ACSD Board of Directors approves resignation of board member Patty Nordheim, addresses variety of other matters prior to start of new school year

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Monday, August 19. A number of items were addressed prior to the start of the new school year this Friday, August 23.

Under personnel matters, the board approved staff for the after school program and Lexie Bieber as a volunteer cheer coach. Barb Weipert and Lori Pladsen were approved as Middle School paraprofessionals and Liz Baures was approved as West Elementary After School Program Coordinator. Bailey Roth, Jadi Twite and Emily Stone were approved as West Elementary Paraprofessionals and Stephanie Mulvey was approved as East Elementary Library paraprofessional.

Mentors for the 2019-2020 school year were approved. Resignations were accepted from Billie Ross from her West Elementary paraprofessional position, Maria Baker from her West Elementary After School Program Coordinator and West paraprofessional positions, and Patty Roach and Morgan Stegen from their West Elementary paraprofessional positions.

Sunday usage requests were approved for the Youth Sports Foundation (YSF) football league and Waukon Park and Rec fifth and sixth grade volleyball. The 2019-2020 NICC Concurrent Enrollment and Health Occupation Consortium Contracts were approved. The board also approved the annual treasurer report. Two open enrollments were approved.

During the communications time of the meeting, Keystone AEA Board member Dr. Bill Withers and Keystone AEA Administrator Pat Heiderscheit were on hand to update the board on what Keystone has been doing as well as address any questions or concerns the board may have for them. Transportation Director Andrew Eberling and Brian Svestka, from the Howard-Winneshiek School District, gave a presentation to the board on propane powered school buses.

In his Superintendent’s Report, ACSD Superintendent Jay Mathis noted that a welcome event for the new teachers was held prior to the meeting. The first day of school is Friday, August 23 and the staff has been getting prepared for that. He also noted that progress continues on the East Elementary building in preparation for the first day of school Friday. An open house for the public to tour the remodeled East Elementary School building is tentatively scheduled for September 17. The Vision to Learn program provided 54 eye exams to elementary students last year and also supplied 45 of those students with free glasses. Vision to Learn is a national program.

In her report, Waukon High School Principal Jennifer Garin noted that new student orientation night will be Wednesday, August 21 at 7 p.m. in the high school gym for all ninth-12th grade students who will be attending the high school in the 2019-2020 school year. The NICC Welding Academy open house will be from 5-7 p.m. August 22. School picture day at the high school will be August 29. Garin also thanked the custodians for their work on the building over the summer and the kitchen staff for their work during the summer feeding program.

Waukon High School Assistant Principal/Activities Director Brian Hilsabeck noted in his report that a meeting for grades 7-12 activities sponsors will be held August 22 at 8 a.m. Meet the Team Night for fall sports will be at 5 p.m. August 22. The first home volleyball game is August 27 and the first home tournament is September 21. The first home football game is August 30 and the first home cross country meet is September 24.

Hilsabeck also thanked the custodians for their work over the summer break. He also acknowledged local medical staff and secretaries for helping to set up students with free physicals and concussion screenings. Hilsabeck also noted that the Pixellot cameras are continuing to generate profit, which is shared with the booster club. August 8, he and other staff attended a SAI activities conference and are continuing to keep methods compliant with State rules and regulations. They learned that ACSD is “currently ahead of the game” with their compliance.

Waukon Middle School Principal Luke Steege reported that as of August 13, 77% of Middle School students have been registered and those who haven’t have been contacted. New student orientation will be August 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Middle School sports practices began this week for volleyball, football and cross country. Steege also thanked the custodians for their work over the summer.

East and West Elementary Principal Joe Griffith noted in his report that this year teachers will be working in Professional Learning Communities (PLC). He also noted that they are reviewing the social studies curriculum, which includes reviewing and adjusting what is taught, as well as looking to the State standards. He also noted that over the summer several paraprofessionals resigned and they have been working to fill the positions.

Buildings and Grounds Director Bill Hennessy reported that the schools are all looking good and are ready for the beginning of the new school year. Progress continues on the East Elementary project. The custodial staff is preparing for the fall sports season. They are also looking to winter and making sure the heating systems will be ready for the upcoming winter months.

Technology Director Shawn Gordon reported that the new student laptops are ready for distribution on the first day of school. The virtual desktop infrastructure server project is now complete. The new radio repeater is installed and operating. East Technology classrooms are being moved back in as the rooms are completed. The laptop turn-in days went well, and there was one lost laptop this year. They are going through the old laptops to see how many will be usable for elementary students.

Food Service Director Julie Magner noted that the summer feed program was another success. Food Service staff attended the School Nutrition Association Conference in Dubuque and brought back ideas that they will be trying to implement in the department.

Under new business, the board recognized and approved the resignation of board member Patty Nordheim from her position as a school board member. The board approved a foreign exchange student from the Republic of Mali who will be attending Waukon High School. Several East Elementary HVAC Project change authorization requests were approved.

The board also approved the purchase of a 2019 Bobcat 5600 Toolcat from Reiser Implement, with the added request to add a block heater. The board approved an increase in substitute teacher pay to $105 per day and $130 per day for long term (10-plus days). The board also approved the first reading of the following board policy: 410.1-Substitute Teachers.