BY LUTHER DORR

One of the largest kindergarten classes in recent memory at the Milaca School District has brought about the hiring of an additional teacher for the 2010-11 school year.

The Milaca School Board approved a half-time position at its June meeting and then added another half-time position at its July 20 meeting.

Principal Steve Voshell told board members last week that registration is at 160 now and he expects that number to increase.

Last year’s kindergarten class had about 124 as the year ended.

Voshell said this year’s class will be the second-largest in the six years he has been at Milaca.

Back in May Voshell told board members he expected a class somewhere in the 140s and he made a request then for an additional half-time teacher.

“We’re at 160 now,” he said in an interview last Friday, “and we have more families that have requested paperwork in the last month and are planning to send kids.”

He told board members last week that he expects “another handful” of kids.

Voshell also told board members that his office sends out teacher assignments to families on Aug. 5 and that it would be helpful if he knew if there would be another teaching position.

“I think we should add another half-time position,” said board member Linda Ramson. “If we don’t we’ll have 24 or 25 kids in a class.”

Board member Aimee Struffert said she agreed.

Ramson made a motion for an additional half-time position and it passed unanimously.

The position was posted the following day.

Angie Koppendrayer was hired last month for a half-time position and it’s possible she could end up with a full-time position now that another half-time position has been added. Voshell said in answer to a question last Friday.