ACSD Board hears updates, approves district, board, superintendent goals
by Brianne Eilers
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met Monday evening, October 18 for its regular monthly meeting. Under the consent agenda, the board approved the following personnel matters: After School Programming staff, Brittany Blocker as a part-time cook, Kimberly Shelton as co-ed bowling coach, changes in hours for Samantha Larsen, and Kyle Gordon as middle school wrestling coach. The board accepted the following resignations: Brooke Welsh from her seventh grade girls track coach position and Sarah Ferguson from her grades 6-12 art teacher position. The board approved an out-of-state trip for the music department to Chicago and Nashville in 2022. The board also approved an eligibility waiver regarding an open enrollment, as well as SIAC members.
During the Communications time in the meeting, the board heard from Brea Baxter, Carissa Otto, Jennifer Garin, Luke Steege and Samantha Thornton regarding co-teaching and special education. The presentation explained what co-teaching is and discussed how it helps all students in the classroom, not just those in special education. Baxter and Otto briefly touched on different methods and explained how this teaching arrangement helps all students progress and benefit. They also noted that special education students who are educated in co-teaching situations are more successful post-secondary school.
The principals of each building also handed out information to board members and briefly explained what co-teaching looks like in their buildings.
ACSD Superintendent Jay Mathis then gave the board a summary of the district’s Financial Health Report. ACSD’s financial condition remained strong for the Fiscal Year 2020-2021. The unassigned General Fund balance increased from $3,796,639 in FY20 to $3,823,570 in FY21. The district’s financial solvency ratio decreased from 30.75% in FY20 to 29.61% in FY21 but is still higher than the target range of 10-15%. Mathis noted that this is due to a large revenue influx from COVID.
Certified enrollment was taken October 1, 2021 and was at 1,049.6, which is a decline of 21 students from last year. The Days Net Cash Ratio is strong. The district shows having 140 days of operating cash flow, exceeding the target of 90 days.
In his superintendent’s report, Mathis noted that he and Buildings and Grounds Director Bill Hennessy had met with Vic Amoroso regarding facility updates that would qualify for ESSER II funds. Mathis also attended the School Administrators of Iowa conference. Topics discussed included the teacher shortage and how districts are addressing that, as well as legislative advocacy strategies.
Waukon High School Principal Jennifer Garin gave an update on the Construction class house project, noting that the exterior walls are close to completion. She also reported that the FFA currently has 81 members enrolled and the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter has 109 memberships this year. Parent-teacher conferences are October 25 and 26 from 3:45-7:45 p.m., with a short break for supper from 5:30-6 p.m. Garin also updated the board on the Youth Frontiers programs coming up, professional development and announced that speaker Brian Williams will be addressing the Middle School and High School October 26.
Waukon High School Activities Director and Assistant High School Principal Brian Hilsabeck reported that football play-offs will begin this Friday, October 22. Waukon hosted regional volleyball October 18, and the State Qualifying Cross Country Meet will be held this Thursday, October 21. The fall musical is scheduled for November 3-6, and if Waukon would end up in the football quarterfinals, the Friday performance will be moved to Sunday, November 7.
Hilsabeck also announced that there will be a new basketball format implemented by the Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) this year, with the intent to help parents avoid split sites. There will be four games at one site Friday nights and some other selected weekday sites. The fall vocal concert for grades 7-12 was scheduled to be held October 19.
Waukon Middle School Principal Luke Steege noted in his report that the first quarter has gone by quickly. The middle school staff have been focusing on improvement and have gone through data from benchmark tests to identify students who may need extra assistance or support. The fall sports season has ended, and girls basketball and wrestling will begin next week. Steege thanked the custodial staff for getting the gym ready as they transition from volleyball to basketball, and he noted that they have begun to honor students of the month.
Steege also noted that Brian Williams will be speaking to students, focusing on kindness and anti-bullying. The afterschool program has seen numbers rising, and students have been able to participate in activities like kayaking, fishing and will be traveling to the Minnesota Zoo.
East and West Elementary Schools Principal Samantha Thornton thanked the Waukon Fire Department for its support and instruction during Fire Prevention Week. This month’s PBIS theme at West is “BE KIND!”. At East, students are focusing on “BEING A POSITIVE INFLUENCE”. The elementary staff is also reviewing grading practices and making sure that they are grading appropriately for elementary-age students. Parent teacher conferences are October 25 and 26 and teachers have sent a link via Sign Up Genius or will be contacting families without internet access with a time.
