ACSD Board of Directors hears update on impact of legislation regarding collective bargaining, approves number of projects
by Jennyanne Hager
Members of the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Education gathered for their regular monthly meeting Monday, February 20. Board Secretary Jaime Curtin noted that work is being done on the budget, and contracts are being prepared for the coming year. Superintendent Dave Herold noted that after a few months of declining funds, the school lunch fund had a gain in January.
Herold continued by reporting that insurance premiums had no increase again, making for at least three years of steady costs. “This is great news again. Our rates are down because we have been keeping our claims down,” Herold remarked.
He continued on a less optimistic path, however, noting that the collective bargaining legislation signed by lawmakers last week has raised many questions for the district. ACSD did recently sign a two-year agreement with its staff, wrapping up negotiations prior to the passage of the legislation. Many questions remain as to how items other than base wages will be determined in the future, including supplemental pay for coaches and activity directors, sick leave, personal days and insurance benefits. Herold also speculated that rural districts, like ACSD, will not have as much bargaining power and may have trouble competing for staff when there are districts that are able to offer starting salaries over $40,000. “The question now is how to offer our staff a good salary and still be a good place to work,” Herold stated.
Before wrapping up his report, Herold did have positive news to report on the desk audit recently completed by the State. “We have no non-compliant issues, so that is good news,” he said.
East/West Elementary Principal Joe Griffith gave a short review of his schools’ happenings, reporting that Pre-K and Kindergarten Round-ups were completed in the last two weeks, and that the annual Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser is fast approaching. Waterville Principal Julie Askelson highlighted the upcoming visit expected from the Iowa Food Hub. This winter, students raised funds to donate boxes of goods to help those in need in the local area. The Iowa Food Hub will be visiting Waterville March 2 so that the students can actually see what their donations amounted to.
Middle School Principal Jennifer Garin noted that winter sports are now wrapped up. Eighth grade students will work on their four-year plans in mid-March. Garin also invited the public to a handful of upcoming performance events. The Spaghetti Pops concert is this Saturday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m., and the all-school band concert is Monday, March 6. Friday, March 10, beginning at 7 p.m., two plays will be presented back-to-back. She encouraged everyone to come and support the students.
At the high school level, Activities Director Brian Hilsabeck noted that spring sports are just around the corner, adding that two home meets each are scheduled for the boys’ and girls’ track and field squads. Ongoing discussion is being had regarding possible usage of the concession trailer when RAGBRAI® comes to Waukon in late July.
Dr. Mike Hardy, Waukon High School Principal, also highlighted the recent efforts of Large Group Speech contestants from the district. Out of Waukon’s nine participating groups, six earned a category “1” designation, with two of those groups earning All-State honors.
Among the items discussed by Curriculum Director Gretchen DeVore it was noted that Iowa assessments are done and results should be available in about three weeks. She also pointed out the reading buddies program that is connecting high school and elementary students, adding that it is very fun to see the interaction between the older and younger students.
Building and Maintenance Director Bill Hennessy gave a brief report on heating issues occurring at East Elementary, and added that things are being done to prepare facilities for the spring sports season. Technology Director Shawn Gordon said that funding requests will be filed in March, and that another technology survey of parents, students and staff has been completed and results are being reviewed and compared to past surveys.
Food Service Director Julie Magner highlighted a bake sale that her department is doing as a fundraiser for teacher Joe O’Neill, who is currently battling cancer. Transportation Director Randy Nordheim reported that new insulation was blown into the bus garage, and new buses are expected to be in during the third week of March. Barb Winters-Kelly concluded reports by presenting a number of attendance statistics for the 21st Century Program. A high participation rate is occurring at each center, with many students attending 30-plus times during a school year.
Following the opening reports, kindergarten teacher Joe Lapel gave an informational presentation on flexible seating, a system he started using in his own class this year. Using less traditional sitting options in addition to the standard table or desk and chairs utilized in most rooms, students have access to moon chairs, wobble seats, plyo (exercise) balls, bucket seats or kneeling. The variety of seats gives kids the chance to “get the wiggles out” and become comfortable in their surroundings. Lapel said that, while the initial transition period was a little trying, his students have become more engaged in learning and their academic scores are improving. Even at this young level, his kindergarten charges are learning to identify what style works best for them, and they are allowed to choose their seat style for tasks that require extra focus.
Lapel noted that he is not the only teacher in the district to use flexible seating, as Sherri Lyons has been using the concept in her multi-category classes for several years. Lapel added that they are working on writing a grant that would expand the flexible seating program within the district, allowing more students to reap the benefits.
No visitors had anything to bring before the board, and since there was no old business to discuss, the meeting quickly moved on to new items of discussion.
UPCOMING PROJECTS
With summer fast approaching, the board took action on a number of projects to be tackled in 2017. Herold added that there may be more items added to the list. East Elementary updates include replacing windows in the cafeteria (Mobile Glass of Decorah, $16,411) and replacing cabinets and a sink in the faculty room ($3,056 for cabinets by Beneke Construction and $696 for sink by Kurth Plumbing & Heating). At the Middle/High School building, the partitions in the main restroom facilities are set to be replaced (Equipment & Furniture, $6,989).
