ACSD Board of Directors gets updated on variety of matters during regular monthly session

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly board meeting Monday night, October 17. During the reports portion of the meeting, ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold noted that the wrestling room project has been completed.

Herold also spoke briefly about concerns with the upcoming election season. He said that his biggest concern is education funding (allowable growth). Herold said that which ever candidates get elected, they take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa. Iowa Code states that allowable growth should be set within 30 days of the Governor submitting the draft budget to the legislature. Herold noted that for the past few years, legislators have ignored this rule.

During the Principals’ reports, Waterville Elementary Principal Julie Askelson noted that FAST testing has been completed. Students at Waterville also completed bike safety training. To celebrate Fire Safety Week, members of the fire department visited Waterville Elementary and then students visited the fire station. Askelson also said that parent-teacher conferences are coming up, as the first quarter has ended.

East Elementary and West Elementary Principal Joe Griffith explained that ACSD has a partnership with the Allamakee County Conservation Board which allows Naturalist Ross Geerdes to visit with students at each of the schools. So far, Geerdes has made 10 visits to West Elementary (36 hours), 12 visits to East (37 hours), six visits to Waterville (11 hours) and 12 visits to the Middle School (57.5 hours).

Waukon Middle School Principal Jennifer Garin noted that fall activities are wrapping up and winter activities will be starting soon. The Waukon Fire Department visited the Middle and High Schools to help with fire drills for Fire Safety Week. The Middle School vocal concert was held last week. Wednesday is Unity Day for National Bullying Prevention Month (October), and staff will be wearing orange shirts. Students are also encouraged to wear orange shirts to show solidarity. Garin noted the Youth Frontiers Courage event will take place in November.

Brian Hilsabeck, Activities Director, noted that fall sports are wrapping up. He said five Waukon cheerleaders will be representing ACSD at the Shrine Bowl next summer. Winter sports, which include girls and boys basketball, wrestling and bowling will begin in November. Manufacturing students went on a field trip to Norplex. Along those lines, the school has a plasma cutter, which has been wired, but they are waiting to get air run to it before students can begin to use it.

Waukon High School Principal Dr. Mike Hardy noted that the musical “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” will be performed November 3, 4 and 5. He also showed a short video on the High School Reading Initiative, which allows high school students to read to Bright Beginnings students.

Gretchen DeVore, Curriculum Director, further expounded on the High School Reading Initiative, explaining that it teaches the older students skills like cooperation, collaboration, presentation skills and parenting skills. The younger students learn listening skills and how to sit and build stamina in preparation for their school careers. DeVore also noted that Dr. Weiss of the Iowa Department of Education will be visiting the school district Friday. In other curriculum matters, staff members have been attending curriculum retreats to get information to meet Iowa Code requirements and standards, as well as how to measure progress.

Bill Hennessy, Buildings and Grounds Director, noted that the retention pond behind the softball field has developed a hole after recent heavy rain. They also have to do some emergency repairs to the roof at West Elementary and the Middle School after the heavy rain.

During the Technology Report, Director Shawn Gordon reported that the district received $127,646.11 from ERATE funding, noting that $103,692.65 went for the wireless implementation project. Foodservice Director Julie Magner noted that October is National Farm to School Month, and that she is coordinating with local producers and using items from school gardens on the menu.

Randy Nordheim, Transportation Director, said that his department has been keeping busy with fall field trips and events, and they are getting ready for bus inspections. Barb Winters-Kelly, 21st Century Director, noted that their program has served 1,011 students in the ACSD. They will be having an open house for the 21st Century Program during parent-teacher conferences, and would like to hear ideas from parents for programming suggestions. Winters-Kelly said they also held an open house last year and felt it was successful.

During the Communication time, East Elementary teachers Mason Berns, Thea Thies and Andy Sires gave a presentation on science kits being used by students at East Elementary. The science kits teach students how to work with electricity, as well as study the environment and soils, rocks and landforms.

The Board was also presented with the official enrollment number for 2016-2017, which came in at 1100.4. Herold noted that this is 27.4 students less than last year.

