EACSD Board of Directors approves adjustments for make-up days, public hearing for 2023-2024 budget

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors held a pair of recent sessions within a month’s time of one another. A special meeting of the EACSD Board was held Monday, January 23. The one item of business proposed was to approve a Spanish Waiver for the 2022-2023 school year. This would allow Kee High School to not have to offer Spanish 3 and 4 due to no enrollment for the remainder of the current school year. The board approved this action unanimously.

The EACSD Board met in its regular monthly session Monday, February 20 at Kee High School in Lansing. The board set dates for the public hearing for the 2023-2024 school calendar and the public hearing for next year’s budget for its next regular monthly meeting Monday, March 20 at 7 p.m. at Kee High School. After discussing specifics, board members agreed that the budget would remain largely the same as last year’s budget. After the State of Iowa is done adjusting tax rollback figures following recent legislative changes and the final computations have been received, final numbers for setting the budget will be available.

The board authorized EACSD administration to adjust classroom minutes and bus times to achieve the required number of hours for the remainder of this school year to make up for snow days, making the last day of student attendance May 19, as of that February 20 meeting.

Kee High School Principal Dr. Sarah Murray reported a water main break at the high school that took place February 16. Water had been restored by City of Lansing utility crews and local contractors but the entire pipe will need to be replaced this summer. The ramp at the high school will remain closed to traffic.

New Albin Elementary School Principal Donna Thomas reported new address signs on the exterior of the building have been installed. The fifth grade has completed the DARE program and had a graduation ceremony. Implementing a three-year-old preschool at New Albin Elementary is under discussion.