ACSD Board approves possible reciprocity agreement with Caledonia, MN schools, sets public hearing dates for levy and budgeting

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) school board met for it regular monthly board meeting Tuesday, February 18 (due to the Presidents’ Day holiday observed on the board’s regular Monday meeting day). Under the consent agenda, the board approved the hiring of the following personnel: Jon Snitker and Dillon Daniel as volunteer track coaches; Justin Thrailkill as High School Special Education Teacher; and Kevin Johnson as High School Alternative Education/Social Studies Teacher.

The board also approved the resignations of Jane Johnson from her paraprofessional position, due to retirement, and Tess Hawes from her Language Arts PLC Teacher Leader position. Approval was also given to the transfer of Micah Decker from Elementary TAG/ELL to Third Grade Teacher. There were three open enrollments out of the district and three open enrollments in approved. The board also approved a Student Teaching Agreement with Northwestern College and University of Northern Iowa.

During the communications portion of the meeting the board heard a presentation from Iowa School Finance Information Services representative Larry Sigel. He talked a bit about the Comprehensive Financial Projection Model for ACSD. Sigel also touched on how Supplemental State Aid (SSA) amount per student is set by legislature, the formula for tax rates, and spending. Sigel noted that the ACSD budget has been stable.

“Your district’s budget is remarkable because it is unremarkable,” he said, adding that ACSD has done a good job of managing resources and federal funds. He talked about some of the challenges that public schools may be facing in the future, including low SSA and rising labor costs.

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