discuss negotiations. There were no decisions made.
Garrett Neese can be reached at gneese@mininggazette.com
