SAGE Program Survives Preposterous Proposal!

Updated: 3/25/2008

Board hoping to keep SAGE
Waiver sought; four schools added
By Christena T. O'Brien
Leader-Telegram staff
A state program aimed at reducing class sizes at the elementary level is expected to continue at eight Eau Claire schools into 2008-09.

District officials had recommended discontinuing the Student Achievement Guarantee in Education, or SAGE, program at Sherman, Sam Davey, Roosevelt and Northwoods schools for the next academic year.

But the seven-member school board unanimously approved a motion to apply for a waiver from the state Department of Public Instruction for those elementaries, along with Longfellow, Locust Lane, Lakeshore and Flynn, where SAGE also is offered, for this school year and next.

Districts must submit a waiver request when a SAGE school is unable to meet the class size requirement of 15 students in kindergarten through third grade to give them time to work toward compliance with the law.

The motion, offered by board member Mike Bollinger, included using up to $400,000 as a one-time payment from the district budget's general fund to work toward compliance with SAGE law and appointing a committee to examine future SAGE funding.

The board's action resulted in applause from the audience, which included a number of parents and teachers, who had urged the board during a public hearing preceding the regular meeting to continue the SAGE program at all eight schools.

"It's an investment," said district resident Maria Henly, noting she couldn't understand why the district would return state funding for the program. "I think student achievement should be a priority."

The program is funded in part by the state, but those dollars don't cover the total cost to keep class sizes at 15 students, and additional district dollars are required to support the program in all schools.

During the public hearing, Denise Bernier, a Northwoods School parent, asked the board to apply for the waivers to allow people time to come up with potential funding ideas for the program.