School Facilities Committee Meeting Minutes - April 13, 2000

Facilities Advisory Committee
Minutes of April 13, 2000
The Facilities Committee of the Allamakee Community School District met on
Thursday, April 13, 2000 at 7:35 p.m. in the West Elementary Library.
Prior to the meeting, some committee members toured the West Elementary
building to view the items in need of repair or replacement.

Members present: Fran Gruenhaupt, Omer Troyer, Arnie Snook, Bruce Kubitz,
Colleen Gragg, Dave Mathis, Karen Mathis, Fred Smith, James Bieber, Jerry
Heck, Kathie Heck, Joe Peters, Mary Jo Meyer, Mary Jo Nordheim, Nancy
Walleser, Norman Delphy, Ron Herman, Russell Roth, Sandra Ehrhardt, Virgil
Thorstenson, and Steve Weidner.

Members absent: Deb Kubitz, Dwight Watkins, Erin Berns, Greg Morningstar,
Randy Kruger, Tom Baxter, Larry Dundee, Heidi Hesse and Heidi Anderson.

Others attending were Craig Phipps, Ann Hart, Jim Siegenthaler, Greg Smith,
Glenda Smith, and Peggy Perry.

Fran Gruenhaupt opened the meeting. She stressed that as a committee our
main goal is to maximize our childrens education in safe school buildings
that have adequate space and facilities to offer the educational programs.
She said that the smaller building committees should be finalizing
priorities this evening. She also stressed that we as committee members
must respect each others opinions and ideas.

Mr. Snook stated that there were 5 articles in todays Cedar Rapids Gazette
regarding school budgets. He gave us a handout reviewing finance
information we received last week. He explained that property tax rates
can decrease but schools still can have more money to spend because
property valuations increase, that student enrollment affects money coming
into a school district, that income tax can be used to finance schools by
surcharge, that P.P.E.L. means Physical Plant & Equipment Levy, that we
currently do not have a school bond and have not since 1985, Allamakee
counties tax rate per $1000 of assessed valuation is $11.07.

Educational programs were explained by Mr. Troyer, Miss Hart and Mr. Snook.
Two issues were noted:
1. How have educational programs changed to take up more space or uses
space differently?
Some space problems are occurring because of curriculum offered that was
not offered when schools were built. East Elementary has 2 special
education classes, a full computer lab, title one reading and a talented
and gifted class. West Elementary has 3 special education classes, a full
computer lab, title one reading and a part-time speech teacher. Make shift
rooms, closets and a stage have been made into rooms for teaching.
However, with the addition of the headstart building, the deleting of some
Title I reading funds, and the declining in enrollment, some room will be
available again.

Extra rooms used in the Jr. High building are 4 resource rooms and 1
business room with the current curriculum offered and would like to expand
exploratory technology but cannot, do to space. All curriculum offered is
mandated with the exception of band and choirs. St. Patricks students do
attend for music, band, health, computer, explor. tech, and Algebra.
Public schools receive 1/8 funding for these students. However, some room
will be available with decreasing enrollment figures.

The Highschool building classrooms are used to the maximum. One teacher is
assigned to 3 separate classrooms for 3 hours of instruction. Five
teachers do not have access to their rooms during planning time because
they are being used for another class. No computer lab is available for
student-use during study halls or classes throughout the day. Science labs
need updating. Locker rooms are inadequate for daily volume of students.
Band and chorus rooms are overcrowded due to increase in participation.

Mr. Troyer noted that the Allamakee Community Schools offer the bare bones
in curriculum. There are no extras. It was asked to get a list of other
programs and classes that could be offered in our schools. Mr. Troyer will
get a list for our next meeting.

2. How are students divided into groups?
Currently Allamakee Community Schools have 3 grades in Jr. High, 7th, 8th
and 9th and 3 grades in Sr. High, 10th, 11th, and 12th. There are only 8
schools in Iowa that currently use this system and it is because of space
problems. Allamakee Schools transport students by bus daily from Jr. High
to High School. Students in ninth grade begin their credits towards high
school graduation. Students in 9th grade are much more physically and
mentally mature than 7th graders and are much closer in comparison to 12th
graders in these areas. Jr. High computers are appropriate for 7th and 8th
grades but probably not enough of a challenge for 9th grade students.
Having 3 grades in Highschool and 3 grades in Jr. High is less than
desirable.

It was mentioned that enrollment records may show a decrease but northeast
Iowa is a desirable place to live, so we should not count on as much
decrease as records show. Also, there is a smaller school district close
to us that also has declining enrollment figures and may have no choice but
to merge in the future.

A brainstorming session was lead by Fran Gruenhaupt regarding educating the
public. Items discussed were:
1. The need to have a uniform message from our committee.
2. The need to print financial statistics in surrounding newspapers.
3. To contact community groups and organizations.
4. To hold a special meeting and invite township trustees and clerks.
5. Train a speaking bureau.
6. Stress the safety issues of which there are many.
7. Invite people personally in small groups.
8. Be persistent.
9. Explain that this is structural repairs, not poor management or poor
maintenance.
10. Get past school election lists and contact these people.
11. Look into an individual professional funding person, local, or
Keystone.
12. Develop a case statement and stick with it.
13. Educate, educate, educate and expand info out into the community and
rural areas.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the
Waterville Elementary. You may come early to see the school.

We then broke into small committees by buildings. Priority worksheets were
due.

Respectfully submitted,
Mary Jo Meyer