New Math Requirement Added at LaSalle
By Paul Gingras

Helping ensure that LaSalle's sophomores are prepared to take the American College Test (ACT) next year, the class of 2010 must now take a mathematics course during their junior year to be graduated. The decision was made by the St. Ignace Area Schools Board of Education Monday, February 11.

The new requirement will affect a small percentage of the class, said Superintendent Mike Springsteen. Ninth and 10th grade students were already required to take mathematics, and 70% to 75% of LaSalle's juniors have usually chosen to take mathematics. Now, doing so is required, he said.

The district hopes requiring a junior-year mathematics course will help students score better on the ACT. All juniors in Michigan are required to take the test, which is designed for students who have had three years of mathematics, explained LaSalle High School Principal Don Gustafson.

Beginning with the class of 2011, this year's freshman class, the state will require students to take 3.5 years of mathematics, but the district chose to impose an additional class for next year's juniors, explained Mr. Gustafson. Adding another class may not solve LaSalle's low mathematics scores, which were revealed by last year's ACTs, but "it is a step in the right direction," he said.

To align lessons more closely with the new state curriculum, new mathematics textbooks and teaching materials have been purchased for grades five through 10. The district is also incorporating test-preparation materials provided by the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District (ISD), Mr. Gustafson said.

The board accepted the resignation of LaSalle High School secretary Lorraine Graham, who will leave Monday, June 30, after 34 years with the district.

The board voted to continue contracting with the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District (ISD) for Internet services next year. Three com- bined contracts for ISD services will cost the district $57,715.51. They are broken down as follows: For $5,400, the ISD will continue to provide technical features that enable the district to offer its Web site. For $10,174.85, the ISD will provide network maintenance, and for $42,140.66 it will provide dedicated Internet access for the district.

"It seems like a lot of money, but it is the cost of doing business," Mr. Springsteen said.

To get a flavor of the activities of LaSalle's Quiz Bowl team, Mr. Gustafson presented television footage of LaSalle's team in a match with Ithaca High School last year. The match was part of a tournament hosted and sponsored by Central Michigan University, said Pat Shiemke, the team's coach. Last year, the team won in the gold division. As a result, each of the four playing members earned a $2,500 college scholarship.

Quiz bowl teams compete to answer academic trivia questions.

This year's team includes seniors Brendon Steiner and Shane Spring, and juniors Angela Cena and Michael Wilk. Alternates are juniors Lewis Steiner and Kaiden Shiemke.

Teacher's contracts will expire this summer. For the second consecutive month, the school board went into closed session to prepare for negotiations with the St. Ignace Education Association, the teachers union.