ACSD Board of Directors addresses variety of matters at regular session

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD)board of directors met for its regular monthly meeting Monday evening, April 16. During the Superintendent’s report, ACSD Dave Herold updated those in attendance about several legislative items at the State level.

Herold said that ACSD would be updating its security plan in order to be compliant with SF 2364, and that this piece of legislation requires school districts to have a compliant emergency plan by June 2019. Herold noted that ACSD would just have to “tweak” its plan and add a few things.

He then briefly discussed HF 2442, which deals with high school collision sports. This bill regards training material for concussions and brain injury. Herold noted that there has been discussion about this at the forefront of legislation and this is a piece that would enforce that. He also mentioned two bills that are still in debate. HF 2481 has to do with a SAVE extension as the program sunsets in 2019. HF 633 deals with operations and sharing agreements.

Herold then moved on to discuss the Waterville property. He noted that the district’s attorneys would be drawing up a quit claim deed. He also discussed the sale of the LP tank on the property. The board will hold a special meeting May 8 to open bids on the LP tank.

Herold also provided the board members with a printout of how many hours the school district is sitting at. The required number of hours for students this school year is 1,080, and Herold noted that ACSD is “still ok” with enough hours, despite even a two-hour late start the very morning of the meeting.

During the principals’ reports, East and West Elementary Principal Joe Griffith gave the report for Waterville Elementary from Waterville Principal Julie Askelson. Waterville students went to see Grossology in La Crosse, WI. The Waterville spring concert will be May 3. They also have a busy end of the school year with field trips coming up and the school’s STEAM day.

Griffith then reported that Waterville and West Elementary hosted Muffins with Mom last week and there was “good attendance.” East Elementary will have its spring concert April 30. He also discussed the fifth grade field trip to Villa Louis. In the past, students have also stopped at Effigy Mounds, but due to some repairs going on at the visitor center, they will be going to Pike’s Peak this year. Griffith noted that the plan is to have students visit Effigy Mounds again starting next year. Board member Patty Nordheim and Griffith had a brief discussion on making sure that the school gives every student the opportunity to visit the National Monument. Griffith noted that the Kids Club does visit Effigy Mounds as well. Second graders are finishing up their walking field trips around Waukon.

Middle School Principal Jennifer Garin updated the board on parent/teacher conference stats. She noted that they also will have a busy end of the year with field trips. Last week, the eighth grade class visited Des Moines including the Capitol, where they met legislators. Sixth graders are preparing for their Career Day May 9. Spring FAST Assessments will be April 25. Students will also be filling out a learning survey as part of a requirement from the Iowa Department of Education. May 7 is the final band and vocal concert for the year for the Middle School.

High School Activities Director/Assistant Principal Brian Hilsabeck noted that they are trying to keep district websites updated with all the rescheduled events. The high school spring play was held Friday and then Monday evening. The mock crash that was scheduled for April 18 has been rescheduled to April 25, due to the threat of bad weather. He highlighted the solo and ensemble contest that took place at Waukon High School. Seven schools participated and Hilsabeck noted that many community members volunteered. He also noted that the Booster Club has continued its strong partnership with the school and has donated around $30,000 to programs through their wish lists.

Waukon High School Principal Dr. Mike Hardy noted that the last performance of the high school play would be Monday evening. He also noted that Prom is this Saturday. The Alternative High School will have its graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. May 11 and Waukon High School will hold its ceremony at 2 p.m. May 13.

Curriculum Director Gretchen DeVore noted that FAST testing will be done April 23 through May 18 statewide. Students will be testing reading and some classrooms will be doing a pilot test for math. Staff have been training on the math testing as well as attending webinars on the Every Student Succeeds Act, which is replacing No Child Left Behind. She also noted that they have been looking at data from assessments and that they can look at each student’s individual scores on every item to help determine areas where students may need assistance and the best way to help them.

During the Buildings and Grounds report, Director Bill Hennessy noted that they are gearing up for summer projects. Technology Director Shawn Gordon noted that the security project at West Elementary is almost finished. Transportation Director Randy Nordheim noted that bus inspections were coming up and he also read a short piece from the obituary of ACSD bus driver Joe Jenkins, who passed away last week.

Barb Winters-Kelly of the 21st Century program informed the board that their program will be receiving an award for community collaboration. They are also busy working on summer programming. Winters-Kelly noted that the staff “has a good plan.” The summer programming would run May 29 through June 25 and then start up again in August. She also thanked everyone for their support during her absence.

Herold gave a presentation on test scores from the Iowa Assessments. He noted that it is important to look at the subgroups and make sure they are achieving high scores. During the presentation, Herold showed a graph of ACSD test scores compared to AEA schools and also all of Iowa. The ACSD scores were generally as good as or higher than the other two groups. Herold noted that students’ scores continue to improve, and they will continue to look at the data to identify areas that need more work.

Under old business, the board approved the second reading of the following board policy: 500-Objectives for Equal Education Opportunities for Students.

Under new business, Elliot Evanson was hired as a bus mechanic. The board also accepted the resignation of Levi Tinderholt from his para-professional position, effective at the end of the school year. The board approved hiring Dennis Mahr as additional summer help at Waterville.

In other matters, the board approved an out-of-state field trip to the Villa Louis and Pike’s Peak for fifth grade students at East and Waterville Elementary Schools. The board also approved a bid for the East Elementary kitchen remodel from Dave’s Complete Construction of Delhi in the amount of $282,390.00. A bid for the West Elementary and Middle School electrical upgrades from Voltmer Electric, Inc., Decorah in the amount of $185,002.00 was also accepted. A bid from Access Mobility Products of La Crosse, WI for an ADA compliant ramp for this year’s graduation ceremony in the amount of $13,950.00 was also approved. Although this was not the lowest bid for the project, Hennessy recommended the district go with Access Mobility Products.

The board approved a Resolution of Opposition: Reduction in the 2018-2019 Backfill legislation. In the resolution, it states that in 2013 the Iowa Legislature cut commercial property taxes and that reduced income to Iowa cities, counties, school districts and local governments. The Legislature agreed to replace the lost dollars with State dollars to protect communities from cuts in services or forcing an increase in property taxes. The income replacement was known as “backfill.” The resolution further states that the Iowa House and Senate plan to eliminate the backfill beginning with the 2018-2019 budget year. There are many Iowa school districts that have already certified their budgets, and the ACSD would lose a total of $64,491 if the backfill is eliminated.

The board then approved the lists of high school and alternative high school graduates for this year, pending meeting all requirements for graduation.