ACSD Board of Directors officially approves hiring of Superintendent, discusses variety of items in regard to closing of Waterville Elementary and in preparation for next year

by Brianne Eilers

MARCH 5 SPECIAL SESSIONS
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met in closed sessions for special meetings Monday, March 5 regarding the selection of a new superintendent to lead the district. During the 6 p.m. meeting, the motion to offer a two-year contract for the position of superintendent to Robert Jay Mathis at an annual salary of $149,500 was approved. See sidebar story in shaded box at right for additional information on Mathis and his hiring.

MARCH 19 REGULAR SESSION
During the board's regular monthly meeting Monday night, March 19, ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold discussed some of the legislative matters that have recently passed. He noted that the Transportation Equity Bill to address funding for transportation among school districts has passed for a year, and said he hoped that it would continue. Under this bill, ACSD will receive $279,000 to be used for transportation costs. He also discussed the one-percent increase in SSA (School Supplemental Aid) for this next school year and noted that social worker positions will be included under Operational Sharing.

Herold also said that the SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education) Bill is still alive in the Legislature. He further noted that the ACSD will be adding a kindergarten section next year at West Elementary School in response to the number of students who will be enrolled next fall. Herold explained that the decision to add another classroom would help to keep class numbers closer to fourteen students.

During the Principals' Reports, Waterville Elementary Principal Julie Askelson reported that inclement weather caused them to reschedule a field trip to La Crosse, WI for April. Askelson also noted that the students enjoyed the Middle School matinee and thanked Mrs. Hilleshiem for inviting them to the performance. She also talked a little bit about the visit from author and area native Mary Evanson Bleckwehl to Waterville.

East and West Elementary Principal Joe Griffith reported that motivational speaker Joe Beckman had quite an impact on the students. Griffith said that they are having classroom meetings where students can discuss how to make a difference. They also had an open house for Waterville families to come and visit classrooms and the schools, with Griffith estimating that 70% of the families attended. He further noted that West Elementary will be having a program about turtles by Allamakee County Conservation. He also said that the Vision to Learn program allowed 25 students to get glasses and another 28 were set for appointments with optometrists. The program is grant-funded and based out of the Dubuque area.

Waukon Middle School Principal Jennifer Garin noted that they have finished up Iowa Assessments and hope to have results in time for parent/teacher conferences next week. She also touched on speakers Joe Beckman and Aaron Thomas. Garin also noted that Middle School fine arts participants have been busy, with the Middle School play held March 2, band members in grades 5-12 having a concert with the Air Force band, and the sixth grade band and seventh and eighth grade band both earning "superior" ratings at the large group contest.

Garin also said that they are going to try and have a STEAM event at the Middle School before the end of the school year. She explained that since the Iowa House File passed requiring schools to prepare eighth grade students for college and career readiness, she and Waukon High School Guidance Counselor Amy Wasson have been working with students on academic plans and would be meeting with students and parents about preparing for college and careers.

Activities Director and Assistant Principal Brian Hilsabeck noted that 37-38% of high school students are involved in extracurricular activities for the spring season. The high school will be hosting solo and ensemble contest. There will be a mock crash presentation at the high school April 18, which is the week of Prom. Hilsabeck also noted that the recent speakers at the school have had a positive effect.

Waukon High School Principal Dr. Mike Hardy noted that the student council recently held a blood drive. He also noted that 107 members of the school's FBLA chapter attended the State Conference and volunteered at the House of Hope in Waterloo. He also noted that two members were elected to state offices.
During the Curriculum report, Gretchen DeVore noted that they will be training for the upcoming math assessments, with ACSD being a pilot school this spring. ACSD was also asked by the AEA to be a pilot as an example of positive and effective intervention, and as an informative positive example of TLC during the upcoming KPEC conference.

Buildings and Grounds Director Bill Hennessy noted that they are about 95% complete on the ventilation project in the welding shop. He also noted that if the weather holds, they should be able to start the irrigation system project mid-April.

During the Technology report, director Shawn Gordon noted that the district will be applying for discounts on its internet connection. Gordon said they would be looking for a 70% discount and the district usually can get what they are asking for due to the numbers of free and reduced lunch status of students.
Food Service Director Julie Magner stated that ACSD hosted its chapter meeting last month and that there were about 50 attendees. She said they were impressed with the facility.

