Popular advanced classes are on the chopping block in Perham

Perham, Minn. (WDAY TV) - It’s time for some hard cuts in the Perham-Dent school district. The Superintendent says they'll have to cut about one million dollars over the next three years after a 395 dollar per student levy failed by 125 votes. The district already cut some extra curricular activities and raised their fees.

It no longer has a school band, and only a part-time art teacher for more than 14-hundred students. Now, the district is considering more dramatic changes like increasing class sizes, going to a four day school week and cutting advanced classes.

“I think all of us need to take a deep breathe and realize that, the kind of reductions we're talking about now will make this a phenomenally different school district and far less than it has been.”

Students and parents who depend on advanced classes for a challenge and financial help for college are upset that the extremely popular programs may go. If they do, the high school may end up losing more than just classes.

This may be a high school, but 40 percent of juniors and seniors are taking college level courses. Despite that percentage, those classes may not be offered next year.

“Always pushed a little farther.”

When you think of special needs students, you don't normally think of college-bound kids like Mac, but what he and others in this college level composition course will tell you, is they do have a special need to be challenged at school.

“Through most of elementary school I never felt challenged. I finally feel pushed.”

He's taking 9 college credits here at Perham High School, through MSCTC in Fergus Falls. Classmate, Whitney Delaney was also looking for challenge that prepared her for a competitive college and a job.

“Feel prepared; not afraid of world.”

She's racked up at least 23 college credits, which means she also has one less year of college to pay for. Sue Huebsch has a daughter already in college saying her advanced training in high school has helped her perform at a competitive level. Now, sue wants that same opportunity for her 9th grader.

The Superintendent says students should know by March which classes will no longer be offered. High school juniors and seniors who qualify are allowed to attend a junior college instead of the high school. That means, if college level programs are cut at the high school, some students may transfer. That's bad news for Perham Schools because fewer students mean fewer state dollars.

Tags: k-12 education, kelsey soby, perham, news