ACSD Board of Directors approves placing renewal of funding measures on upcoming election year ballot, hears annual library report and other updates as school year is underway

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Monday, September 16. Under the consent agenda, the board approved the following personnel: staff for after school programming, West Elementary secretary maternity leave coverage and 2019-2020 volunteer coaches: Jack Regan (wrestling), Amy Wasson, Mike Shupe, Greg Criswell and Bridget Dolan (girls track) and Morgan McMillan (golf). The board also accepted the resignation of Daneshia Snitker from her position as varsity softball assistant coach.

The board approved several Sunday requests and out-of-state field trips including a Sunday cheer competition, Google Summit, Iowa Business Education Association Conference, the annual Chanhassen trip, and for first graders to attend the Nutcracker. One open enrollment was approved.

During the communications portion of the meeting, Lisa Snitker presented the board with the annual library report. She noted in her report that there are library associates at each building who take care of the daily operation of each center’s library. Snitker, the district’s teacher-librarian, coordinates the libraries and meets with elementary students a few times a month to teach them grade appropriate lessons on things like how to use the library, library etiquette and other subjects. For students in middle school and high school, she also teaches students how to create projects using technology and there are stations where students can work on digital projects.

Snitker also noted in her report that circulation numbers for the 2018-2019 were fairly steady compared to the 2017-2018 school year. She also touched on some of the authors that visited last school year and some that they will have this school year, as well as touching on the process of weeding out old books and replacing them.

Snitker also spoke about the Martha Speaks Reading Buddy Mentor program. Some of the things they are looking forward to in the 2019-2020 school year include creating a Makerspace room in the middle/high school computer lab for students to be able to get together and problem solve and create. Students will be able to create using things like robotics, an embroidery machine and a Lego wall, among other things. Snitker also noted that she is going to be focusing on weeding out books from the West Elementary collection this school year as they will be getting ready for a remodel and reconstruction at the end of the current school year.

ACSD Superintendent Jay Mathis noted in his report that the construction class is off to a successful start on the home being built for Stan and Mary Straate. The recent professional development day went well. Waukon High School Principal Jennifer Garin released the schedule for Homecoming activities. The Homecoming game will be played Friday, October 4 October.

Waukon High School Assistant Principal/Activities Director Brian Hilsabeck reported that the season-opening Meet the Team Night went well. He also noted that they received a letter from the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) that ACSD is one of the 149 schools in Iowa that did not have a player or coach ejected from an athletic contest during the 2018-2019 school year.

He also noted that the district has earned the Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) Sportsmanship Award for the second time in three years. He explained that ACSD tied with Decorah, and there was a banner presentation at the season-opening football game with Decorah.

Waukon Middle School Principal Luke Steege noted that at the time of his report, there were 296 students enrolled at the Middle School. School pictures are rescheduled for October 17. East and West Elementary Principal Joe Griffith noted in his report that FAST tests for math and reading are being done.

The East Elementary construction continues to move along. They are also looking at providing Chromebooks for East Elementary students and will be approaching the board with a proposal.

Griffith also noted that a kindergarten teacher and a third grade teacher received grants from the Silos and Smokestacks program to help cover the cost of a field trip for each of those grades. Griffith expects that there may be more grants like that coming and praised the staff for finding alternative ways to pay for field trips.

Buildings and Grounds Department Director Bill Hennessy reported that the construction crews at East Elementary School are down to just four classrooms to finish. He thanked the custodial staff for putting in extra time to get East Elementary ready for the school year. The middle school gym will be waxed in October for upcoming sports seasons.

Technology Director Shawn Gordon noted that the laptops were distributed to middle and high school students the first day of school. He had been meeting with elementary teachers regarding Chromebooks for East Elementary students. The Technology Department is also gearing up for ISASP tests in the spring.

Food Service Director Julie Magner noted that lunch counts are a little higher than normal. In August, they averaged 1,025 lunches per day. The Allamakee Cattlemen will be grilling hamburgers Friday, October 4 to kick off National Farm to School Month.

Transportation Director Andrew Eberling reported that the bus inspections have been done and “overall they went pretty well.” The new routing software is in use and helpful for the building secretaries who need to check on student bus numbers and times. The two-way radios have also been working well with their upgrades. Eberling also informed the board of some State regulated changes that will be effective October 2, including requiring seat belts.

Under old business, the board read the second reading of the following board policies: 410.1 - Substitute Teachers.

Under new business, Erik Helgerson was appointed the Board Vice President and sworn in as such. Students for the contracted and PICC classes were approved, and there are a lot of students taking advantage of those classes. A resolution ordering election on the question of continuing the levy and imposing a voter approved physical plant and equipment (PPEL) property tax and income surtax was approved to be placed on the November 5 election ballot. Superintendent Mathis explained that it was recommended that the district do this since it is an election year anyway. It will be a renewal of what is already in place and was set to expire in a couple of years.

Mathis noted that ACSD is the only district in the State of Iowa that does not have a State Instructional Support Levy. “This speaks a lot about operating lean and having the SAVE Fund, PPEL and a mixture of sources of revenue,” he said. The ACSD does receive some Federal money, as well as some State Supplemental Aid (formerly Allowable Growth). A roll call vote was taken on the resolution and it was all “ayes.”

A resolution approving revenue purpose statement, ordering an election on a revenue purpose statement to authorize expenditures from revenue received from the State Secure and Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) Fund, and ordering publication of a notice of election was approved with a roll call vote as well. Mathis noted that this was also recommended that the district do this.

Currently, the SAVE Fund was going to sunset in 2031, but Iowa legislators have voted to extend it to 2051. Mathis noted that any restrictions that apply to the use of PPEL funds also apply to SAVE funds and this would not change the revenue’s purpose.

Prior to adjournment, the board voted to appoint Erik Helgerson as its delegate to the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) convention.