Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield-Marenisco Board of Education voted Monday to increase its Great Start Readiness Program from half-day sessions to full days, starting March 1.
Superintendent Jason Gustafson reported the news in a Tuesday press release.
The action on the state-funded preschool program followed an increase of $5 million in GSRP funds in Michigan’s current fiscal year budget. The funding increase received support from both the state legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
According to state guidelines, the program serves children “at risk for low educational attainment” who are at least four years of age, but not five, on or before Dec. 1 of the year in which they enroll in GSRP.”
“This is a great opportunity for our youngest students,” said Gustafson. “The majority of parents of GSRP students are in favor of the change, according to a recent survey sent to them.”
The superintendent added, “I know the time table is not ideal, but if we want to make more early education opportunities available to our students, now is the time to act. With the added funding, our district will incur no additional expenses in moving to a full-day program. Any time we can expand a program and actually make money on it, we need to take the opportunity.”
Gustafson said parents of GSRP students will be receiving communication from the school regarding new schedules, as well as busing information for the remainder of this school year.
In other news, the board also hired Mike Cole as the coach of a newly-created fishing team for Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School.
Gustafson thanked Cole for volunteering his time for this position and also thanked social studies teacher Chris Tweiten for his work in setting up the ice fishing program.
“The kids are very excited about this program, and we are very excited to offer the fishing program to them.” Gustafson said.
The board had learned previously that Wakefield-Marenisco had been accepted into the Wisconsin Interscholastic Fishing Association.
“We are eligible to participate in all events except the state championship,” stated Gustafson in a previous announcement to the board.
The superintendent also invited board members to attend the half-time of Monday’s basketball game, during which the 1960 Wakefield Cardinal State Champions were expected to be recognized with a short program and the unveiling of related banners.
“I would like to thank Russ Maki for the time he’s put into making this recognition a reality,” noted Gustafson. “I would also like to thank Russ for donating the banners, which will be proudly displayed in our gym.”
Copies of the 1960 football program also were available for the half-time event.
The board also learned that students in second and third grades received new Chromebooks with funding from a technology grant. Gustafson said Kindergarteners and first graders had received new Chromebooks last fall. He added that fourth and fifth graders will be the next in line for the new laptops when funds allow.
The board’s next regular meeting will be on March 16 at 5 p.m. in the board room on the first floor of the school.
—P.J. Glisson
