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Cloquet board approves one‑year ELL coordination stipend to formalize expanding English‑learner program
Summary
The Cloquet Public School District board approved a six‑period stipend (about $4,000 for the year) to formalize an English-language-learner coordinator role and structure the district’s expanding ELL services. Administrators said ELL enrollment has grown from one or two students to about 13 and that restricted ELL funds will cover the stipend.
The Cloquet Public School District board voted Oct. 27 to approve a one‑year, six‑period stipend to formalize the district’s English-language-learner (ELL) program and provide coordination.
Administrators told the board the district’s ELL population has grown in recent years. “Whenever we get students that come to us where English is not their primary language spoken at home, we by law are required to provide them English language learner support services,” an administrator said during the meeting.
The district said it now serves roughly a dozen ELL students (about 13, on an off‑the‑record estimate provided in the meeting), up from one or two in earlier years. The increase prompted administrators to ask for a dedicated coordination assignment to build and run a formal ELL program rather than continuing an informal, ad‑hoc approach.
Administrators said the district already has a licensed ELL teacher on staff who was hired for a different role and who will take on the coordination work. The stipend requested is for one school year (a six‑period assignment) and was described in the meeting as the equivalent of roughly $4,000 for the year. Business Manager Candice Nellis confirmed ELL funding for the position is restricted but available to cover the cost.
Board members asked about program structure and funding; staff said the special-education coordinator and building principals had vetted the request and recommended approval. The board approved the stipend as a one‑year assignment; administrators said they will return with program updates and monitor the caseloads and structure as the program matures.
What happens next: the ELL coordinator will formalize program paperwork, structure instruction and supports, and administrators will report back to the board on implementation and caseloads.
