30 years ago

MARQUETTE – The Marquette School Board unanimously approved the elimination of elementary art, music and gym Tuesday. The board had voted in June to eliminate the teachers and classes, but postponed implementing the cuts in hopes the state Legislature would adopt a favorable K-12 school aid plan. The cuts were made in response to a $1.7 million shortfall, which is blamed on stagnant state aid and voters’ refusal of school finance proposals. As a result, the board laid off seven teachers and seven non-certified employees, saving the district an estimated $346,000. Superintendent Bill Bergin said the school is using 30.9 operating mills, about 4 mills below the state average. While the school board held out until Aug. 25, the state House and Senate adopted separate budgets with different school aid packages, Bergin said. “We cannot wait until that date to decide what we will offer during the coming school year,” Bergin said. Teachers and residents who were critical of Tuesday’s decision said the board should have looked harder for other areas to cut. Board members, again, expressed how difficult it was to make the cuts. Bergin said it is still a district priority to reinstate the teachers and elementary programs should state money come through.

60 years ago

MARQUETTE – New staff members in the public elementary schools this fall include a teacher in the St. Luke’s Hospital School, a teacher at Sandy Knoll School and another who will teach at both Lakeside and Sandy Knoll Schools, Ms. Olive Fox, elementary supervisor, announced today. Teaching in the St. Luke’s Hospital School will be Mrs. Dagmer Lindberg, a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti. Mrs. Lindberg has taught special education classes in Ishpeming. Mrs. Adrienne Strandberg will teach a first and second grade combination class at Sandy Knoll School. She is a graduate of Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, and has had teaching experience in Illinois at Evanston and Highland Park. Mrs. Geraldine Moore will teach a morning kindergarten class at Lakeside School and an afternoon kindergarten class at Sandy Knoll School. She is a graduate of Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, and has taught previously in Grand Rapids and Traverse City. At Lakeside School, returning faculty members will be John Arenz, principal and teacher in a fifth and sixth grade combination class; Olive K. Johnston, combination third and fourth grade, and Mae Seppanen, combination first and second grade.