EACSD Board of Directors approves adding 10 minutes to each school day to make up snow days
by Susan Cantine-Maxson
The regular monthly meeting of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors was held Monday, March 19 at Kee High School in Lansing. Board President Heather Schulte was absent, so Vice President Bobbie Goetzinger called the meeting to order.
The meeting opened with a public hearing on next year’s budget with a call for public comments. The State has approved a 2.06% allowable growth with a tax rate of $11.87 per $1000 valuation. Officially, the district had an increase of two students for a total of 327.1 students. Valuation increased $4.02 million, therefore some funding had to be shifted from state aid to property tax. Continuing concerns are declining enrollment and declining unspent budget authority. The spending authority for the district is the sum of property tax, state aid, miscellaneous income and unspent balance. There were no public comments and the hearing was closed.
The board approved the 2019-20 budget, the 2019-20 Certified Contracts, and Support Staff Contracts. Next, the board approved the Operational Sharing agreements with Allamakee Community School District, which allows sharing of transportation management and facilities and grounds management, and the Superintendent Sharing Agreement with MFL/MarMac, which basically stays the same as previous agreements. This agreement is allocated at 20% of the overall salary and benefits.
The 2018-19 school calendar changes were approved in order to include the snow days. Ten minutes have been added to each remaining school day (five minutes at the beginning and five at the end of the day). All two-hour early dismissal days have also been eliminated, and the Monday and Tuesday after Easter are now school days instead of vacation days. The last day of school is still up in the air depending on if there are any more days missed.
Contract resignation and early retirement plans were approved for Thomas Garrett, a bus driver for the district for 41 years, and Mary Smerud, a teacher aide. Garrett was in attendance at the meeting and thanked the board and administration for his employment over the years. The board and administrators also thanked him for all his years of service.
Contracts were approved for Amy Peterson as varsity volleyball coach and Chad Steckel as Drivers Education instructor for Spring 2019.
New Albin Elementary Principal Chad Steckel explained that the elementary school would be participating in a statewide survey for third through 11th graders about students’ feelings and thoughts toward school. New state tests will be given in the next few weeks. He also participated in a County table-top train derailment exercise with personnel from Fire, EMT, police, school districts, hospitals and nursing homes. There were 50 people in attendance. A scenario was presented and each group explained what the procedures would be in case of such an accident. It’s all part of emergency preparedness training with Allamakee County Emergency Management Director Corey Snitker.
Kee High School Principal Mary Hogan described a meeting with Principal Steckel and local police. Police Officers Ross Kolsrud and Troy Riehm asked about local training for school preparedness training and arrangements were made with Keystone AEA for them to attend workshops. The police received blueprints of the school district buildings and master keys.
Principal Hogan advised that the school culture survey will be done soon but it will be after the State testing. “Fiddler on the Roof” will be presented at Kee High School next weekend. Band and vocal students also just completed their trip to Minneapolis, MN and Chanhassen.
Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier explained more about budgeting. He described needs for another small bus and a used pick-up. The district has purchased two dehumidifiers and a refrigerator for the kitchen. Dr. Crozier said the transportation lease comes due soon, advising that the district plans to renew the lease for three more years and then purchase three of the buses at the end of the next lease.
For technology, the district needs to replace 70 computers which are four to five years old. They will be replaced at the cost of $21,900 from the sales tax/PPEL funds but that will be on the agenda for next month.
