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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday,
May 10, 2007 |
Midland School Board Votes to Close Onslow Center
by Marlene Flory |
WYOMING–The Midland Board of Education voted at a special meeting on April 30 to have grades 7-12 at the Wyoming Center, grades 2-6 at the Lost Nation Center and to close the Onslow Center. Pre-School through grade 1 will remain at Oxford Junction. Voting for this option were Kim Feuss, Tim Kreel, Bob McCreedy, Craig Muhl, Clay Pestka and Josh Soper. Voting no was Tom Orr.
The decision was reached after several special meetings during which many options to reduce the 2007-2008 budget were presented by an appointed committee and at public meetings during which the public presented their opinions.
Prior to the vote, Board Member Josh Soper reported on his conversation with the mechanical contractor that had inspected the boilers in the district. The main boiler at Lost Nation was installed in 1990, making it one of the newest in the district. The contractor said that if any boiler needed serious repair, it would be reported to the board, as he would be liable if there was a problem. He had not reported a problem with the boiler at Lost Nation.
Board member Clay Pestka reported on his conversation with the State Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal said that a two-hour fire rated spray material needs to be applied to the ceiling in the boiler room. This application will be done.
Following the vote, several issues related to the changes were discussed. The portable building located at Onslow will be advertised for sale. If it is not sold, it will be moved to Oxford Junction, where it could be used for music, Title I classes, counselor’s office or other special programs.
High School Principal Nathan Marting talked about the schedule of grades 7 and 8, including 45 minutes of exploratory classes from Monday to Thursday, special courses on Friday, 90 minutes of reading and literature per day and 45 minutes of band or choir per day, alternating days.
Six Lost Nation classrooms will be carpeted. Preliminary plans were made for moving items from Onslow to Lost Nation after the carpeting is finished.
Discussion was held on the elimination of custodial, secretary, hot lunch and library staff now employed at Onslow. Part of the discussion dealt with elimination by seniority or by building. A comment was made by a member of the audience that the district is to be united, so seniority should be used for elimination. The board will meet at 4:30 p.m. on May 9 to decide this issue.
Interviews with applicants for the position of superintendent will be conducted by several groups on May 9. The position has been advertised as a part time position.
It was the consensus of the board to continue to have three principals, one at each Center. There is the possibility that one will also be curriculum director. This decision will be reviewed next year.
In other business, resignations were accepted: Brian Duwe, middle school science teacher, was thanked for his service; Patrick Block high school social studies teacher and coach, was thanked for his service and both Josh Soper and Craig Muhl stated that they enjoyed coaching with him and Becky Keating, special education paraeducation associate.
Current certified staff were approved for contracts. Three to four positions will be effected by the closing of one center and transferring of students. These positions could also be effected by early retirements.
The Master Contract was approved. It included a $400.00 increase in base salary and a one percent annual increase in longevity payment for teachers at the bottom of their lane.
A 45-day window will be opened for early retirement applications for staff with 13 years of experience and at least 55 years old. They will receive 50 percent of this year’s salary paid in two or three yearly payments. Those who are now covered by the district insurance plan, will be offered $5400 per year single family insurance for three years. It was stressed that this will not be offered to those who do not now have district insurance. This early retirement plan will be offered only this year, as the board makes decisions an early retirement each year.
Approval was given to the supplemental resolution to continue Iowa School Cash Anticipation Program (ISCAP). The Midland District has never borrowed money from ISCAP, and does not anticipate doing so at this time. It was explained that the district approves this resolution to obtain interest.
Approval was given to expenditures for the middle school Last Day of School Party. The equipment for several physical activities will be provided, including a climbing wall.
Board members volunteered for a pie-throwing contest. |
Hancock Discusses Legislative Session
By Michelle Phillips |
The 2006-2007 Iowa Legislative Session has come to a close, and Senator Tom Hancock discussed items that passed, the budget and things that didn’t make the cut.
Items That Passed
Teacher Pay
Hancock said the legislature often hears how important education is from the business community. One way to increase the quality of education is to increase teacher pay to help keep young, bright teachers in Iowa.
