ACSD Board of Directors hears reports, updates on variety of matters during regular session
by Brianne Eilers
Despite students having the day off for a Teacher In-Service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 18, the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors did meet for its regular monthly meeting. ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold presented the board members with a letter from Norplex that had accompanied a donation of $1,000 to be used for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum. Herold noted that the donation will be used for Project Lead the Way. The Northeast Iowa Food Bank also sent a letter of thanks for the district donating money raised during the Tour of Churches at Christmas time/
During the principals’ reports, Joe Griffith, principal for East and West Elementaries, noted that the “round-up” days at West will be February 10 for four year-olds and February 18 for Kindergartners. Julie Askelson, Waterville Elementary Principal, said that the “round-up” day for Waterville will be February 17. Jennifer Garin, Middle School Principal, informed the Board that First Semester Awards for academics and extracurricular activities were handed out, 10 Middle School students attended the Marion Honor Band, seventh and eighth grade boys basketball is underway in the Middle School, and the Middle School play will be coming up March 18.
Brian Hilsabeck, Activities Director and Waukon High School Assistant Principal, said that 26 high school students went to the NEIA Music Festival, five students were selected for Dorian, and one student was selected to the NEIA Band Association Honor Jazz Band. He reported that the Orange Cord program participation has been going well, and that there are many participation sheets still “floating around” that haven’t been logged in yet.
Waukon High School Principal Dr. Mike Hardy gave a presentation to the Board regarding progress on the Construction Class house project. The schools are all gearing up for Iowa assessment testing.
Buildings and Grounds Director Bill Hennessy noted that following the most recent power outage, Wednesday, January 13, everything came back online correctly and there were no issues.
The Board listened to a presentation from Kelly Olson and two students on the Middle School ePortfolios. These ePortfolios allow students to keep a record of assignments and projects, as well as help them begin to create a resume that can be used when it is time to apply for scholarships or jobs.
Representatives of the Little Switzerland FFA chapter at Waukon High School were present to talk to the Board about the upcoming FFA Week activities, which will be February 20-27. They would like to do an Ag Olympics, have dress-up days and also visit with elementary students to promote FFA.
The Board also heard from Erica Nosbisch, Director of the Waukon NICC Center, and Wendy Mihm-Herold, Vice President of Business and Community Solutions at NICC and Sector Board member. NICC served 1,350 students in the 2015 fiscal year. Students in the ACSD have saved about $1.1 million by being able to take college credit courses during their high school career. Two students have or will be graduating with a high school degree as well as an Associate of Arts degree.
The NICC Center also offered a STEM summer camp last year, with 37 students attending to participate in a Robotic Olympics-themed summer camp. Nosbisch noted that NICC is planning another STEM summer camp for this year, which will also deal in robotics.
Mihm-Herold addressed the Board regarding industry sector boards. These industry sector boards will provide connections between employers, educators, community developers, regional workforce development boards and stakeholders in the eight-county NICC district.
In personnel matters, the Board approved staff for the 21st Century Afterschool Program. Resignations were accepted from the following employees: Keri Egan from her assistant high school volleyball coaching position, Mark Schmadeke from his assistant varsity football coaching position, Dale Kurth from his custodial position, and Jeff Snitker from his coaching positions. The Board approved the hiring of Arthur Clocksin as a substitute bus driver, pending his meeting all the requirements. Cheryl Adam was hired as a part-time Title I teacher. The position will be paid for with Title I funding.
In other matters, the Board approved changing from 3P Administrator to Midwest Group Benefits for COBRA Administration. Superintendent Herold explained that the district already uses Midwest Group Benefits for its health insurance, and that Midwest Group Benefits is now also handling COBRA Administration services. The district has been happy with the service received from Midwest Group Benefits and felt it is an appropriate change.
The Board approved the Iowa Core Science Standards. The annual trip for eighth graders to visit the State Capitol in Des Moines was also approved. Students will be visiting the Capitol April 7. The Board also approved the 2016-2017 school calendar, and Herold noted that the start date of August 23 is set by State legislation.
The Board approved using PowerSchool as the new student information system to replace the system used by JMS. This new system will work better with the Canvas system and the cost will be similar to the JMS system after the first year. Herold noted the first year will be more expensive because of set-up fees and conversion. Board member Patty Nordheim asked is there is a conversion process or if it will all need to be done manually, and Herold explained that there is a conversion process, though some will have to be changed manually. The company will also provide training days for the staff during the conversion, and the employees of the ACSD are “up for the change.”
The Board approved tuition rates for pre-school for the 2016-2017 year. In a letter to the Board, Principal Griffith noted that there will need to be a five-percent increase in tuition in order to cover the costs of running the program. “We don’t like to have to raise the rates at all,” Griffith noted. The Board approved the new tuition rate of $1,334 for the 2016-2017 school year. In the letter, Griffith noted that the increase would work out to families of four-year-olds paying $63.50 more than last year.
The Board also approved a Teacher Leadership Compensation Memorandum of Understanding with the Allamakee Education Association. Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) and Contracted Classes were also approved, and it was noted that quite a few students are taking advantage of these courses.
Several board policies were approved to be deleted. All of the policies being deleted are now covered or included in other policies. The Board also approved the first reading of several other board policies: 400-Role of Guiding Principles for Employees, 401.1-Equal Employment Opportunity, 401.2-Employee Conflict of Interest, 401.3-Nepotism, 401.4-Employee Complaints, 401.5-Employee Records, 40l.5Rl-Employee Records Regulation, 401.6-Transporting of Students by Employees, 401.7-Employee Travel Compensation, 40l.8-Recognition for Service of Employees, 401.9- Employer Political Activity, 401.10-Credit Cards, 401.11-Employee Orientation, .401.12 Employee Use of Cell Phones, 401.l2Rl-Employee Use of Cell Phones Regulation, 401.13R1-Staff Technology Use/Social Networking/Regulation, 402.1-Release of Credit Information, 402.2-Child Abuse Reporting, 402.2R1-Child Abuse Reporting Regulation, 402.3-Abuse of Students by School District Employees, 402.4-Gifts to Employees, 402.5-Public Complaints About Employees, 402.6-Employee Outside Employment, 402.9-Solictations from Outside, 403.1-Employee Physical Examinations, 403.2-Employee Injury on the Job, 403.3-Communicable Diseases-Employees, 403.3El-Hepatitis B Vaccine Information and Record, 403.3R1-Universal Precautions Regulation, 403.4-Hazardous Chemical Disclosure, 403.5-Substance-Free Workplace, 403.5E1-Substance-Free Workplace Notice to Employees, 403.5R1-Substance-Free Workplace Regulation, 403.6-Drug and Alcohol Testing Program, 403.6E1-Drug and Alcohol Testing Program Notice to Employees, 403.6E2-Drug & Alcohol Program and Pre-Employment Testing Acknowledge Form.
The final item approved before adjournment was the recommendation to approve Sunday boys basketball practices, if needed.
