ACSD Board approves softball, baseball field renovations

by Jennyanne Hager

Members of the Allamakee Community School District Board of Education gathered one final time before the start of the 2009-2010 school year, meeting Monday, August 17.
The Board worked quickly through the regular reports, with Superintendent Dave Herold announcing that the district has been added to the No Child Left Behind “watch list” in one sub-group. That group, the 11th grade “SES”, or free and reduced students, did not meet the trajectory score. Herold pointed out that the district is not on the improvement list or categorized as a “school in need of assistance”. He also noted that the district must improve these scores. “We’ll need to work harder. The trajectory will go higher next year. We need to focus on student achievement, and everyone needs to help. I am confident that our teachers and staff will do that,” Herold said.
Herold concluded his report by commending the custodial staff for their hard work on all the summer projects. He also reminded everyone in attendance about the Revenue Purpose Statement that will be on the September 8 school board ballot. This resolution, if approved by the public, will allow the district to expand the areas in which the current one-cent sales tax can be used. This will not be an additional tax, but simply an act that will allow the school to use funds for transportation and technology expenses, if needed.
Principals Ann Hart and Dan Diercks each gave brief reports, noting that staff was once again back on campus to prepare for the start of another year. Diercks also asked instructor Jed Hemann to give an update on the vocational construction project of a new home. Hemann said bids with local contractors are being finalized, and they are planning to break ground this week, with students beginning work on the site just after Labor Day.
Under informational items, Herold noted that board members Allan Rissman (At-Large) and Scott Melcher (Director District I) are up for re-election September 8.
Sean Ryan, chairman of the State of Iowa Youth Advisory Committee, presented a brief report about the work this council does. Ryan said that this year’s team is composed of 16 seniors from across the state, and they will meet six to eight times in a year to discuss obstacles and challenges Iowa students face. They seek to develop goals and guidelines, and then work to implement positive changes in schools. Ryan said he will give regular updates to the Board, and that he welcomes any comments or suggestions regarding areas in need of improving in education.
The only agenda item under old business was the second reading of 17 policies, which was approved.
A handful of yearly items were posted on the agenda in August. The Board agreed to have Gruhn Law Firm again represent the district, and teacher’s handbooks were approved for the elementary, junior high, and high school levels.
Board Secretary Janice Rea presented the annual transportation report. Overall, the district’s average cost per mile dropped 16 cents from the previous school year, settling at $2.37 for the 2008-09 session.  Rea also gave a brief description of the Treasurer’s Annual Cash Report.
Approval was given to the Library Automation Proposal, pending receiving funds. Librarian Beth Christoffer reported that this project will be funded with Microsoft money, however, it has not been received yet. The district has signed a purchase agreement with a company, however, the district will be able to opt out with no penalty should the funds not be available as planned.
The District Developed Service Delivery Plan was okayed, as was holding the September regular meeting at Waterville Elementary. The Board then approved a change order for Shive-Hattery totaling about $935.
Sunday usage of the football field was approved for Youth Sports Football this fall. An out-of-state field trip to Ferryville, WI was also approved for the Reducing Alcohol Grant.
Several resignations were approved under personnel items. Shanna Dibble resigned as part-time pre-school teacher, while Heather Rissman and Sue Hendren were approved for resignation from their respective special education associate duties at the high school and elementary levels.
The Board also confirmed a number of hires during the meeting. Bob Wasson was okayed as high school special education teacher, while Jason Howes (junior high), Calleen Adam (St. Pat’s), Deanna Halverson (East), and Kate Milbrandt (high school) were all approved as special education associates.
Heather Mohs was approved as part-time pre-school teacher, while Nate Gebel and Todd Neal were each okayed as part-time FFA advisors. Louise Wild was hired as spring play director, and Amy Wasson was approved as junior high girls track and field coach. Brody Baxter and Perry Hesse were also approved as volunteer football coaches, while Jennifer Colsch was hired as junior high cheer coach. Scott Iverson was approved as an advisor to the junior high student council, and the list of staff was approved for after school Reducing Alcohol and 21st Century grants.
Late in the meeting, the Board took some time to discuss renovations to both the baseball and softball fields at the high school campus. Herold pointed out areas of concern on both diamonds, showing a number of photos in the process. Herold noted that conditions are not top notch on either field. On the baseball diamond, there are dips in the warning track, and lips along the edges of basepaths, all creating an uneven and potentially dangerous situation for athletes. The field itself has become compacted due to lime, resulting in very hard ground that is difficult to grow grass on.
The softball field is not in much better shape, with the compacted outfield also sprouting weeds, and an infield composed of six to eight inches of hard lime surface. The field’s location is also causing a problem as a majority of the positions face west, resulting in direct sunlight in the face of almost every fielder position. Herold noted that during a recent game a pitcher was struck in the face because the ball was lost in the sunlight.  Herold remarked that they had considered repositioning the diamond to face another direction, however, that would require the school to take out the drainage ditch installed a few years earlier to help keep water off of neighboring properties, or to find an entirely new location. In the end, Herold said the best option to the sunlight situation is to leave the field as it is, but install a tall, tarp-like, dark mesh screen atop the dike behind home plate. Fans could still utilize that area to watch the games, but the screen’s height should sufficiently reduce the problems caused by the sunlight.
As for the fields themselves, Herold said the plan is to level each as needed, and round-up and reseed the grass areas. As for the non-grass areas – the entire softball infield and basepath/pitching mound areas on the baseball diamond – those current surfaces will be removed and replaced with a red aggregate infield mix. A preliminary estimate put the project cost just under $63,000. Herold reminded the Board that this would be a “20-year project” that would increase the safety of student-athletes while competing at Waukon. Rea informed the Board that costs could be covered from PPEL funds. After hearing all of the information, the Board decided to go ahead with the project, which should get underway yet this fall.
Before closing the meeting, the Board heard a brief informational report from Dr. Bill Withers, the district’s Keystone AEA representative. Withers pointed out a few financial items school districts are watching, and noted that about $4 million in stimulus money is expected for member schools within Keystone AEA.