EACSD Board of Directors hears presentation on workspace learning among variety of items addressed during regular session

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors held its regular meeting Monday, April 16. Audience comments included a presentation by instructor Tiffanie Peters about the Career Fair & Worked Based Learning Program. She has recently presented at several workshops, including the Iowa Workspace Learning Conference in Waukee, and will be presenting at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) next week.

She described a new program which will be implemented in the fall which she will head up for the school district. This program has been discussed for four years but new legislation which supports 21st century skills for students who do not go to a college will make it a reality. Students will complete core subjects and then participate in CTE (Career Technical Education) programs which get them out into the workforce.

Peters has recently completed her MOC (Multi-Occupational Certification) so that she can be a supervisor for students in the workplace. Peters worked in the business workplace for 10 years, then got teaching certification. She is a big advocate of bringing outside examples and getting the kids out of the classroom and out of the textbook.

As an example of her program, she described how some of her students participate in the Ice House at Gundersen Lutheran, which allows students to watch live surgery. Students also get to participate in a lab activity where they do simulated microscopic surgery on the abdomen.

She said, “The first time we went three years ago we had to beg to get three students to go. Then students started hearing about it. Now we are turning kids away.”

The program’s goal is to get the students out to explore in situations like job shadowing, which might be from one afternoon, to several days, to paid internships which allow students to complete required classes and then work in the workplace. Several students have graduation requirements finished early but want to stay in school to graduate with the rest of the class and participate in extra-curricular activities.

She continued, “My biggest success is when a student realizes that they don’t want to do a job after a worksite experience because they have their eyes opened as to the realistic expectations and requirements of the job. Then they know what they don’t want and can explore another area without spending thousands of dollars on tuition without knowing if they will truly want the job they are preparing for.”

Creating the community collaboration is a very important part of the school being successful. Peters explained that EACSD is a unique situation since the district is so close to the border of two other states and some students want to work across those borders. Issues like insurance need to be addressed. Peters informed the board that new legislation helps with insurance and liability issues which have been drawbacks in the past.

To participate in the program, students must take a pre-employment class which is a NICC dual enrollment class. They must apply, interview and be approved by a committee before they can be placed. The program’s goal is to allow students to explore before they spend money and time on college on a career that they may not like.

Peters described a current opportunity which students participate in which is a half-day workshop sponsored by Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon called Reality 101. Peters said, “It is a real eye opener about life.  A salary which sounded good at the beginning may not get be enough money for them to live on.” Another experience for students was real life interviews with working individuals in specific jobs, such as a court reporter and a judge.

Previously, the program was limited to primarily business and finance-related occupations, but since Peters has received her MOC, the program will expand into a multitude of career clusters. She will be looking for speakers and business people who are willing to work with students. NICC and Keystone AEA have been very helpful in establishing this new program and career partnerships.

New business included several approvals, such as the 2018-19 School Calendar and changes to the 2017-18 School Calendar. The district will now get students out by May 25, before Memorial Day, if no further snow days are added to the year. Teachers would have eight days to make up and may make up some of the time at night meetings or extended in-service time, depending on the center. Kee High School Principal Mary Hogan said that the middle and high school may consider doing some mental health trauma training this spring rather than next fall. Non-certified staff could also spend time cleaning as an option for the waived days.

The 2017 Audit Report for the district by Kay Chapman & Co was presented, with no unusual matters brought forth. The continued Superintendent 2018-19 Sharing Agreement with MFL/MarMac School District was approved.

Extended Family Leave for one employee for the remainder of the school year was approved. This will be limited to eight days of emergency leave for unusual circumstances which are allowed if the employee pays the cost of the substitute whether a substitute is hired or not. The employee requested the use of this since that employee has used up personal and family sick days. This is allowed under the master contract. Next year, a handbook will be in place which may address this issue.

Principal Hogan was appointed as the Affirmative Action Coordinator and Level I Investigator, and Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier was approved as the Level I Investigator Alternate. Contracts for the 2018-2019 school year for both certified and support staff were also approved, along with a contract with Felicity Eward as a vocal music teacher for the 2018-2019 school year.

The board approved the 23 graduation candidates presented for the 2017-2018 school year, with graduation set for May 13 at 2 p.m. A tentative agreement with the Eastern Allamakee Education Association was reached for a two-percent package increase over the next two years. Approval was also given to the purchase of a John Deere tractor/mower for $6477.18.

In addition, the board endorsed a letter of support for the Black Hawk Bridge in Lansing indicating that the board recognizes the importance of having a bridge in Lansing because of the economic stability for the area and the school district. The letter will be sent to the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT).

The board also set a public hearing date for the 2017-18 Budget Amendment as May 21. The budget must align in four different categories. The non-instructional category includes mostly food service, and it needs to be adjusted almost every year dependent upon food costs and services for the year.

Principal Hogan advised of a new Conditions for Learning survey that fifth-12th grade students will be given. This is from the Department of Education and needs to be administered yearly as part of the yearly accountability report sent to the State. The Conditions for Learning Survey includes questions on physical safety, emotional safety, adult-student relationships, student-to-student relationships, boundaries and expectations (rules and goals) and general demographics about age, sex and nationality. Data will be used to establish a needs assessment for the district.

Prom is scheduled for this weekend. Seniors will be leaving the following Friday for Washington, DC.

New Albin Elementary School Principal Chad Steckel reported he feels the district needs to consider full-day preschool for four-year-olds. EACSD is one of two schools in the area that does not have full-day preschool, and some families have said they are pulling their students out to attend a full-day preschool. If the district goes that route, they may need to have some supplemental tuition, which would be less expensive than a parent paying for day care. With one section of 15 students, Steckel said this is doable for next fall and the program would help with what the students know by the time they get to kindergarten. Steckel said the elementary school continues having safety training with the ALICE alert.

Superintendent Crozier reported Legislative File 2364 requires each district to have a plan for emergency situations. The district has a plan which will be filed. The community is considering having a food pantry. The middle school might be a possible site, so the board should be aware that this might be a future request.

Allamakee County Housing Needs Assessments reports will be presented April 17 in Lansing and in New Albin May 7. A tentative hazard mitigation plan meeting has been scheduled in Lansing June 18 with Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker to discuss plans for disasters like tornadoes and floods.