ACSD Board of Directors approves 3.5% increase in Master Contract salary and benefits for each of next two years and increase of 5% in pre-school tuition

by Brianne Eilers

The icy winter weather early last week forced the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) to hold its regular monthly board meeting Tuesday, January 17 instead of Monday, January 16. Board member Tom Baxter was absent.

During his Superintendent’s Report, ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold noted that representatives from Shive Hattery will be coming for a pre-bid meeting regarding the middle school gym improvements. Herold noted that Shive Hattery will also be assisting with a summer project regarding roofing for West Elementary and the Middle School and High School threshold requirement, which requires an architect or engineer to look at the plans.

Norplex has donated $1,000 to the ACSD, which will be used for CTE classes, and the district thanked them for the generous donation. There will be a program held Tuesday, February 7 at 10 a.m. at Waukon High School regarding the release of the new Effigy Mounds quarter. Students will receive a quarter and visitors will be able to purchase quarters through Kerndt Brothers Bank. Representatives from the U.S. Mint will be in attendance, and Herold noted that many government officials at all levels have been invited to attend as well.

The following make-up days have been added to the ACSD calendar for 2017: February 20 (President’s Day), April 13 (the Thursday before Easter) and May 22. Classes will now be in session each of those three days due to weather cancellations already experienced this winter.

During the Principals’ Reports, Waterville Elementary Principal Julie Askelson noted that the Iowa Assessment tests were scheduled to begin Tuesday, January 17. She noted that the principals of the schools involved in these tests had encouraged parents to be sure to send their children to school well-rested and with a good breakfast to prepare them for the testing.
Joe Griffith, East and West Elementary Principal, noted that FAST Testing, the early literacy testing, would also be going on for grades through sixth grade. Middle School Principal Jennifer Garin noted that play try-outs are coming up, and the middle school will be doing two 45-minute productions. Boys basketball is underway at the middle school, and there will also be some middle school dances coming up for fundraising.

Waukon High School Activities Director and Assistant Principal Brian Hilsabeck noted that the inclement winter weather has caused some issues with scheduling events, and several have been rescheduled. Waukon High School Principal Dr. Mike Hardy spoke briefly regarding Iowa House File 2392, which deals with academic and career guidance. Dr. Hardy noted that in the high school, they have settled on a career information system and have chosen MAP (My Academic Plan), noting that school administrators felt this program is geared towards Iowa students, it is a free program and it was developed at Iowa State University.

He also touched on the fall semester tests, noting that at the high school level they had been monitoring students who were failing classes. He stated that there had been 58 students being monitored, with staff working with them. He noted that 30 of the 58 students passed all of their classes, and Dr. Hardy expects that program to continue in the spring.

Not many of the department heads were able to make it to the rescheduled meeting. During the Buildings and Grounds report, department head Bill Hennessy noted that there have been some heating issues at East Elementary that they are working on getting fixed. Randy Nordheim, Transportation Director, stated that he was very thankful for the fact that the bus drivers in the district are extremely reliable. Nordheim noted that it has been three years since the district has hired a route driver, saying they have hired some substitute drivers in that timeframe.
During the Communications time of the meeting, the Board was presented with a mileage report from July 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 for the non-school bus vehicles in the district. The total vehicle mileage was 14,656 miles, and the vehicles were used to transport staff and students for various reasons, including athletics, FFA, music, food service, nurse or for administration or teacher events.

Moving on to New Business, the Board approved staff for the 21st Century Afterschool Program. The Board also accepted the resignation of Ben Lange from his assistant varsity football coaching position. The Board accepted the recommendation to hire Ben Rausch, Don Thies and Ken West as spring driver education instructors.

In matters other than personnel, the Board approved the eighth grade trip to Des Moines. Principal Garin noted that this trip presents some unique opportunities for the students. “This is a great experience for the students,” she said. “For some, this might be the first and only time they get to go to the Capitol."

In addition to visiting the Iowa State Capitol and the Science Center of Iowa, students will also have a chance to visit the Iowa State Historical Museum, the Des Moines Art Center, or the Iowa Hall of Pride. There will be close to 120 students attending this year, and Garin said they have a sufficient number of chaperons lined up. The trip will take place Thursday, March 30. Funds to support this trip, which has been going for eight or nine years now, will come from dance fundraisers, a Shopko donation, and the school will ask parents to donate, if possible. Students must meet a certain criteria to participate, including passing grades.

The next item of discussion involved the proposal to raise pre-school tuition by a five-percent increase. That would bring the total to $19.45 daily, with the total cost for the school year being $1,400.70. In his letter to the Board, Principal Griffith noted that this increase will not totally cover the expenses of running the program, but he didn’t feel comfortable asking for any more from families. The Board approved the five-percent increase in the preschool tuition for the 2017-2018 school year.

The Board then approved the PSEO and Contracted classes for the second semester. The Board also approved out-of-state field trips to La Crosse, WI for students taking NICC classes. An April 5 trip will be to the Gundersen Healthcare Career Options Night and May 24 will be to the Gundersen OB and NICU. Superintendent Herold noted that these field trips are “hands-on types of field trips” and that they provide students with great opportunities. The Board also approved requests for Sunday practices for February 12 for boys basketball and February 19 for bowling in preparation for postseason competition.

The Board approved a bid of $7,503.12 from Dalco for a floor scrubber. Building and Grounds Director Hennessy noted that the machine at East Elementary is failing and a new one is needed. The new machine would be like the ones the district currently uses, and it would be used at the high school/middle school facility and the current machine used at those schools would then replace the older model at East Elementary.

The final item of business was the approval of the Master Contract for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 between ACSD and the Allamakee Community Education Association. The two-year agreement will involve a 3.50% salary and benefits increase for the 2017-2018 school year and a 3.50% salary and benefits increase for 2018-2019 as well.