Mid-Prairie Middle School needs more space.

The space issue was at the top of Principal Marc Pennington’s wish list during his presentation to the Mid-Prairie school board Monday night.

“We are jam packed,” Pennington said. “Space is very limited.”

Pennington also touched on the need for additional staff at the middle school, especially administrative counseling support.

He pointed out that the student to counselor ratio at the middle school is 347:1. The average for schools in Iowa is 378:1, but the recommended ratio, he said, is 250:1.

Board member Gabrielle Frederick acknowledged that the district needs more counseling staff.

“We’re here to make a difference,” Frederick said. “We want to be at the forefront of things.”

Pennington said that 50-60 students are seen weekly by the school’s counseling staff.

Pennington also reported that current enrollment at the middle school is 424 students.

“We’ve gained nine (students) since Christmas, and lost six,” he said.

Pennington said that participating in the school’s various programs and activities is strong.

He said that 163 students are participating in band this year, while 125 students are participating in choir.

Pennington also told the board that 37 students are currently taking Spanish for high school credit.

In other programs:

• 29 students are participating in “choice clubs” for seventh and eighth grade.

• 18 students are part of the backpack program.

• 21 students are in the locker snacks program.