Painting updates will be done in several buildings, with overall painting costs at $17,680 (Tom’s Painting). Kelly Concrete will handle concrete replacement at both West and East Elementary as well as the Middle/High School, with total costs on those items expected to be just shy of $25,000.
A bid of $19,250 from CH McGuiness Co., Inc., of Des Moines was approved for the replacement and repair of steam traps at East Elementary. Hennessey mentioned that the updated system will be much more efficient and should greatly reduce the number of repairs that have been needed as of late. Also getting approval was a bid by Casper Plumbing & Heating for improvements to the Middle School HVAC system. Eric Hendrickson of Shive-Hattery, the district’s architectural and engineering firm, noted that the bids for this project were very good, with Casper’s final total bid of $242,494 being the lowest submitted.
Hendrickson also spoke briefly on proposals put together by Shive-Hattery for two other large projects that are on the horizon, both of which the board ultimately approved. First on the table was the roofing situation at West and the Middle School. Repairs have been made to portions of the two buildings, however it is time to fully replace those problem spots. Most of the areas need to have shingles replaced with another area over the auditorium/stage of the Middle School needing to have a rubber membrane updated. Hendrickson advised that the entire workload would be a stretch to complete during one summer, and suggested that the board take that into consideration when setting the project out for bidding. The project could easily be broken down and bid in sections.
The second item discussed was Shive-Hattery’s proposal regarding improvements to the sports complex entrance on the north side of the high school building. The proposed entrance would update the current entrance, incorporating the existing concession stand and modifying the area to include a recognition wall. The Indians’ “victory bell” would also be moved and added into the entrance area. Preliminary cost estimates put the project somewhere between $50,000 to $75,000, however avenues are already being explored for possible funding through the Booster Club and/or Hermeier account. Donations are also likely for some materials and labor costs.
PERSONNEL ITEMS
Under personnel items, staff was approved for 21st Century Afterschool Program, and Patricia Dahlstrom was hired as a paraprofessional at a rate of $11.31.
A number of changes were okayed in regards to spring season sports. Joe O’Neill’s resignation as assistant varsity boys track and field coach was approved, and Brett Egan was hired to fill that vacated position. Mike Shupe and Blaine Snitker were approved as volunteer coaches for the boys and girls track and field programs, with Amy Wasson also given the go-ahead to serve as volunteer coach for the girls program. Morgan McMillan was accepted as volunteer golf coach.
Both Ted Snitker and John Papp were approved to continue as volunteer softball coaches this summer. Blaine Snitker’s request to move from seventh and eighth grade football coach to assistant varsity football coach was okayed, and Joan Schwartz’s resignation from assistant varsity volleyball coach was approved as well.
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
The 2017-2018 school calendar was approved. Classes are currently set to begin Wednesday, August 23 with the final day of classes anticipated to be May 18, unless inclement weather plays a factor. Graduation for the Class of 2018 is set for Sunday, May 13.
Gordon addressed the board again regarding three technology-related items. The first two items centered on East Elementary, as it is that center’s year in the updates rotation. The board voted to move ahead and seek bids for East’s technology upgrades, including 25 each of lab computers and Chromebooks, three black and white printers, one color printer, as well as an office computer and two monitors.
In addition to the more standard tech upgrades, the board also decided to seek bids on security camera updates at East. The district would like to increase the number of security cameras at that building from seven to 15. The new cameras would cover areas that are often in use after regular school hours and now warrant more surveillance. Overall, Gordon suggested the district include security equipment updates within the budget and keep the cameras on the same cycle as the rest of the technology upgrades. Before moving on, the recommendation to approve the 2017-2018 district-wide software budget was also passed.
A foreign exchange student was approved for the upcoming school year. The Italian student will be joining a host family from Waukon in August and plans to stay for ten months.
An out-of-state field trip to University of Wisconsin-La Crosse was approved for Waterville Elementary students to see a theater performance after an earlier trip to Luther College was canceled due to inclement weather. The Afterschool Program was given the okay to attend three different out-of-state events, including a trip to Galena, IL and two separate excursions to the Twin Cities area to visit the Sea Life Aquarium in the Mall of America and Chanhassen Dinner Theater. The FFA Chapter was given approval to make its annual trip to the State Convention this coming April, too.
The district’s Cooperative Swimming Agreement was renewed for 2017-2018, as was the contract with Timberline for fiscal years 2018, 2019 and 2020. Herold remarked that Timberline provides a valuable service by working to obtain Medicaid reimbursement, which is provided for some school-based services. The board also passed its annual Budget Guarantee Resolution for 2017-2018.
Before adjourning, the board closed by approving the first reading of board policy 410.1 regarding Substitute Teachers, and then okayed Sunday open gyms from March to July for boys basketball.