Waukon High School Guidance Counselor Amy Wasson gave a presentation on attendance center and course enrollment. The current senior class has 102 members, with the junior class having 80 students, sophomores having 86 students and the freshman class has 83 students.

Wasson also gave a presentation on the numbers of students taking certain courses, and broke it down by gender. For example, there are 91 male students and one female student taking industrial technology classes. Looking at Health Occupations, there are five males and 33 females. There are 37 males and 44 females taking Ag-related courses. Wasson noted that some areas, like industrial technology, tend to have more male students, while Health Occupations tends to have more female students.

She also gave numbers for the students enrolled in college courses. For the Fall 2016 semester, students are taking 1,163 college credits, and 183 high school students are taking college courses, which translates to 52% of the high school student body. She noted that 76% of the junior and senior classes are taking college courses.

Andrew Blair gave a presentation on the Food and Fitness Initiative. He commended Julie Magner and the Foodservice staff for serving a local food item every day in October. Blair noted that the Food and Fitness Initiative is about connecting schools with fresh food from local producers and school gardens. Blair does monthly classroom lessons, as well as after school clubs, including a gardening club at East Elementary and the Middle School. He noted that the Middle School garden produced 75 pounds of produce, some of which was processed by the students. The East Elementary garden produced 25 pounds of produce.

Under Personnel matters, the Board approved staff for the 21st Century After School Program. Also pertaining to 21st Century staff, the Board approved the resignation of Mark Hawes from his 21st Century Site Coordinator position and approved a transfer for DJ Scholtes to 21st Century Site Coordinator. The Board also accepted the resignation of Keri Egan from her ninth grade volleyball and assistant softball coaching positions. Amanda Eggerichs was approved as head varsity softball coach beginning Summer 2017.

The Board approved to transfer Lauran White from a 17.5 hours/week associate to 28.75 hours/week. The Board accepted the resignation of Larry Dundee, due to retirement, from his custodian position. The resignation is effective November 30 of this year. Herold noted that the district is sad to see Dundee go after 34 years, but they wish him well.

The Board received several requests for out-of-state field trips. The annual request by the Waukon High School Music Department, to attend a performance of “Grease” at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre March 29, 2017, was approved. Students will be responsible for the cost of their tickets and transportation. The Board also approved a trip to Denver, CO January 5-8, 2017 for FFA members to compete at the Western National Roundup Meats Evaluation Contest. The FFA members would have fundraisers to cover their costs, as well as working with local entities for funding. A trip to Viterbo December 9 for first grade students to attend the Nutcracker Ballet was approved. In a letter to the Board members, Principal Griffith noted that they have applied for a grant to help pay for tickets. A trip to Gundersen Lutheran October 18 was approved, as well as a trip to Viola, WI November 2, both of those trips being for students enrolled in NICC courses.

Al Rissman was appointed as the IASB delegate. Bus specifications for two 65-passenger school buses were approved. The Board also approved the Superintendent’s goals, the first of which is to expand on Career and Technical Education. Herold noted that HF2392 gives criteria for this. To achieve this goal, ACSD will have to work with AEA, NICC, other schools and businesses. His second goal is successful transitions in to State Initiatives, including TLA, Early Literacy and Smarter Balance. The third goal is to increase the percentage of students meeting target goals in math, science and literacy (proficiency).

A transfer of $2,000 from the boys athletics account to the co-ed bowling account was approved, for uniforms and equipment. Board Committees for the 2016-2017 school year were approved as follows: School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) - Patty Nordheim and Tim Waters; Negotiations - Patty Nordheim and Tom Baxter; County Compensation - Scott Melcher; Wellness Committee - Tim Waters; Technology Committee - Al Rissman and Patty Nordheim; Curriculum and Technical Advisory Committee - Scott Melcher. The Board approved the SBRC application for Open Enrollment Out.

The first reading of the following Board policies was also approved: 402.2-Child Abuse Reporting, 501.16-Homeless Children and Youth, 502.6-Weapons, 503.1-Student Conduct, 505.4-Testing Program, 505.8-Parent and Family Engagement.