By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The owner of the Dance Academy of Mexico in Milwaukee plans to offer a traditional Mexican dance class at Delavan-Darien High School on Saturdays from Jan. 11 to May 3.
Marina Croft, who brings students to Delavan for Hispanic Heritage Days in September, presented a proposal for the class to the Delavan-Darien School Board on Nov. 11.
The board was receptive and authorized administration to make arrangements and approve the plan. The proposal did not require formal board approval.
Croft has operated her school in Milwaukee for four years and has 96 students who range from 3 to 65 years old. She said the class would offer a sense of pride for the Latino community. In her written proposal Croft said the school offers a home-away-from-home for those who share the Mexican heritage or just love the Mexican culture.
Croft said her academy preserves the traditional dances of Mexico; promotes the arts; encourages self-esteem, confidence, responsibility and exercise; and provides fun with friends. The academy has performed at Disney World, Mexican Fiesta, Summerfest, the Rock and Sole Marathon and at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Croft said Hispanic Heritage Days organizer Berenice Solis suggested offering classes in Delevan after Croft’s students danced at the event. Croft said the class would be more than just dance. Students would learn discipline, a new way to exercise, time management and culture that can be shared with the community.
The class will cost $5 per person per class. Croft said her school operates as a non-profit organization even though it does not have the official classification. The fees for her classes are designed to cover the costs. She said other similar classes offered by official non-profit organizations cost $8.
Croft said she will offer one class for children 3 to 12 years old and one class for adults if an adult class generates enough interest. Croft said the academy could set up performances for local events and alleviate the need to hire outside performers. Those opportunities will also provide a source of support for community events as family and friends of the performers attend the events.
“This is another great idea,” board member Joe Peyer said.
Language arts
The board approved the purchase of materials and curriculum for the district’s new language arts program at a cost of $102,945. Director of Instruction Cora Rund said the district will receive $188,863 worth of materials for that cost due to complimentary material Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is providing as part of the proposal including text books and software licenses.
Rund said the district is in its first year implementing the curriculum. Rund made a presentation to the board along with District Reading Specialist Carole Schroth and High School English Language Arts Chairman Karen Combs. According to their presentation, the program is a consistent seamless standards-based curriculum aligned with the Common Core and designed to improve achievement. The program fits well with the use of the Chromebooks the district is now providing students and provides scaffolding, bi-lingual support, re-teaching opportunities, supplemental material and constant assessment.
The district will begin using the new material second demester.
Meeting date changed
Due to availability concerns of board members, the regular December board meeting date was changed from Dec. 9 to Dec. 16.