“We ranked 41st in the nation, and it’s the legislature’s goal to get teacher pay to 25th in the next two years,” he said.
The legislature voted to increase teacher pay by
$2,000 a year for the next two years.
He supported this bill.
Keg Registration
Hancock said county keg registration laws were influential in the passing of this bill, which requires those purchasing kegs of beer to give personal information in case that keg ends up in the hands of underage drinkers. Jones County passed the legislation, as did several other counties, but there was some question as to whether or not the ordinance was legal.
“I think the legislature was impacted because several counties wanted it, but because of legal complications they couldn’t do it,” commented Hancock, who supported the bill.
Cigarette Tax
The highly controversial $1 a pack cigarette tax was passed and is expected to generate about $127 million. The money will be put into a Health Care Trust Fund to help cover uninsured Iowans.
Health related costs from smoking are approximately $250 million a year.
Hancock was opposed to the bill and voted against it. “It’s a campaign promise I made. I stated when I was campaigning that I would not support a cigarette tax increase,” he explained.
Water Quality
Hancock said he was disappointed that more was not done for water quality, however a bill did pass. The bill included fully funding REAP with 45 million designated for water quality. An increase in the Habitat Stamp to $3, which was lobbied by sportsmen groups, was implemented. More funding was made available to communities for wastewater treatment plants, in the form of grants.
Iowa Power Fund
The Iowa Power Fund has been developed to finance research and development in the area of alternative and greener power. The fund will get $251 million per year f or the next four years.
Hancock said the fund will look at the use of by-products from biodiesel and ethanol production, studies on water use for ethanol production and more efficient ways to use water. Development of cellulose based fuels and perennial crop production will also make the list
The Budget
“For the first time in history, the cash reserve is full,” said Hancock.
The surplus in revenue, which comes in the form of sales and income tax, was placed in several accounts. The Cash Reserve Fund was full funded, the Economic Emergency Fund is nearly full again and half of the Senior Living Trust Fund was reinstated.
“For the past three years those funds have been raided to balance the budget,” included Hancock. “The state is in great shape right now.”
He added that the state was able to fund 37 more correctional officers for the Iowa Prison System.
Not Passed
Sex Offender Legislation
The Senate Judiciary committee had recommended the legislature pass a bill that would not allow sex offenders to be within 650 feet of a day care, school, playground, etc. Currently sex offender cannot live within 2000 feet of these places.
Although this bill didn’t pass, three new Department of Criminal Investigation officers have been hired to deal with Internet sexual predators.
Volunteer Fire/EMS Tax Credit
Hancock had spearheaded a measure to give a $250 tax credit to Fire and EMS volunteers.
“I am disappointed I could not get the tax credit for volunteer fire/ems folks passed this year. This bill will be alive for next session, and I’m going to work very hard to see this happen.
The legislative session ended on April 29. The new session will begin in the fall. |
Student Calls in Bomb Threat
By Michelle Phillips |
When Anamosa High School Principal Steve Goodall listened to messages on the morning of May 4, he was surprised to hear a message from a teenage boy stating, “the school will be bombed today.”
Goodall said he thought he recognized the voice as a student at the school.
“When he didn’t show up it was decided to err on the side of safety,” said Anamosa Superintendent Dr. Dale Monroe.
“I had to take measures to protect the students,” said Goodall, who, along with Monroe, made the decision to put the school on lockdown.
“At the time we chose not to evacuate because we did not know where the student was. We felt it was more dangerous to let the students outside,” explained Monroe.
The Anamosa Police Department (APD) was called to assess the situation and Officer Jeff Frankfurt was sent to the school after the student came to school. Monroe said that the Sheriff’s office and 911 dispatch were not contacted because the school’s plan calls for an assessment from the APD.
“I went up to the school and when I got there the student had been interviewed and had already admitted to making the phone call,” said Anamosa Police chief Matt Menard.
The school was then searched and the Marion Police Department was contacted to bring a bomb-sniffing dog as a precaution. The APD, Goodall and Monroe realized early on that the student, whose name has not been released because he is a juvenile, did not have the means to build and plant a bomb.
