EACSD School Board discusses challenges facing smaller rural school districts during regular session
by Susan Cantine-Maxson
The regular monthly Board of Directors Meeting for the Eastern Allamakee School Board was held Monday, December 21 at 7 p.m. in Kee High School Room N101. Board Vice President Bobbie Goetzinger called the meeting to order. Board members present included Bobbie Goetzinger, Melanie Mauss, Bruce Palmborg, Kelli Mudderman. President Heather Schulte was absent. Others in attendance included Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier, Board Secretary and Business Manager Janet Heiderscheit, and Principals Mary Hogan and Chad Steckel.
After the adoption of the agenda, the Board approved the normal authorizations for the minutes of the November meeting, bills for December, the Secretary’s Financial Statement, and the Activity and Food Service Report. Supterintendent Crozier told the Board that future expenses may include lawn mowers and ongoing bills for boiler repairs.
Superintendent Crozier and the Board members who attended the recent Iowa State School Board Convention discussed some of the workshops they attended. All agreed that the keynote speakers were excellent. Workshops on the classroom of the future, strategic planning and school board study sessions were very informative.
Palmborg suggested that the EACSD Board should utilize more study sessions to be more fully aware of the complexities of some issues that come before the Board. Superintendent Crozier agreed that the topic of challenges for small rural districts including declining enrollment and how that affects school finance might be a good place to start. He agreed to set up such a workshop in the near future. Such workshops would be open to the public as well.
Dr. Crozier also mentioned meeting with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, where he had an opportunity to broach the topics of the inequity in school financing, particularly regarding transportation. Small rural districts such as Eastern Allamakee have transportation costs of approximately $700 per student, whereas large metropolitan districts average costs are $7 per student. The state average is $300 per student, yet no adjustment is made when it comes to state aid to help districts with higher transportation costs.
The Board approved leasing and purchasing agreements for busses and a suburban. Curently the district leases six busses. The new agreement will allow the district to purchase two busses, plus a 2009 suburban and lease four busses. Transportation Director Ken Johnson presented reasons for this purchase.
Further approvals included the resignation of teacher’s aide Stephanie Runkel and maternity leave for New Albin Elementary teacher Jessica Kurth.
Administrative reports included updates on activities at the elementary, middle and high schools. Kee High School Principal Mary Hogan stated that core reports from last fall’s assessments were strong, averaging in the 80 and 90 percentiles for almost all classes. She will put together the statistics from those assessments and others for a future board meeting.
New Albin Elementary School Principal Chad Steckel said that the second round of assessment for the elementary school would begin soon. Board members praised students for their visibility in the community by caroling and selling Christmas cookies as a fundraiser.
Superintendent Crozier said that there would be a slight increase in savings in January 2016 when interest on certain bond payments will be finished. He also mentioned that he had attended the groundbreaking for the new Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center, which is being built south of Lansing. He said this should be a great asset to the community as well as offering many opportunities for schools to learn more about the area.
The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m. The next scheduled board meeting is January 18.
