For the second time this month, several people, including students, parents and Kansas University faculty members, asked board members to restore ninth-grade German in the junior high schools for next year.

Administrators said because board members voted to move ninth-graders into the high schools starting in fall 2011, the district could offer German at that level again. Next year’s ninth-graders will be offered German in some fashion, possibly as an evening, summer or online course.

But advocates said not all students would have time or interest outside school, and they worried not offering it in ninth grade next year could harm future enrollment in German.

Board member Rich Minder said the budget decision came when the board voted to increase the student-teacher ratio by 1 student, which had an impact on what courses secondary schools can offer. He also said administrators don’t have the intention to undermine the district’s German program.