News : VS school board hears about district music, ag progams

The Vinton-Shellsburg Board of Directors met on Monday, March 13 at the High School. They began with a workshop concerning the upcoming site visit by the Department of Education. Then they moved to the auditorium where the district’s music department, including Karl Smith, Eric Mohlis, Lois Martin, Connie Zenk and Zib Ziemer, along with several students shared highlights of the district’s music program and two of the students performed for the board. The board visited the Ag Department’s greenhouse to see the new aquaculture program up close and visit with students about it.

During the meeting, several students from the Ag program shared their vision for the garden plot on the southeast side of the building. The Reading Committee provided an overview of their work this year. Jenn Heckman, Jodi Hacker, Shelly Haisman, Shanna Furlong, Heather Evers, Shirale Hansen, Arlene Brandt (GWAEA), Cindy Karr, Ann Janechek, Lisa Dekowski, Sarah Mathis, Deb Hesson, Denise Shannon, Ann Gordon, Sheila Wendel and Jim Murray all shared their perspective on the positives of the Lead 21 program and the reasons they support its adoption.

Under the Superintendent’s Report, Mrs. Hainstock shared we have a second bus engine that went out and would cost $19,000 to repair. The district will be updating the bus and building radios to comply with new FCC regulations by January 1, 2013. Superintendents from the WAMAC met to determine how to address a mediation team’s recommendation that Anamosa be removed from the WAMAC and placed in a new conference. The Literacy Project Team finished up their last day of training for this year and we are developing plans for years 3-5 of the five year plan.

Timely filed open enrollment applications were made on behalf of Haley and Devin Krahl to attend Benton, Katie Hancock to attend CPU, Maxine Vrba and Emma Osborn to attend CAM Academy, Hailey Vanarman and Autumn Musil to attend CPU, Willow Huber to attend Linn-Mar, Heather Wrucke to attend CAM, and Kaelyn Pettyjohn to attend Vinton-Shellsburg.

Under General Business of the Board, the board reviewed the Consent Agenda. It included the minutes from the February 13th board meeting and claims. There was a contract recommendation for School Messenger to provide notification to parents. The district will enter into a three year contract with the ICN to provide 60 megabytes of bandwidth for the district (increasing from 25). The board approved a contract modification for Joel Sallee concerning the shuttle route. The board accepted a resignation from Missy Becker effective at the end of this year. Deb Hesson presented a calendar for the preschool program for the 2012-13 year. The board accepted all of the consent items.

The board approved the reading committee’s recommendation to purchase materials for the Lead 21 program.

The board asked for audience comment concerning the early start for the 2012-13 year. There was none. The board moved to start the 2012-13 year on Thursday, August 16, 2012 because of the positive educational impact it will have on students.

Brenda Barkdoll and Mrs. Hainstock reviewed the budget work for the 2012-13 year. We had another decline in enrollment of about 44 years (which followed a decline of 55 last year) and the district will be on the Budget Guarantee for a second year (this year it was $391,808 but will scale down to $163,397 for next year).

The board authorized us to publish a budget that includes maintaining a stable levy rate around $15.53. The board will conduct a public hearing on the 2012-13 budget and amending the 2011-12 budget on Tuesday, April 10 at 7:00 in the board room.

The board reviewed the director district boundaries that need to be established following the 2010 consensus. The approved a resolution that will be submitted to the Secretary of State.

The board conducted the second and final reading of the board policies in the 300 and 700 series.

The board conducted the first reading on the board policies in the 400 series.

The board moved into closed session to evaluate the superintendent.

The meeting was adjourned 9:41 PM.