Ironwood looks to transfer GSRP program to ISD

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Ironwood — Although the expected agreement won’t be finalized until later this week, the Ironwood Area Schools’ Board of Education approved transferring the district’s Great Start Readiness Program to the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District Monday.

Although the GOISD would be operating the program next year, Ironwood Superintendent Travis Powell said the experience for the four-year-old students in the program should remain the same.

“They will come to the school, they will have the same great teachers, they will be in the same great classrooms, they’ll be bused here, they’ll eat lunch here,” Powell said. “Their experience should be virtually indistinguishable next year from what it was this year. … What will be different is some of the behind-the-scenes stuff.”

The change comes in response to some of the revenue shortfalls the state has recently been experiencing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Powell told board members that state officials are projecting a combined deficit for the remainder of the fiscal year and next year to be as large as $6 billion or more.

“We’re in the midst of a financial crisis in our state — and arguably in the nation — right now, and what the impact of that going forward is still being figured out,” Powell said.

Powell said the budget uncertainty and potential for cuts in the amount of state aid means the district is looking to become as efficient and frugal where possible.

Ironwood and Wakefield-Marenisco are the only two members of the GOISD who operate GSRP programs, according to Powell, and are considered sub-recipients of the state grant the GOISD receives for the programs.

In recent years, the amount of grant funding has been less than the actual costs of operating the programs.

“So each year we’ve had the GSRP program — at least in recent years — we spend more money on the program than what we get in from the grant,” Powell said, adding the district was expecting a $50,000 shortfall next year.

Powell said GOISD Superintendent Alan Tulppo recently approached the districts about adopting their programs as the GOISD’s funding structure would allow them to use “operational costs from different grants” to cover the shortfall in the grant in a way the districts can’t. He praised the GOISD and Tulppo for the support the members districts have been receiving.

Powell later told the Daily Globe that, assuming the Wakefield-Marenisco and GOISD boards both approved the transfer, the intermediate school district will be operating full-day programs in Ironwood and Wakefield next year.

He said the GOISD board is expected to vote on the proposed transfer Wednesday.

In other action, the board:

—Formally approved the 47 graduates of the Ironwood Class of 2020, granting three exceptions for students who met state graduation requirements but were just short of the district’s more rigorous requirements.

—Signed a memorandum of understanding with the GOISD to continue operating the district’s early college program, where students can take a blend of classes at Gogebic Community College and Ironwood starting their sophomore year and then obtain an associate degree after a fifth year of school.

—Approved the district’s calendar for the upcoming school year, with Aug. 25 scheduled as the first day of school and May 27 as the last day of the school year.

—Renewed the district’s membership in the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

—Recognized the Class of 2020 as the district’s students of the month.