As a result of choices made by the Albert Lea teachers’ union, the Albert Lea school board Monday took some teachers off the chopping block in the next school year.

The school board reinstated the equivalent of 6 1/2 full-time teachers. The decision affects 10 people.

The school board had placed 15 1/2 full-time equivalents affecting 21 people on the chopping block as the district wrestles with its expected state funding for the academic year that begins July 1. The decision leaves the equivalent of nine full-time teachers in jeopardy.

The Albert Lea Education Association on March 20 deferred staff development for the next school year and renewed its merit-pay program. The staff development program saves $94,000 and the merit pay adds $98,000 in state assistance.

Deferring staff development “is a one-time thing,” said Superintendent Dave Prescott.

He gave credit to the teachers for near-unified approval of the measures. The move helps retain teachers.

“Students are better served when teachers are better trained,” he said.

School officials statewide are worried about no increase in state funding or possibly reductions, in spite of increased annual costs. They are patiently awaiting on state legislators to approve an education-funding bill.

The school board also heard from Kathleen Niebuhr, librarian at Lakeview Elementary School and the district’s coordinator for Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System —aka, merit pay, Q-Comp.

She said Albert Lea tends to approach the merit-pay program differently than other participating districts, partially because of how it is tied into teacher evaluations and action plans, and because it enjoys 100 percent participation, even before that was required.

In other news, the school board:

 Accepted its first funding for Community Education Adult Basic Education Child Care from United Way of Freeborn County. The amount was $1,150. This is the first year for Community Ed as a United Way agency.

 Heard and approved a proposal from Special Education Director Keith Erickson to remove the job of special education coordinator — presently held by Jill Harves, who retires at the end of the school year — from the teacher bargaining unit and changing the job title and description. The job description has not been revised in 25 years. Prescott said determining which bargaining unit a position belongs is based on responsibilities. The special-ed coordinator is a supervisor.

 Recognized the Rev. George Marin for leading G’s Crew at Southwest Middle School. It is a Hispanic boys’ club at the school. G stands for George. He spends 1 1/2 hours every Tuesday working with 17 boys. Southwest Principal Marsha Langseth explained the program is through AmeriCorps and read comments from the boys.

One said: “Since I started G’s crew, I started to learn to do the right things. That is why I wanted to say thank you for turning me into a gentleman.”

 Presented certificates of recognition to Teacher of the Year finalists. The Teacher of the Year ceremony takes place at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Albert Lea High School’s commons.

 Heard from Paul Sparks of the Albert Lea Port Authority about the formation of a tax-increment financing district in the industrial park west of Margaretha Avenue. The Port Authority intends to build a speculative building for economic-development purposes. The TIF revenue funds the site improvement.