ACSD Board of Directors makes variety of preparations for upcoming school year

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) School Board met for its regular monthly meeting Monday night, June 17. Board member Beth Shafer was absent.

Under the Consent Agenda several personnel items were approved, including an increase in paraprofessional hours for Jenna Shogren and Alicia Enyart. The following hires were also approved, pending a satisfactory background check: Adam Sacquitine as Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor; Makenzie Pladsen as Elementary Social Worker; Hallie Evans, Amy Opperman, Mataya Sommer and Molly Ottaway as Elementary Paraprofessionals; Gwen Lloyd, Becky Lomen, Amy Sweeney, Patty Dahlstrom, Sara Ronan, Rebecca Hawes and Alicia Enyart as Kids Club Lead Program Volunteers; and Robert Mettille and Caleb Ferring as Volunteer Middle School Football Coaches. The board accepted the following resignations: Cody Snitker from his JJV Softball Coach position, Andy Sires from his Assistant Varsity Softball Coach position and Ray Wacker from his Custodian position.

The board also approved the Johnson Controls Annual Service Agreement. The agreement would be for three years, with an agreement price of $7,500 for the first year, $7,725 for the second year and $7,960 for the third year. During the Communications portion of the meeting, the department directors gave their reports.

ACSD Superintendent Jay Mathis reported that with no major summer projects going on, the custodial staff will be able to clean and take care of routine maintenance items this summer. He also noted that they have been successfully filling open positions; however, finding a night custodian is proving to be difficult. Mathis added he is “excited about who we are adding.”

ACSD has wrapped up spending with the School Safety Grant, and Superintendent Mathis noted that some districts have struggled with this, but ACSD was not one of them. New doors were installed in the Middle School gym, and the design of these doors makes it much easier to move things like equipment and wrestling mats in and out of the gym.

Waukon High School Principal Jennifer Garin reported that there was one week left for students in the credit recovery program, and 10 students have taken advantage of this program. The Assessment and Accountability Report has been reviewed and approved for the 2023-2024 school year.

Garin also touched on some of the changes that were made to the Student Handbook and Alternative Learning Center Handbook. One of the changes is that they got rid of detentions. “They don’t work anymore,” Principal Garin explained. Instead, they opted for having students do “school service” or

In School Suspension, depending on the infraction. The district will also update the handbook more once they have guidance from the Department of Education on recent legislation passed for chronic absenteeism.

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