Goodall added that the school had just held a lockdown drill on May 1, and felt that the district was prepared for the emergency. Goodall and Monroe agreed that everyone worked well and followed instructions.
“The students and staff were great. Everyone acted in an efficient manner,” commented Goodall.
Monroe stated, “Our staff responded well, our students responded well–the crisis plan worked.”
On the afternoon of May 4 district staff met to discuss the incident. Monroe said experts helped the school form the crisis plan and would be contacted to see if improvements could be made.
“Cell phones were an issue, there was a lot of calling and texting going on,” he said.
The student, who is tuitioned out from another district, was charged with false reporting, a Class D felony, and taken to a juvenile detention center. Clases were resumed by 9:40 a.m.
Cedar Rapids psychologist Dr. Dick Socwell, who has been working with children and adolescents for over 30 years, said the student’s false bomb claim could be an attempt to gain power, or something as simple as not wanting to go to school.
“My experience would tell me that if you call in a bomb threat, you don’t expect to get caught.
Therefore it’s not a cry for help. It’s more likely that the child saw it as an opportunity to have some control or power,” he said.
Socwell included that in a situation like a bomb threat, people are called, action is taken, people are mobilized and it can be a great sense of power.
Socwell, who has not treated the student, added, “Someone who would do this needs to be evaluated.”
He added that often students who would do something like this are less concerned with rules and doing the right thing. They are less concerned with boundries and are more likely to be risk-takers.
Goodall said the student will not be allowed to return to the Anamosa District, and his original school will have to determine if further disciplinary action is taken. |
Anamosa School Board Approves 5.88% Salary Increase for Staff
By Susan Yario |
The Anamosa Board of Education approved a 5.88% pay increase for para-educators, secretaries, food service, maintenance/custodians and nurses. An agreement was reached after the negotiation settlement with teachers was reached.
The board celebrated several upcoming events; National Teacher Week May 6-12 two schools were represented at the meeting to receive a certificate for innovative ideas; Strawberry Elementary and Anamosa High School.
National School Nurse Day is May 9. Healthy baskets were presented to the school nurses.
Certificates of appreciation along with a gift of business cards and a star holder were presented to the School Board members for their countless hours of volunteer service.
Becky DirksHaugsted was awarded a certificate for her DVD creation of Anamosa District Schools.
The consent agenda review and approval was discussed. The items approved are as follows:
Hirings
• Sarah Nemmers as Mock Trial Advisor for the 2007-2008 school year.
• Dale Gerst, Darlene Georgie, Beth Thomas, Connie Osterkamp and Bob Kellogg as Maintenance/Summer Workers for 2007 Summer.
• Kevin Barnes as Head 7th grade Football Coach for 2007-2008 school year (transfer from 8th grade).
• Dan Kiley as Head 8th grade Football Coach for 2007-2008 school year
• Rick Delegardelle Head 7th grade Softball Coach for 2007 Summer.
Resignations
• Jeff Kean as Fitness Coordinator effective at the end of 2006-2007 contract.
• Teresa Maria Lizama Lidonas High School Spanish teacher effective at the end of 2006-2007 contract.
• Dan Adams as High School Wellness/Guidance due to termination of a one year contract effective at the end of 2006-2007 contract.
• Carmel LaFave as the Alcohol Grant Secretary as part of a reduction in force at the end of Grant effective at the end of 2006-2007 contract.
The resignation of Kathy Mitchel, Anamosa High School Principal’s Secretary, was not approved by the board as more research needs to be done by the board. Mitchel cited personal as her reasoning for leaving the district.
Prevention Specialist Amy Halverson was up for a reduction in sorce due to the end of the Alcohol Grant. Julie VonMuenster made motion to keep Miss Halverson on staff full time with a portion of the salary to be possibly paid by assistance from the Federal Government. Anamosa Superintendent Dr. Dale Monroe reminded the board that if the funding possibility was available that the board would be responsible for paying a full time salary to Miss Halverson. The hiring of Halverson was approved with a 4 to 3 vote.
