ACSD Board meets at Waterville Elementary School for annual re-organizational meeting

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting and annual re-organizational meeting Monday evening, September 15 at Waterville Elementary School. Prior to the meeting, those interested toured the elementary school. There was also a work session with a representative from Shive Hattery to discuss renovations to the central kitchen at Waterville Elementary.
During the Superintendent’s report, ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold noted that the Youth Frontiers program would be held November 11, focusing on kindness with fifth graders; November 12 for seventh graders and focusing on courage; and November 13 for 10th graders, focusing on respect. “This has been positive for our students, and a good learning experience,” he noted.
University of Iowa Dental College students will also be visiting the district through Project SEALED October 1 and 2, seeing third through sixth graders at East Elementary and any Waterville Elementary students who would like to be seen. He also informed the Board that the signage for the FFA test plot should be done this week.
Moving on to the Principals’ reports, Waterville Elementary and Junior High School Principal Joe Griffith welcomed those in attendance to Waterville Elementary. He also noted that students were unable to attend the Cannons at the Fort  event in Prairie du Chien, WI last week due to the cool, rainy weather. He also updated the Board on junior high sports participation numbers: seventh grade football has 36 participants; eighth grade football has 23; seventh grade volleyball has 15; eighth grade volleyball has 23; and there are four boys and six girls competing in junior high cross country this year. Principal Griffith will also be meeting with Steve Oden for a new sign for Waterville Elementary.
East/West Elementary Principal Ann Hart noted that parent meetings are finished up. She mentioned that the number of parents attending continues to fall, even though the schools do try to have meetings at different times. Principal Hart noted that it is hard for parents to be able to find time between work and busy schedules, but the parent meetings do give teachers an opportunity to explain curriculum and expectations of the students.
Waukon High School Principal Dan Diercks noted that Homecoming week will begin this Saturday with the Waukon volleyball tournament during the day, and a school dance that night. The following Tuesday, Waukon will host a cross country meet, and Thursday, September 25 will be the Burning of the “W”, with the Homecoming parade and football game taking place Friday, September 26. Principal Diercks also highlighted the Intro to Engineering class offered at the high school, which has doubled in size from last year to 25 students, as well as the Principals of Engineering class, which is currently working on projects like building machines. He also informed the Board that the Construction class is being kept busy doing improvement projects on the school building, including a court yard project.
Principal Diercks also explained that the ACSD has entered into a strategic partnership with the City of Waukon and Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), which he described as a “one of a kind” partnership. The Construction class home building project is located just south of the Wellness/NICC Center, and Principal Diercks said that the foundation should be poured this week for the home project.
Waterville Elementary fifth and sixth grade teacher Lee Stegen gave a presentation on First in Math, which he described as an online program to supplement math curriculum. The program has been in use in the ACSD for three years now. Stegen noted that it has the look and feel of a game, which students enjoy. The students work on different math skills, earning “stickers” as they complete each task. “This is a wonderful extension activity for our bright kids,” Stegen noted, adding that sometimes students who might excel in a certain subject area can become bored, but this is a way for them to challenge themselves. He also noted that if a student would become stuck in a certain section, it’s not a “dead end”, they can try something else and come back to it. Once they have mastered a lesson, they have to move on so they don’t stay in the same area. Students with internet access can also use the program at home, with no cost to the child or family.
The Board wrapped up a few items of old business before adjournment, which included the recommendations to approve the Certified Annual Report for 2013-2014, the Special Education Supplemental for 2013-2014, and the Transportation Report for 2013-2014.
The Board then re-convened for its re-organizational meeting. Al Rissman and Patty Nordheim were once again elected as Board President and Vice President, respectively, and both sworn in. Meeting times and dates were set as follows: regular meetings to be held the third Monday of each month in the high school library starting at 7 p.m. April through October, and starting at 5:30 p.m. November through March, with the September regular meeting being held at Waterville Elementary. Janice Rea was re-appointed as Board Secretary/Treasurer and took her oath. The depository banks for General, Management, Physical Plant and Equipment, Activity, School Infrastructure Local Option, Debt Service and Lunch were named as follows: Waukon State Bank, $5,000,000; Farmers & Merchants, $11,000,000; Fidelity Bank, $1,000,000; and ISJIT/ISCAP, $1,000,000.
