ACSD Board of Directors holds monthly meeting

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met Monday, November 18 for its regular meeting. Prior to the start of the meeting, ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold presented former board member Greg Byrnes with a plaque to thank him for his two years of service to the school district.

Later in the meeting, during the reports time, Herold reported that looking at school lunch counts over the past three years has shown that lunch counts for this year are up over the numbers from last year, but not quite at the same level as two years ago. Herold also mentioned three recent Youth Frontiers retreats that were held at Village Creek Bible Campe. Fifth graders in the ACSD attended a retreat focusing on kindness, seventh and eighth graders attended a retreat focusing on courage, and tenth graders attended one on respect.

He also noted that due to the fact that the Waukon football team will be playing in the state finals Friday afternoon, there will be no school Friday, November 22, with the make-up day scheduled for Monday, February 17, 2014. He noted that is the first of four scheduled make-up days to be used. There was a lot of excitement and talk at this particular meeting about the upcoming football game, as well as the whole season. Herold explained that he had received an e-mail from an official, who is also a school board member in another district, who communicated in the e-mail that the Waukon football players and coaches were the “best they (the officials) had worked with all year.” The e-mail commended the district for its good sportsmanship. “We are very proud of the way our students present themselves on the field, in the classroom and in the organizations and groups they participate in,” Herold noted.

During the principals’ reports, East and West Elementary School Principal Ann Hart noted that the fifth grade students had fun at their Youth Frontiers retreat, and enjoyed working with the high school student leaders there. East recently held a canned and dry foods drive for the food pantry. Hart also noted that the parent-teacher conference attendance rate for the last conferences was between 95-100% at the elementary schools.

Waterville Elementary/Waukon Junior High Principal Joe Griffith noted that MAPS testing has been completed in the ACSD. He also said that he had gotten a lot of positive feedback from parents regarding the Youth Frontiers retreat on courage. The junior high students, in conjunction with the senior high students, collected loose change for the Pennies for Patients program, which helps families dealing with leukemia, and the junior high has collected over $1,000. He noted that the actual total is being kept under wraps, but will be revealed to the students soon.

Waukon High School Assistant Principal and Activities Director Jennifer Garin noted that this is a “really exciting time” in the school district. She noted that there will be a pep rally to welcome the Waukon football team home Friday evening around 8:15 p.m. at the Waukon High School gym. “Win or lose, we want to celebrate this team,” she said. She also noted that she had been approached by members of the security team at the UNI-Dome, and they told her that the Waukon fans and student section were some of the best they had dealt with as well.

Garin also congratulated the fall musical participants on their successful run, which wrapped up this last weekend as well. She noted that 21st Century before and after school programming is averaging about 100 students. November 26 there will be a meeting with local businesses for Project Lead the Way.

Waukon High School Principal Dan Diercks talked a little bit about the fact that many schools don’t do pep rallies because their fans don’t really get into them, but that is not the case in the ACSD. He also talked about the Youth Frontiers retreats, noting that there were 15 student leaders from the high school at the kindness retreat; 25 at the courage retreat; and 15 student leaders at the respect retreat. He noted that the retreats involve students being able to share personal stories, and that they can be very emotionally powerful for all involved. High school parent-teacher conference attendance averaged out to 47.96%, which is the highest it has been in three years. Diercks said that he felt many parents are able to keep up with student grades on a regular basis using e-mail and other technology with the teachers, but that it is still nice to see people face to face.

Grounds and Maintenance Director Dennis Mahr noted that the boiler inspections went well. Transportation Director Randy Nordheim noted that bus inspections have been completed and that most of the issues found have been resolved.

In old business, the Board approved the second reading of board policy 401.7 – Employee Travel Compensation.

In new business, the Board approved the following hires, pending a background check: 21st Century after school programming staff; Sheryl Beiber as a five hour per day cook (11.34); Chris Dahlstrom as assistant varsity wrestling coach ($1,627 prorated); Lisa Snitker, Peyton Wacker and Ciara Mahr as winter sports cheerleading sponsors ($1,000 each); Tharin Benson and Mary Hawes as special education para-educators (both at $10.01); Leah Benzing as a volunteer cheerleading sponsor; and Amber Gericke as a volunteer speech coach. The Board also accepted the resignation of Audrey Blake from her para-educator position and cheerleading coach position.

In other new matters, the Board accepted the application for SBRC Application for Open Enrollment Out modified allowable growth. The Board also approved the Drop-out Prevention modified allowable growth. Principal Diercks explained that the district does have three programs in place to help with drop-out prevention. There is academic support for grades K-12, the alternative learning center for high school students, which he noted helped 23 students last year, and the summer school program for grades 7-12, which he also noted helped 40 students last summer.

The Board also approved the SINA Assurances, which will be put in place to help students at East Elementary after their School In Need of Assistance (SINA) designation through No Child Left Behind.

The Board also approved a Sunday a usage request from the Waukon Wrestling Club for Sunday, February 2 for a youth wrestling tournament. Specifications for two new buses were approved; one will include capacity for three wheel chairs.

The Board also approved a fundraising form, which Garin explained will be filled out by organizations that want to fund raise. It will explain what they are doing or selling, when they will be fundraising and what the proceeds will be used for. Garin noted that she hopes in the future ACSD will be able to put a fundraising calendar up on the school website, and that the district will be able to coordinate fundraising projects so that things aren’t overlapping, as sometimes happens. She also noted that many schools require this already.

Board member Patty Fosaaen asked if there have been other changes to fundraising rules and Garin explained that when groups have fund raising efforts now, the proceeds must be used towards something to benefit the whole group or team. For example, if the volleyball team does fundraising, they can’t use the proceeds to send a few players to a camp, but they could purchase water bottles or other equipment for the whole team.

The Board also approved a Head Coach Evaluation form, as well as a bid from Blake Excavating for removal of trees and shrubs, clearing of a fence line and removal of the materials for $12,000. The Board also approved the line item budget as a working document.

Prior to adjournment of the meeting, board member Tom Baxter told those present that while traveling for his job, he has encountered some who wished luck to the Waukon Indian football team in its post-season play. Baxter noted that an individual from Lansing and another from in Minnesota were among those expressing their good luck wishes. Baxter said he felt that the team should know that there is a lot of support behind it in the surrounding area.