Kirkwood Community College (KCC)updated the district on the Career Academy goals and process planning. At this time there are eight regional Education Planning Center Partners including Cascade and Maquoketa Valley. The location for the facility is being considered in Monticello but the Kirkwood Board would have the final say. KCC is looking for a ten year commitment from the interested schools. They will build the facility and would need approximately 300 students a year to participate in the programs. That would entail approximately 68 Juniors and Seniors from Anamosa High School attending the facility on a daily basis for one and a half to three hours or roughly three periods a day. The cost per student per year could run $2,000 without state funding. Although with funding the costs could fall to $900/year plus additional spending for transportation.
Dave Bunting and Kristy Black remarked that this collective collaboration would give students a head start for the future by offering career readiness, alternative High School courses as well as college credit classes. The date for approval by KCC Board members is slated for July 2007 with construction to begin in August of this year and a completion date targeted for January 2009.
Sarah Nemmers, Diane LeBarge and students shared pictures and information from a recent student trip to New York City. The students remarked on the marvels of traveling by plane, ferry and subway and how they were able to experience the “real world” outside of rural Iowa.
Mary Bendixen, Curriculum & Technology Director for the Anamosa District approached the board with an idea she has been “floating on”. Bendixen came up with a one to one Learning Proposal to improve student achievement by increasing access to technology for Anamosa sophomore students. Her ideas include a laptop for every Sophomore that has successfully fulfilled their ninth grade requirements. The idea had merit for the board members as it had them also coming up with additional ideas. Some board members felt that having students with laptops 24/7 could include liability, technology concerns and accountability issues with inappropriate use of the Internet among other factors.
Board member Brian Darrow asked about a feasible option of using the school library after school hours and President Jim Mitchel suggested a pilot program be tried with a small group of 10-20 students. Connie McKean prompted the idea of making in-school laptops more readily available vs. sending computers home with children. No action was taken as this needs more research regarding the concerns, funding and vendors that would be available for a “help desk” as well as upgrading and maintenance.
Architect interviews are scheduled for May 17 beginning at 6 p.m. The following five firms will be invited to present to the district with a half an hour formal presentation.
• Struxture (The firm for Strawberry Hill Elementary Bond Issue)
• OPN
• Neumann-Monson
• DLR Group
• Durrant
Monroe will have available a firm reference sheet. Site visits will be scheduled after the interviews take place.
Additional items approved on Monday night are as follows:
• Senior Class trip to Kalahari Water Park & Resort, Wisconsin Dells
• Board meeting/work session date for the summer months: June 4, Work session/special meeting, June 18, July 16 and August 20 as regular board meetings. These meeting will begin at 6 p.m. for the summer months only.
• Two recipients for the Ruth E. Jump Scholarships of $1,000 each
• One recipient for the Poulter Scholarship of $1,000
• National Economics Contest for four students to New York, May 19-21.
• Iowa Medicaid Provider Agreement; billing services of health behavior, nursing and transportation of Medicaid enrolled students.
• Voluntary Delta Dental coverage for full time district employees through Mercer Health & Benefits.
• Purchase of a 2005 Chevy Impala with 31,000 miles for $10,250.00 to replace the 1993 Crown Victoria with over 200,000 miles and “internal hemorrhaging”.
The water and sewer agreement with The City of Anamosa was discussed with three options being conveyed. The costs are being determined by the percentage of acreage per property owner. The Anamosa School District would be responsible for 22.3% of the project water costs and 28.44% of the sewer costs totaling $66,625.00. The three options are: payments over a four year period of time with $6,990.00 additional interest, one lump sum in year four of $66,625.00 plus $15,990.00 of interest or pay the total cost now of $66,625.00 with no interest payment. The board did not make a decision on the proposed contract as there are still a few questions arising in regard to the construction costs and ownership of the proposed lift station for the project.
Monroe reminded everyone of the upcoming student built home open house on May 13, 2-4 p.m., Baccalaureate/Sr. Awards, May 16 at 7 p.m., and the Graduation Ceremony at the high school on Sunday, May 20 at 2:30 p.m. |
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