In personnel matters, the Board approved after school staff for the 21st Century program. Joey Lapel was hired as 10th grade boys basketball coach and as assistant varsity baseball coach. The Board also accepted Lapel’s resignation as seventh grade girls basketball coach. Lisa Snitker was approved as the junior high cheerleading sponsor. Keisha Kerr was approved as an associate at East Elementary and Jennifer Davis as an associate at Waterville Elementary.
Long-time ACSD custodian and Buildings and Grounds Director Dennis Mahr resigned from his position as Director of Buildings and Grounds. Superintendent Herold thanked him for his work in the district, and Mahr thanked the district for the opportunity to work with them, noting that he has enjoyed his time working in the ACSD.
The Board also accepted the resignation of Dan Bechtel from his regular route bus driver position and hired Marsha Benda as a regular route bus driver. Ben Rausch was approved as the seventh grade girls basketball coach, with Patty Nordheim abstaining from that vote.
An out-of-state field trip for FFA students to attend the National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY was approved. There will be 36 students from the Waukon Chapter in attendance, as well as four chaperones. FFA Advisor Jessica O’Connor noted that the students are very excited for the opportunity to take this trip. The Board also approved for FFA students to attend the Greenhand Fire Up event October 15 at Wapsie Valley High School.
A Health Occupations Consortium contract between Allamakee, North Fayette Valley, MFL/MarMac and Central Elkader school districts to provide health occupations classes over the ICN was approved, as well as an Auto Consortium contract between Allamakee, Crestwood, Turkey Valley, New Hampton, North Fayette Valley and Postville with classes through NICC. Students were approved for PSEO classes and contract classes as well.
The Level I Investigators for Child Abuse Reporting were designated as David Herold and Karen Burke, and the Level II Investigator for Child Abuse Reporting was designated as Richard White. Gretchen DeVore was also designated as the MCGF (multi-cultural, gender-fair) coordinator. Jennifer Garin was designated as the truancy officer. Patty Nordheim was appointed as the IASB Delegate.
The Board approved the sale of two LP tanks and the fuel in the tanks. Janice Rea noted that before the district could advertise them for sale in the newspaper, Board approval was needed. She anticipated that bids would be given to the Board during its October meeting.
The Board approved Sunday usage of the junior high gym for fifth and sixth grade volleyball, as well as Sunday practice for the varsity volleyball team before its first round regional game in late October. An out-of-state field trip to Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI for West Elementary first grade students, teachers and chaperones to attend The Nutcracker Suite December 12 was approved.
The purchase of scoreboards from Fair-Play for the high school softball and baseball fields with price tags of $16,520 for baseball and $14,530 for softball was approved. Superintendent Herold noted that the prices would possibly each come down $1,000 due to installation costs being less than were estimated on the bids submitted. The scoreboards were not working properly during the last softball and baseball seasons this past summer, and upon inspection, it was noted that there was a lot of corrosion to the motherboards in the scoreboards. The Board also approved the purchase of new scoreboards for the Junior High gym from Fair-Play for $10,110, which would be reimbursed by the Athletic Booster Club. The old scoreboard will be sold to the Booster Club also.
Irrigation systems for the baseball and softball fields were approved for purchase from Turf & Landscape for $26,043. The new irrigation systems will allow for the field to receive proper amounts of water at the proper times, to make them look better and be safer for use. Most fields in the area are irrigated, ACSD was one of the few area districts that has not been doing this.
The final item of business before adjournment was approval for use of the football field (or high school gym in the event of inclement weather) Wednesday night, October 8 for the Fields of Faith event.