ACSD Board of Directors meets

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly board meeting Monday, December 16. Superintendent Dave Herold informed the Board that the dental students involved in Project SEALED visited the district last week. He also noted that a group from Charles City toured the facilities at the high school and Waukon Wellness Center. “They were impressed by our facilities and how well we all work together,” Herold noted. He also gave a presentation explaining how financing for the next fiscal year would look, explaining how enrollment and allowable growth factor into what the district will receive for State funding.
Curriculum Director Gretchen DeVore gave an explanation to the board members and those present about what the IowaCore is. The IowaCore is a curriculum designed to help students learn and achieve skills that will help them be ready to enter a changing workforce. The curriculum is approved by the State of Iowa, and DeVore noted that there is emphasis on areas like science and technology. At the end of the year, all students in all grades in all schools are expected to be proficient in certain skills.
DeVore also noted that while the curriculum might say what skills should be taught to certain grade levels, it does not mandate how they should be taught; leaving teachers some freedom to find a teaching method that is best for their students. The IowaCore also includes plans for addressing the fact that some students learn at a different pace, and there are also plans to address that issue.
DeVore pointed out that one big positive of the IowaCore curriculum is that it is very positive for students, especially in a mobile society. She gave the example of a student moving to a new district at the beginning of a school year, and using the IowaCore, that student should be right in line with their skills and be able to pick up where they left off the previous year, even if it is at a different school. The IowaCore also means that schools have to be accountable for making sure the students are learning the things they need to be at an appropriate stage in their development.
During the Principals’ Reports, Waukon Junior High and Waterville Elementary Principal Joe Griffith noted that junior high girls basketball and junior high wrestling are wrapping up and boys basketball will begin after the Christmas break. Winter concerts are also wrapping up. West and East Elementary Principal Ann Hart informed the Board that there was a K-12 “Hour of Code" event and the students learned about computers and employment opportunities available in that field. Waterville Elementary and East Elementary students will also be going rollerskating.
Waukon High School Principal Dan Diercks noted that 83 choir students participated in the choir’s church tour December 8 and raised $1,400 for the Allamakee County Food Shelf and Relief Office. Semester tests will be held this week at the high school. Diercks also noted that the new greenhouse at the high school was the place where about 100 poinsettias were grown this fall, and they were “pretty much all sold.” He also said that five loads of black dirt were brought in from Luther College in Decorah, and that vegetables had been planted, which could then be utilized in the district’s school lunch program.
On the technology front, Technology Director Jean Brink noted that she was trying to get representatives from Microsoft to be able to come on a day that there was a board meeting so board members could look at some of the new devices and technology available. Brink said she is working with other companies too, in order to be able to test new devices to make sure they are durable enough for students to use daily and to keep up with the latest technology.
Food Service Director Julie Magner informed the Board that the ACSD food service program will benefit from a grant of $97,000 through the Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative which will be used to buy more local foods, including local beef. Magner explained that the Quillin’s meat processing facility is USDA inspected, so the beef can be processed there.
Moving on to new business, the Board approved the hiring of staff, all pending background checks for the 21st Century After School Program; Tanya Brink as a volunteer cheer advisor; and Don Kuennen and Don Thies as driver education instructors. The Board also accepted the resignation of Pam Delphey from her para-educator position.
Bids from Hoagland Bus Sales for $82,170 and $87,272 were accepted for two new buses, with wheel chair lifts.
Sunday basketball practices for the high school boys basketball program were approved, if needed, so that if the team advances deeper into postseason play, it will have the gym lined up for extra practices. Fundraisers were approved for the We Care Partners in Education to collect Quillin’s grocery receipts for a one-percent return to fund Meet the Teacher night, field trip expenses and Spell-a-thon prizes; for the Allamakee Music Boosters to sell spirit necklaces and bracelets to put the proceeds into the uniform fund; and for the Waukon High School FBLA to hold a dodge ball tournament to fundraise for the State Leadership Conference.
Changes to the Wellness Policy, pertaining to the district sourcing and purchasing more food locally were approved. The Board also re-approved the modified allowable growth amount for Drop-out Prevention. Board Secretary Janice Rea explained that when this was submitted last month, the district was told that it needed to fill out the form differently and re-submit, so that was why the Board needed to re-approve this agenda item.