Transportation Director Randy Nordheim noted that the new 65-passenger bus came in. He also noted that it has two stop arm cameras, one facing forward and one facing backward to record traffic and other matters while the bus is stopped for student pick-up or drop-off.

During the Communications time of the meeting, ACSD Teacher Librarian/Technology Integrationist Lisa Snitker presented the board with her plan to close down the Waterville Elementary library. She would first ask district librarians and paraprofessionals to choose books to add and replace at the libraries of East and West Elementary Schools, the Middle School and High School. She would then invite the Waterville Public Library to choose books for its collection. She would then open it up to Waterville teachers and staff and then students to choose books to take, then ask Robey Memorial Library to choose. Snitker said any books left would be donated or discarded.

Snitker further noted that the smart board would be installed in the high school library. The carpets in the Waterville library would go to West and East Elementary. The flexible seating chairs would be distributed to the elementary libraries. She estimated that there are about 5,000 to 6,000 books at Waterville's library. Snitker stated that the books in the other libraries seem to get worn out sooner than the ones at Waterville and anticipated that many of the books in Waterville would be taken to replace books in other district libraries.

Under personnel matters, the board approved a voluntary transfer for Peyton Lapel to the K-12 TAG teaching position. The board approved hiring Marcus Bell as the Technology Assistant and also approved support staff, department head and administrative salaries for 2018-2019.

The board also approved the hiring of Jay Mathis as Superintendent (see sidebar story above in shaded box). Mathis will be transitioning with retiring Superintendent Dave Herold for the remainder of the school year and will officially begin his Superintendent duties July 1 of this year. Mathis is a graduate of Waukon High School.

The board approved several bids for various technology items: Sterling Computers Corporation for a desktop computer and two monitors, $1,020.00; Midwest Computer Products for 19 projectors, $30,746.56; Midwest Computer Products for 12 document cameras, $4,788.00; Five Star Telecom, Inc. for the 2018 security camera bid, $14,310.98; AppleEDU for 25 iPads for West Elementary, $14,875.00; CDW-G for 25 Otterbox cases (to protect the iPads), $1,787.52; Sterling Computers for a Bretford Powersync cart (to keep iPads charged and in a safe location), $2,890.00; and Marco to relocate the Waterville Elementary school phone system to the Waukon Bus Garage, $4,777.75. The board also approved the 2018-2019 Technology Plan.

The following levies were approved for the 2018-2019 proposed budget: Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) .33, Voted PPEL .2335, Management .55933, Debt Service .29553. April 10, 2018 at 7 a.m. was set for a public hearing regarding the 2018-2019 budget. April 10 was also set for a public hearing on amending the 2017-2018 budget.

The board members then moved on to the matter of setting a date for the last day of school for the 2017-2018 school year. The board approved May 25 as the last day of the 2017-2018 school year, pending meeting the 1,080-hour requirement. There will be a three hour early-out May 25. The board also approved having full days of school April 11 and April 25 instead of doing the previously scheduled three-hour early outs. April 10 was set for a public hearing on the proposed 2018-2019 calendar.

The board approved voluntary employee paid dental insurance through the Northeast Iowa Schools Insurance Trust. The AEA purchasing agreement for the school food program was approved. The board approved a bid from dalco for a floor scrubber for the middle school in the amount of $11,905.25. The cooperative swimming agreement for the 2018-2019 school year between Waukon, Decorah, Turkey Valley Jackson Junction, South Winneshiek Calmar, Postville, Crestwood/Cresco, MFL MarMac and North Fayette Valley was approved.

Sharing agreements with Eastern Allamakee for a Director of Buildings and Grounds and Director of Transportation were also approved. Also approved were sharing agreements with Postville for a Human Resource Director, North Winneshiek for a Guidance Counselor and with South Winneshiek for a Curriculum Coordinator. All sharing agreements are for the 2018-2019 school year.

The board approved the Schoeberlein Memorial Gymnasium, in memory of long-time teacher and coach Dave Schoeberlein. The first reading of Board Policy 500-Objectives for Equal Educational Opportunities for Students was approved.

A resolution to dispose of real estate, being the Waterville Elementary school site, was approved. April 10, 2018 was set as the public hearing and the terms and conditions on disposal of the real estate in Waterville.

The final matter before adjournment was the approval of the KCL/StruXture plans for the Middle School/West Elementary electrical project and East Elementary kitchen project. The board approved the plans, with the addition of bringing a bathroom up to ADA code as part of the kitchen project.