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When two kindergarten teachers accepted the district's buyout last June, the board only filled one of the slots and reduced the number of sections from four to three.

However, with more youngsters signed up than anticipated, the Board of Education voted last week to add the fourth section and to hire a substitute teacher.

"I think the biggest story is that we have added another section of kindergarten," said Superintendent Martha Essenmacher, after the Sept. 26 meeting.

"Jean Fuller has already begun meeting with her Maple Valley students in small groups and letting them get to know their new classroom and teacher. Mrs. Fuller is familiar with Maple Valley - she was a student teacher with us last year."

Students were scheduled to report to the new class on Monday.

In other business, the board voted to contract with the Sanilac Intermediate School District for technology support four days a week.

"Dr. Tim Edwards (ISD superintendent) and I have been working on this consolidation of services for a few months ," said Essenmacher.

"Dr. Edwards hired a tech support person, Curt Schuler, who will be on-site at Sandusky 4/5 of his time."

The Sandusky District is in the fourth and fifth phases of a technology improvement program that began last year.

The fourth priority is updating computer systems for special education teachers that will allow them to complete new Web-based electronic individual education plans for students.

The fifth priority will provide "each teacher (in the district) with an updated system that will allow them to use the district grading systems and Web-based progress reports.," said Essenmacher.

In other action last week, the board:

*Denied a union grievance by custodian Dan Henry who opposed the switch in his hours from days to evenings.

*Postponed the grievance hearing for the Sandusky Education Association, which opposes last month's board decision to contract the hiring of non-school employee coaches through Thumb Educational Services.

*Hired Sheryl Brandow as middle school special education teacher.

*Approved the following winter coaches: boys varsity basketball, Kurt Long; boys JV basketball, Tony Reinke and Steve Carlson; girls varsity basketball, Al DeMott; JV girls basketball, Ray Lee; freshmen girls basketball, Janet Gleason; 8th grade girls basketball, Jennifer Taege; 7th grade girls basketball, Tony Reinke; junior high wrestling, Jeff Allen; varsity cheerleading, Erin Moore; JV cheerleading, Teresa Kohn.

*Declared cross country a club sport and approved Glenda Kirkbride as volunteer coach.

*Accepted the resignations of Brad Bays as freshmen boys basketball coach and Mike Stoliker as varsity wrestling coach.

*Approved the Middle School Travel Club's trip to Chicago April 24-25.