Wayzata Superintendent Calls for Expanded Funding

About 3,300 students attend Wayzata High School, the state’s biggest. Still, class sizes in most situations are what Superintendent Chace Anderson called comfortable in both the high school and the district’s dozen other buildings.

Saying he was generally satisfied with the overall achievement levels of Wayzata students, Anderson classified the ratio of high school graduates attending college as “high” and said the district was at present “relatively well-positioned” financially.

But Wayzata hasn't been immune to the funding challenges facing school boards across the country. Maintaining performance standards amid state funding levels that have essentially frozen over the last four years is an ongoing struggle and one Anderson sees as the district’s most imposing challenge.

“We continue to see our costs go up and our funding remaining flat,” Anderson said.

To that end, Anderson said the district is in regular contact with both State Representative Connie Doepke and State Senator Gen Olson, among others, who he said have been “involved” and “interested” in conversations with the district. Those conversations will likely become more frequent as the Legislature enters its final weeks of work and details of a biennial budget come into focus.

“Right now, it’s hard to predict what is going to happen with three to four weeks left in the session and what that will mean for education funding,” he said.

Talks between the school district and local state representatives have, Anderson said, centered almost entirely around expanding funding and allowing districts more freedom with how they spend their allotments.

With state funding formulas based in large part on enrollment, Wayzata’s steady and slightly growing student enrollment numbers have partially shielded the district from dramatic funding gyrations.

“We’re actually in a slight growth pattern of residential students right now,” Anderson said. “We’re probably one of the few school districts in the state of Minnesota experiencing residential student growth, which we feel very good about.”

Although comfortable and encouraged by the district’s current financial state, Wayzata’s superintendent says he worries far more about what’s ahead.

“If the levels of funding don’t turn around in the future, I think we’ll be encountering some additional challenges and facing program cuts and etcetera,” Anderson said.

What They Need:

Wayzata schools are currently assessing some of their short and long-term needs, and a current study will aid the district in formulating its future direction.

As for classroom and program needs, Anderson said Wayzata is at present able to satisfactorily meet student demand.

“As far as equipment and supplies and that sort of thing, I think our teachers would indicate that they feel they have adequate supplies that they need in order to teach and function productively with their students in the classroom,” he said.

On Athletics:

Wayzata’s athletic department was at the center of two big news stories in recent weeks.

The most surprising came last month when varsity boy’s hockey coach Carl Davis announced he would be leaving the Trojan bench after 16 years. Anderson stressed no pressure was put on Davis to step aside and that he was as surprised as anyone by the announcement.

“He’s done a great job and came to the decision to retire from coaching hockey,” Anderson said. “We wish him well, and we’re in the process of seeking a hockey coach for next season.”

It was also announced last month that Wayzata’s football team would be jumping up to a newly-created class beginning in 2012. A plan passed by the Minnesota State High School League has Wayzata among 32 teams moving to the new Class 6A.

“They’re probably seeking ways to expand opportunities for more teams to make it to the championship game,” he said.

No Name Change for Wayzata High School

Calling it nothing more than an April Fool’s joke, Anderson said there was no truth to rumors that Wayzata High School would change its name to reflect its Plymouth location.

“I’ve had no conversations, nor have any board members, had any conversations about changing the name of our school district or our high school,” he said.