ACSD Curriculum Director Eliza Philpott submitted her report to the board. She noted that they are focusing on professional development, including Social Emotional Learning, and instructional coaches are attending the Teacher Leader Academy through Keystone and Fierce Conversations workshops through Keystone. Teacher Leaders are meeting weekly with Instructional coaches and Ms. Philpott. Mentors and mentees meet monthly. The new math curriculum is being used. FAST testing in the elementary schools is complete.
Buildings and Grounds Director Bill Hennessy noted that they are busy with seasonal preparations for sports fields. The boiler inspection went well. New door handles are also being installed.
Technology Director Andy Reichard reported that equipment damaged in an electrical storm has been replaced and the new access points will be completed next week, with eight additional access points being added to West Elementary.
Food Service Director Jess Keenan noted that there are still supply chain issues, but her staff has been able to adapt and keep the students fed. October is Farm to School month, so local products are being featured on the school menus. October 11-15 was National School Lunch week, and Keenan acknowledged the hard work and dedication her staff has for their job. The new stove was installed at the middle school.
Transportation Director Andrew Eberling noted that they are looking to purchase one LP bus this year and replace a couple of the district’s suburbans. The specifications for the bus were approved later in the meeting, but Eberling noted he could put a proposal before the board on the other vehicles because of delays in the supply of those. Eberling also noted that he is currently working around drivers with illnesses and pressing family matters, and they are focusing on driver health right now. Kruger Landscaping has poured the cement pad for the fueling station and the Waukon Feed Ranch has the fueling station ordered. He noted that they are hoping to have delivery by the first part of November.
Under new business, the board approved the ACSD District, Board and Superintendent Goals for 2021-2022. The District goals read as follows: 1) The district will provide resources aimed at improving lessons, instructional strategies and engagement strategies to improve student learning; 2) The district will continue to assess and align curriculum in all areas using its Professional Learning Communities (PLC) and adding weekly collaboration time for each PLC team during the school day; 3) The district will continue to develop Social Emotional Behavior Mental Health (SEBMH) supports for all students and staff.
Board goals read as follows: 1) The board will support the scope of the district’s curriculum and professional development work; 2) The board will support efforts to maintain a healthy spending authority and solvency ratio through responsible general fund expenditures; 3) The board will ensure that staff and students have the necessary resources to promote a positive culture of continuous growth. The Superintendent goals read as follows: 1) The Superintendent will provide leadership in determining curricular needs and funding strategies for those needs; 2) The Superintendent will provide leadership in maintaining the district’s general fund spending authority and solvency ratio at healthy levels, while providing appropriate resources to students; 3) The Superintendent will expand support for professional development.
Board member Erik Helgerson was appointed as the Iowa Association of School Boards delegate for this year. The board also approved bus specifications. The board then approved an agreement with the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Natural Gas Program Participation Agreement. The total premium of $98,948.70 will be from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022. This will help to protect the district should natural gas prices rise, or changes occur in consumption resulting from weather, interstate or local distribution or tariff changes. Superintendent Mathis noted that this is a type of insurance program and there could be an opportunity for possible dividends if the situation arises.
The board also approved the purchase of 20 iPads for the Kindergarten classes in the total amount of $7,980.00. Principal Thornton explained that last year they had to get rid of several iPads because they were not compatible with updates. This purchase would put them more in line with the same number of devices they had last year. The iPad purchase could also come from ESSER funds.
The board also approved the purchase and installation of radiant panels for classrooms at East Elementary to help with heating in the amount of $13,026. The board approved payment of $9,950 to Adrenaline Fund Raising for the coupon books sold by football players in grades 7-12. The total money brought in was $23,960. It was explained that Adrenaline takes 40% of the total profit and the football program gets to keep the remaining 60%, which amounts to $14,410 in this instance.
The final matter of business was approval of the first reading of the following board policies: 105 - Assistance Animals; 200.1 - Organization of the Board of Directors; 210.8 - Board Meeting Agenda; 212 - Closed Sessions; 212.1 - Exempt Meetings; 307 - Communication Channels; 401.4 - Employee Complaints; 502.4 - Student Complaints and Grievances; 606.6 - Insufficient Classroom Space.
