Edina's Elementary Math Specialists Getting Bumped Up to Full-Time

The Edina School District is adding full-time math specialists in its elementaries and three special education staffing positions in response to an uptick in student enrollment.

The school board approved the positions, which will cost the district about $130,000, during a meeting last week.

“Both of these requests are for one-time funds,” Superintendent Ric Dressen said. “At the conclusion of this school year, the positions have to be built back into the budget if they are to continue.”

A $70,000 state matching grant is helping the district upgrade its elementaries’ math specialist positions from half-time to full-time.

The district is adding a half-time special education teacher at Highlands Elementary and two special education paraprofessionals, one at Valley View and another for a student with safety issues.

“I like the fact that we’re doing this now, that we’re going to have them at the beginning of the school year,” board member Lonni Skrentner said. “I think that makes a great deal of sense.”