Guest Column, by Mike Funk

Our community has been engaged in a passionate discussion with the Albert Lea school board on a potential change to our summer calendar.

As an administration, we recommended a change in the calendar structure, which starts school two weeks early. This change would have allowed time for our students to get caught up or move ahead throughout the year and provide focused staff development for our teachers.

We did not make this recommendation lightly. As your superintendent, I firmly believe that our school system cannot wait for incremental progress. Please review this information from the Minnesota Department of Education Data Center that illustrates our concerns:

• 2014 graduation rate Albert Lea Area Schools: 71.3 percent

• 2014 graduation rate state of Minnesota: 79.8 percent

• 2014 graduation rate among Albert Lea students who receive free and reduced lunches: 53.3 percent

• 2014 graduation rate among students statewide who receive free and reduced lunches: 63.8 percent

• 2014 graduation rate among Hispanic students in Albert Lea Area Schools: 51.2 percent

• 2014 graduation rate among Hispanic students statewide: 59 percent

• 2014 graduation rate among special education students in Albert Lea Area Schools: 35.7 percent

• 2014 graduation rate among special education students statewide: 58.2 percent

In these figures, the graduation rate factors students who graduate in four years.

Also, keep in mind that 50.9 percent of Albert Lea students receive free and reduced lunches, 19.7 percent are Hispanic and 20.1 percent are in special education.

Here are additional numbers that illustrate our concerns:

• Students proficient in 2014 statewide assessments for reading in Albert Lea Area Schools: 46.7 percent

• Students proficient in 2014 statewide assessments for reading in Minnesota: 58.8 percent

• Students proficient in 2014 statewide assessments for mathematics in Albert Lea Area Schools: 53.9 percent

• Students proficient in 2014 statewide assessments for mathematics in Minnesota: 60.5 percent

• Students proficient in 2014 statewide assessments for science in Albert Lea Area Schools: 38.7 percent

• Students proficient in 2014 statewide assessments for mathematics in Minnesota: 53.4 percent

These numbers highlight the significant issues the board and administration are wrestling with currently. Our teachers and students are working hard under the parameters that they have been provided. Our community and local industry deserve better, and we need your help.

Albert Lea resident Mike Funk is the superintendent of Albert Lea Area Schools.