ACSD Board of Directors approves some personnel changes, begins contract negotiations with ACEA

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) board members have met for two meetings so far in December. A brief special meeting was held Friday, December 9 to discuss a few items. The Board approved the resignation of Jessica Phillips from her Middle School paraprofessional position and the resignation of Carolyn Campbell from her High School paraprofessional position. The Board also accepted a proposal from Shive-Hattery for the Middle School gym HVAC improvements for the anticipated cost of $335,000, barring any asbestos-related issues. The Board tabled the recommendation to accept a bid for the Waterville Elementary gym roof project until the regular meeting December 19.

During the regular monthly meeting December 19, Board Secretary Jaime Curtin noted that the auditors had been to the district and that the audit took three days. She said she felt it went smoothly and that the district could expect a report from the auditing company near the end of February.

ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold noted during the school lunch report that lunch counts have been “picking up some.” During the Superintendent’s Report, he explained that in 2017 the U.S. Mint will be releasing the Effigy Mounds National Monument quarter as part of the America the Beautiful quarter series. February 7 there will be a program for the school children with representatives from the U.S. Mint. Looking at the State legislature, Herold discussed a recent article in the Des Moines Register regarding issues that should be of legislative concern, among some of the topics he mentioned were State Supplemental Aid, the one-cent sales tax, school choice options, and changes to collective bargaining.

During the Principals’ Reports, Waterville Principal Julie Askelson noted that Waterville students have been collecting for the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa this holiday season. The Waterville students also collected for and purchased a food box from the Iowa Food Hub to be delivered to the Waukon Food Bank. In January, Waterville students and West Elementary second graders will travel to Luther College to see “Frog and Toad.”

East and West Elementary Principal Joe Griffith noted that STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Math) Night was “a huge success.” His staff is working on the reading incentive and getting ready for upcoming assessments.

Middle School Principal Jennifer Garin noted that Middle School wrestling and girls’ basketball has wrapped up and boys’ basketball will begin in January. Iowa assessments will begin January 17 and FAST assessments will begin February 1.

Dr. Mike Hardy, High School Principal, informed the Board that he will be presenting a proposal, at a later date, to include personal finance classes as a mandatory class for high school students. He said that currently about a third of the high school students take the course as an elective, but it provides useful information and skills, so he would like to see it become a mandatory class. Semester tests will be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

Dr. Hardy also noted that Mrs. Louise Wild’s Honors English class submitted videos at the state level for a Shakespeare contest. Wild further explained that the subject of the videos was to portray how Shakespeare is still valid in school today. One of the submissions by the class took first place, with a prize of $2,000. Wild thanked the school for providing “state of the art technology” for the students to utilize. “It was a humbling experience to win statewide through the University of Iowa,” Wild noted.

During the Curriculum Report, Curriculum Director Gretchen DeVore noted that her department is working on assessments and using data to make its reports. There will be some new guidelines for the Early Literacy Initiative (ELI), and it should loosen up some of the requirements for third grade retention by allowing multiple data points as well as teacher and parent information, as opposed to a one-minute reading passage. She also discussed the differentiated accountability and ESSA, saying that the ACSD is currently meeting the goals and that ESSA will be replacing No Child Left Behind. STEAM Night had about 225 people, including students and parents from the various schools, and DeVore thanked the parent groups for serving cookies and punch.

During the communications time, Superintendent Herold gave a presentation on the School Report Cards for the various buildings in the ACSD. He said Waterville Elementary received the highest rating, among the buildings, of high proficiency with 73.8 points. The High School, Middle School and East Elementary all received ratings of acceptable, with 64.2 points, 60.7 points and 68.7 points, respectively. West Elementary was unable to be rated, possibly because they do not have enough grade levels in that particular buildings. Criteria that was analyzed included proficiency, closing the gap (Free or Reduced Lunch, Individual Education Programming, English Language Learners), college and career ready growth, annual expected growth, attendance, staff retention, graduation rate (high schools only), and a section was included on the reports for parental involvement teacher survey, but this was not part of the graded criteria.

The TLC group of Michelle Pladsen, Traci Berns and Kelly Olson presented to the board about the TLC program. They discussed aspects of what they do, such as student-centered coaching and the coaching cycle, help from AEA staff, Literacy (ELI), technology integration, high school students reading to elementary students, curriculum retreats and STEAM Night.
During the new business part of the meeting, the Board accepted the resignation of Adrienne Gerst from her High School vocal music position, due to the fact that her family will be staying in Dubai to teach overseas for next year. “We wish her all the best,” Superintendent Herold noted. The Board hired Rachel Burrichter as the Waterville Secretary. Julie Ash was hired as a Middle School paraprofessional. Karis Walker was hired as a High School paraprofessional. Cody Lamb was hired as a Waterville Elementary paraprofessional.

The Board then moved on to non-personnel matters, accepting a recommendation to approve the Promise of Iowa Public Education Campaign. Board President Al Rissman noted that this resolution will hopefully be supported by every district in the state of Iowa. It is a resolution saying that school districts will ask legislators to support public education in Iowa and prioritize investments that would improve community schools.

The Board also approved the line item budget as a working document, as well as moving PowerSchool hosting to Grant Wood AEA in February of 2017. PowerSchool is currently hosting the program, which they do not normally host for schools. At the time the district set up PowerSchool the Grant Wood AEA did not have room to host for ACSD, but will in February 2017. Technology Director Shawn Gordon noted that with Grant Wood hosting, the district will have more tools and help with state-specific reporting.

The health consortium between ACSD, North Fayette Valley, MFLMarMac and Central Elkader was again approved. This consortium has been in place for a few years. The Board also approved a modified supplemental amount of $146,122 for At-Risk/Drop Out Prevention. Herold noted that this funds the Alternative Learning Center, summer school and staff to help students. Next year, they will have a school interventionist. Dr. Hardy said that this has a big impact on the high school.

The Board approved an advertising/equipment contract with Varsity Group Marketing. There was one change made to the contract in the statement Varsity Group shall be the sole vendor authorized to sell advertising space at the Waukon High School athletic facilities. The words athletic facilities were changed to gym. Herold said that they already have the equipment in the gym, but this would be much more graphic and in HD and that they could have more advertisers. He stressed that they would keep an eye on how many advertisers there are, so that they don’t have too many and are able to keep the ads on a good rotation schedule for best exposure to the public.

The opening negations between the Allamakee Community Education Association and the ACSD began. The Allamakee Community Education Association (ACEA) gave its proposal of a two-year contract. For each of the next two years, step movement and lane changes would be given as per Article XIII, Section 3. Total package with base salary increase, supplemental schedule increase, and benefits package would be 3.75% for each of the next two years. ACSD countered with its opening negotiation proposal that changes to the base salary not be determined until insurance and other benefit package costs are determined. ACSD is asking for a two-year master contract (2017-2018 and 2018-2019), with its initial proposal for salary and benefits package at 3.25% for contract year 2017-2018 and 3.25% for contract year 2018-2019. The Board will set a closed session for further discussion and negotiation.

The final matter of the meeting was to make a decision on the Waterville gym roof project. Rissman noted that one of the bids received did not have the proper paper work with it and couldn’t be used. The remaining bids were from Sweeney Builders and Beneke Roofing. The Board accepted the bid from Sweeney Builders in the amount of $40,263.