ACSD Board holds re-organizational meeting at Waterville

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee  Community School   District (ACSD)Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting and annual re-organizational meeting Monday evening, September 16 at Waterville Elementary School. During his report, Superintendent Dave Herold informed the Board that the teacher leadership and planning grant committee would be meeting and moving forward on its grant application. He explained that the grant had to be written and submitted this year in order to receive funds.
Herold also noted that there is still some funding available through the Harkin Fire Safety Grant that the district will be applying for as well. He noted that the district has had a few minor citations during fire inspections and he wants to put an application together in order to try and get some funds from this grant to help correct those issues.
The official enrollment count date will be October 1 for ACSD. At the beginning of the school year, the count was down about 25 students, but that number does fluctuate for a bit when school starts, so officials wait until October 1 in order to get a more accurate count.
During the Principals’ Reports, Waterville Elementary and Junior High Principal Joe Griffith welcomed the Board and those present to Waterville Elementary. He explained some of the field trips that students have been participating in this fall. The eighth graders went to Cannons at the Fort at Fort  Crawford in Prairie du Chien, WI. Seventh graders will be taking a trip to Camp Tahigwa for a life science class, working with the Allamakee County Conservation Board and doing things like identifying plants and insects. Fifth graders will be traveling to Fort Atkinson for Rendezvous Days.
Junior High sports are also in full swing, with 70% of the students at the junior high participating in some type of fall sport. Griffith also noted that Dr. Kaplan of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry informed him that they will donate 150 toothbrushes to be included in the backpacks for the ACSD Backpack Program.
East and West Elementary Principal Ann Hart noted that parent meetings have finally wrapped up, which wasn’t an easy task with the early outs from hot weather. This is also the time of year for student assessments at the elementary level. Hart also thanked the Board for approving the purchase of new math curriculum, which is being utilized and will align with the math core.
Waukon Senior High Activities Director and Assistant Principal Jennifer Garin noted that 190 high school students are participating in fall sports. She also said that the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) had its first meeting of the year with 101 students in attendance, and the Future Farmers of America (FFA) had between 80 and 90 students at its first meeting of the year. She also spoke a bit about how the 21stCentury attendance has jumped from about 25 students at this time last year at the high school to around 100.
Waukon High School Principal Dan Diercks handed out information to the Board regarding several new and renewed initiatives at the high school this year, including Project Lead the Way (PLTW), which is a program of study for science, technology, engineering and math, and will offer hand on learning. He also provided information on TI-Nspire, a math software that will be used in algebra classes for students in grades 7-12; My-Access, which is an English Language Arts software to be used in English 9, 10 and 11 classes; Gizmos, a math and science software for grades 7-12; and six new titles were purchased from Educational Technology Partners A+ Software for Health, History of America I, History of the World I, Physical Science, Sociology, and World Geography for grades 7-12.
Diercks also informed the Board that money received from the Perkins Grant will be used to purchase machinery and aluminum so the high school metals classes can build scaffold railing, to be used in conjunction with the construction class house building project, to better enhance safety. The house this year is being built in Waukon for Trent and Becky Mitchell.
Gretchen DeVore updated the Board on curriculum development as well as the process to put in a plan into place for the SINA designation. DeVore noted that the reality of it is that once a school receives a SINA designation, they probably won’t be able to get off the list unless there is “major legislation”, but the district is developing a plan to improve test scores. Board Secretary Janice Rea discussed the Certified Annual Report, Special Education Supplemental and Transportation Reports for 2012-2013.
The Board then adjourned and reconvened for the reorganizational meeting. Al Rissman, who was re-elected for his Director At-Large position, and Scott Melcher, who was re-elected for his Director District #1 position, were both sworn in. Al Rissman was elected President of the school board, and Patty Fosaaen as Vice President.
The Board then moved on to set the date and time of the regular school board meetings. Board member Tom Baxter made the suggestion that during the months of November, December, January, February and March, the Board should meet earlier in the evening, due to the winter weather that can develop in this area, and all agreed.
Meetings will be held the third Monday of each month at the high school, with the exception of the September meeting, which will be held in Waterville. Meetings will be held at 7 p.m., with the exception of the months mentioned above, during which time they will be held at 5:30 p.m.
Janice Rea was appointed as Board Secretary/Treasurer and took her oath. The depository banks for General, Management, Physical Plant and Equipment, Activity, School Infrastructure Local Option, Debt Service and Lunch were named as follows: Waukon State Bank, $5,000,000; Farmers & Merchants, $11,000,000; Fidelity Bank, $1,000,000; and ISJIT/ISCAP, $1,000,000.
In personnel matters, 21st Century after school staff was approved, as was Ken West as a fall/spring Driver Education instructor, all pending background checks. The Board also accepted the resignation of Gary Kerndt from his para-educator position, as well as approving additional payments to staff for work due to water damage when the roof blew off in June, with board members Scott Melcher and Patty Fosaaen abstaining from the vote.
An out-of-state field trip for the FFA to travel to Louisville, KY for the National Convention was approved for October 30 through November 2. The Waukon and Lansing FFA chapters will be traveling by charter bus this year. Garin noted that FFA Advisor Jessica O’Connor had done a lot of research into putting this trip together, and had found a way to save both the students and the FFA Chapter about $100 each.
An out-of-state field trip for West Elementary first graders was also approved to travel to Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI to see the Nutcracker Suite December 13. Transportation and ticket costs will be paid through the West Elementary activity fund and a grant from Viterbo.
The list of students for PSEO and contracted classes was approved. Superintendent Herold noted that there were 667 credits being taken. Last year at this time, there were 677 credits being taken, but last year there were also 23 more students taking them as well. Four students were approved for early graduation, pending that they meet the requirements.
The Level I Investigator for Child Abuse Reporting was designated as David Herold and Karen Burke, and the Level II Investigator for Child Abuse Reporting was designated as Richard White. Herold was also designated as the MCGF (multi-cultural, gender-fair) coordinator. Garin was designated as the truancy officer. Al Rissman was appointed as the IASB Delegate. Dr. Bill Withers, M.D. was approved as the ballot to be cast from ACSD for Director District 3 – Keystone AEA Board of Directors.
The Board approved hiring Bryce Muenchow as musical children’s choir director and Kadie Smith as musical choreographer, at $500 each, to be paid from the musical account, pending background checks on both individuals.
A volleyball practice for Sunday, October 28 was approved, as was Sunday usage of the gym for fifth grade volleyball. Due to a possible scheduling conflict with postseason football November 8, a Sunday matinee performance was approved for the fall musical, which will now be held November 7, 9 and 10. A cheerleader fun day was also approved for January 20.
The Board approved changes to the hotel/motel rate, mileage and meal allowances. The policy will now be $85 for the motel/hotel rate; mileage at $0.40 both ways; and meal allowances as follows: breakfast will be $6, lunch $7.50 and dinner $12.50.
The final matter of the meeting was the approval of the purchase of a vehicle (car) from Torkelson’s for $16,790. Herold explained that sometimes when staff and students have to travel for school functions, there are only one or two people, and it just did not seem to justify having them take a suburban. “We just can’t justify it gas-mileage wise, and we feel it's not a fair shake for our constituents,” Herold noted. Having a car to be able to use will be more efficient for those situations.