Industrial arts enrollment up at MHS

McCOOK, Neb. — More students than ever are taking industrial art classes at McCook Senior High.

During a discussion on McCook Public School’s projected enrollment for 2019-20 at the regular McCook School board meeting, MHS principal Jeff Gross said there are 95 students signed up for woodworking and shop next year and more students than what is available for welding.

Gross’ comments came in response to board member Loretta Hauxwell’s question if any classes are capped at a certain number of students.

“We’ve seen highs and lows in this area and we’re definitely in a high spot now,” Gross said.

Welding classes are taken at McCook Community College, with 12 spots available and 14 students so far signed up for next year, he said. It’s been a popular class and what they’ve done in the past when enrollment exceeds availability, is sit down with the students to see how serious they are, Gross said, and if the student can wait the following year for the class.

“Some kids take these classes for life skills and some may want to make a career out of it,” he said. “For shop, we meet with the teachers beforehand to see how much they can handle, you don’t want more than 20 kids making big projects and only one teacher.”

Enrollment at McCook Public Schools for next year is projected to be down in some classes, with Superintendent Grant Norgaard citing the kindergarten class projected at 93 but will probably be lower than that, he said.

All projected enrollment numbers are fluid by a few points, as more students register over the summer, some may option out or some move from the district. Enrollment for next year was based on enrollment numbers this year.

Based on projected enrollment, the student-to-teacher ratio would average around 14.6 percent, with a total of 1,434 students and 98 teachers, Norgaard said.

In the report given by Norgaard, the ratio is highest at Central Elementary, with one teacher per 21.25 students, based on the average of two grades and nine teachers.

The average ratio of student-per-teacher at McCook Elementary is projected at 19.8 students per one teacher, with 20 teachers at the school; junior high,19.7 students per teacher, with 16 teachers at the school and high school, 20.6 students per teacher, with 24 teachers at the school.

The largest class size projected at McCook Elementary is third grade at 107 students, followed by first grade, 101.59, second grade, 94.35, kindergarten, 93 and pre-school, 35.

At Central Elementary, the largest class projected is fourth grade, 104.23 students, followed by fifth grade, 86.97 students.

At MJH, sixth grade is the largest class with 124.9 students, followed by eighth grade, 101.7 students and seventh grade, 90.21 students.

For MHS, 10th grade is the largest class with 131.28 students, followed by ninth grade, 127.15 students, 11th grade, 120.9 students and 12th grade, 114.78.

Hauxwell also asked if McCook Public School preschool classes are capped and Norgaard said it can be, as there must be a certain percentage of special education students in each of the two sessions. If the number of special education students exceeds availability, the preschool teacher at McCook Schools has a good relationship with area preschools and works with them to provide services, Norgaard said.