Space needs may uproot childcare site

Cloquet High School is expecting some growing pains over the next couple years, and moving the Li'l Lumberjacks program may be just what the doctor ordered.

Superintendent Michael Cary told board members during Monday's meeting that the recent large classes at the middle school are making their way into the high school now, which will add to future enrollment. Additionally, the district administration is in talks with the Carlton district about a possible tuition agreement, that could mean Cloquet would promise to accept any Carlton secondary students who want to come to the district should Carlton elect to close its high school instead of merging with another district.

"So suddenly, between those two pieces, space becomes a premium," Cary said. "We've been having conversations with Principal Battaglia for over a year about that upcoming need for space, even regardless of the Carlton conversation. And the Li'l Lumberjacks program does occupy a significant footprint within our high school."

According to the staff report, CHS enrollment numbers have been climbing since at least the 2018-19 school year, when it jumped from 679 to 713. The next year there were 730 kids at the high school, with 756 this school year. They are predicting 794 students next year, with 843 for the 2022-23 school year.

After cutting almost two positions during the last school year, Cloquet High School administrators are now coming to the school board with requests to add some part-time positions next year and likely more in the future to keep class sizes manageable. Included in the request was a 0.6 FTE social studies position, a 0.2 art position to make it possible for students to fulfill their required art credits and a one-sixth science assignment to help with chemistry, a state requirement to graduate. Also on the list is a 0.4 counseling spot (to be filled by activities director Paul Riess, and the district will hire a 0.4 math teacher to replace Riess in that department).

Li'l Lumberjacks

The Li'l Lumberjacks Learning Center is a year-round program serving children aged six weeks to the first day of kindergarten, located in the same wing of the high school as the gymnasium. Cary didn't mention the fact that some high school students volunteer for the Li'l Lumberjacks program to earn credit toward graduation.

Cary and district finance director Candice Nelis recently met with Cloquet Community Ed director Erin Bates to discuss looking for a new home for the longtime childcare program. Cary said things are still under discussion, but they'd like to see Li'l Lumberjacks moved out of the high school and into a different space by fall of 2022. Cary said Bates suggested they might look at restructuring the current early childhood services, to help them function more efficiently.

Cary stressed the move is about space, but they intend to keep the program going.

"There's been a very well-communicated shortage of childcare opportunities in our county," Cary said. "We're hopeful we wouldn't have to reduce that program ... our first goal is to see if we can find a new home for Li'l Lumberjacks."

Cloquet Community Ed also runs the Li'l Thunder program at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College for children ages 16 months through the first day of kindergarten, and Kids Corner, for children ages 3-11.

In other matters Monday, Cary told the board that insurance bids came back far lower than expected. Instead of the predicted 15-percent increase, the Blue Cross Blue Shield bid came in at 3 percent less than the current costs. "I've been here three years now and two of the three years we've seen an insurance decrease, which almost never happens," Cary said. "So we're gonna count our lucky stars." BCBS also offered the district a 7-percent cap in the second year. The board voted unanimously to accept the bid.