ACGC rents out more space at Cosmos school for new program

GROVE CITY -- Another classroom at the elementary school in Cosmos is being leased by the Southwest/West Central Minnesota Service Cooperative for a special education and autism program.

The cooperative began leasing most of the rooms in an empty wing of the school this summer for the program. At their meeting Monday, the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School Board approved a contract to lease another room to the organization. When the district moved its fifth- and sixth-graders to the high school several years ago to save money, that left some empty rooms at ACGC South Elementary School in Cosmos.

Leasing the space to the coop generates some much-needed revenue for the district and provides a central location for the unique program, which had previously been located in Glencoe.

Sherri Broderius, ACGC superintendent, said Cosmos is a good location for the program, which is drawing students from several neighboring school districts.

"They have a great program running down there," Broderius said.

The School Board also approved hiring Kathy Johnson, a long-time teacher from Atwater who retired last year, to teach fifth and sixth grade math classes.

The district will use federal title money that's designated for reducing class sizes.

"She's a very well respected educator," said Broderius, who praised Johnson for coming out of retirement for the part-time teaching position that will allow the district to improve the math skills of fifth- and sixth-graders.

"When you have fewer kids you can concentrate on kids' needs immediately," Broderius said.

Johnson begins her new job next week.

The board was also informed that senior Samantha Ehrenberg is a national merit semi-finalist.

She now has the opportunity to apply for the next round of competition that awards students for scholastic achievement.