ACSD Board of Directors hears summary of District’s Financial Health Report, outlines various goals for 2024-2025 school year
by Brianne Grimstad
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors first met Tuesday, October 29 for a special meeting to discuss a pair of agenda items. Board member Scott Melcher was absent.
The board approved specifications for an 84-passenger diesel bus and a 60-passenger propane bus. In October, ACSD was informed it had received a $25,000 grant through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Bus Rebate, which the propane bus would qualify for. The board approved the specifications, with sealed bids being accepted until November 13, 2024.
The board also approved adding an assistant wresting coach. In an email to the district, Activities Director Brian Hilsabeck noted that 54 individuals had signed up for the 2024-2025 boys wrestling season and the wrestling program requested an assistant coach to help with that. The board approved the addition of an assistant wrestling coach position.
The board then met for its regular monthly meeting Monday night, November 18. Under the Consent Agenda, the following personnel were approved: Kloe Hemmersbach, Volunteer Middle School Girls Wrestling Coach; Kristin Pittman, Middle School Paraprofessional; Lydia Fluth, Elementary Paraprofessional; Dave Blocker, Substitute/Activities Driver; John Papp, Basketball Volunteer; and Jack Regan, Dave Hansmeier, Tim Bulman and Kevin Johnson, Wrestling Volunteer Coaches.
The following appointments were made under the Consent Agenda: Jay Mathis and Kirby Jones, Level I Investigators for Child Abuse Reporting; Bill Shafer, Level II Investigator for Child Abuse Reporting; Luke Steege, Equity Coordinator; Jennifer Garin, Title IX Officer; Luke Steege, Truancy Officer; Luke Steege, Section 504 Coordinator; Brian Hilsabeck, Homeless Liaison; Amy Wasson, Migrant Student Point of Contact; and Carrie Niehaus, Foster Care Point of Contact. The board also accepted the resignation of Jasmin Lazzell from her position as Elementary Paraprofessional. Bob Wasson gave the board notice of his plan to retire at the end of the current school year, and the board accepted his resignation from his teaching and coaching contracts.
Also under the Consent Agenda, the board approved an out-of-state field trip request from the Music Department to travel to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater in May to attend a performance of “Grease.” The board also approved one open enrollment into the district and one open enrollment out, as well as approving Special Education Contracts.
During the Communications time of the meeting, ACSD Superintendent Jay Mathis gave a summary of the District’s Financial Health Report, noting the overall financial health was strong during the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year. The unassigned General Fund balance decreased $320,083 from FY 2023 to $1,748,725 in FY 2024. In the Executive Summary of the report, this was attributed to “a significant underfunding in special education and needs to be remedied by levying for cash.”
To read the full article, pick up the Wednesday, November 20, 2024 print edition of The Standard or subscribe to our e-edition or print edition by clicking here.
