So Here It Is!

So here it is!  The weather makes it feel as if it couldn't possibly be true, but the 2018-2019 school year has officially come to an end.  It has most certainly been a good year for our students and staff. They have accomplished so much that makes us all proud. They have come to school each day, developed some great relationships, engaged in learning, participated in extracurricular events and many activities.   All in all, everyone is likely ready for some time to relax, refresh and regroup.

Even though we are on "break" there are many opportunities for your child and family to remain connected to the school and the community this summer.  Kids can participate in a wide range of summer camps this summer through the school district. There are athletic, academic, and general activity camps that provide a great avenue for kids to engage in safe activities in a supervised environment,  develop healthy habits, make friends, and generally just have a good time.  They can also eat breakfast and lunch for free at the JK-8 building. 

The District will also be serving meals at various locations June 3rd through August 2nd.  This is part of the Federal Nutrition Program that provides free meals for children ages 18 months to age 18. There is a small charge ($2.50 for Breakfast and $3.75 for Lunch) for adults age 19 and older.  It is good food, free for kids, and a good way to connect with others during the summer months.

Shenandoah High School
Breakfast  7:30 AM to 8:30 AM

Shenandoah JK-8 
Breakfast  8:00 AM to 8:30 AM
Lunch       11:00 AM to Noon

Sportsmans Park
Lunch       11:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Shenandoah Public Library
Lunch       11:30 AM to 12:30 PM

We do have several new staff members joining us this summer.   I will be sharing information about each of them this summer.  They are great educators and we are very pleased to have them joining our staff!

  

A Week of Good News!

Earlier this week, the Iowa Department of Education reported information about the performance of Iowa schools using an online system the Iowa School Performance Profiles.  Using this tool fulfills a federal education law requirement called the 'Every Student Succeeds Act' which is more commonly referred to as ESSA.  ESSA is the legislation that replaced 'No Child Left Behind' (NCLB).  I wrote more about the Iowa School Performance Profiles, ESSA, and NCLB in my blog this past December.  

However, there is some good news to share this week!  I am very pleased to report Shenandoah schools met or exceeded the State average performance.  Additionally, Shenandoah High School was classified as a High Performing High School. Additionally, Shenandoah Middle School and Elementary School were both ranked as commendable.

You can see the District's report here.

This report is a very positive reflection on the Shenandoah Community School District  The staff has been very focused in their effort to provide high-quality instruction, participate in professional learning, and increase student achievement. I also appreciate the efforts of our staff to encourage our students and build positive relationships, support their individual learning needs, get them to school and make sure their nutritional needs are met so students can focus on learning.  I commend all of the staff for their effort to make a difference and contribute to the success of our students.  

It is always a great feeling to receive reports on the things we do well as a school system.  It is also good to recognize and acknowledge there are some areas where we can continue to grow and improve. We will continue to dig into the data that has been provided to understand more about where we can continue to make progress as a system.  We are committed to providing an excellent education for our students and in every endeavor.

Spring Board Action

May is School Board Recognition Month.  I want to take a minute to thank our Board members for their dedication to service.  They provide an important role and function within the District and make a difference for our students.

Several weeks ago I wrote about the relationship the District is forming with the Pella Corporation. Jon Finn, Jesse Van Essen, and Julie Wolf presented more about this at the Board meeting.  They are providing support for an Introduction to Manufacturing class we will be offering at the High School, sponsoring a summer "camp" for students in second through sixth grade, and also sponsoring a Teacher of the Month program for teachers in the region.  They have also created the opportunity for teachers to participate in summer externships on site at the Pella plant to help teachers develop a greater understanding of the needs of the modern day workforce.  I couldn't be more pleased with the support we are receiving and am thankful to for their leadership within the community.

Recently, Matt Sells and Ryan Spiegel from the Shenandoah Medical Center approached me about an opportunity to provide employees greater access to a more robust wellness plan. I was very pleased the Board approved the wellness plan. It is a nice benefit and a way to improve the overall health of our staff. The plan will allow district employees to complete their lab work, consult with dieticians, receive flu shots, and access to the wellness center and trainers at a reduced cost. I am very excited about this opportunity for our staff and the partnership with Shenandoah Medical Center.  

Several sharing agreements with other school districts were approved at the Board meeting. These include sharing a school business official with South Page, the health occupation courses with Fremont Mills, an ELL teacher with Clarinda, and an automotive teacher with Sidney.  Forming these agreements is consistent with our Board goal to maximize the opportunity to share programs to expand student learning opportunities and operational sharing to reduce costs.  Sharing these positions allows the District to broaden our curriculum in a cost-effective manner. This is good for all involved.

The Board approved a Return to Plan Concussion Protocol Resolution.  This is required by law but is simply the right thing to do to protect our student-athletes.

On the financial side, the Board amended the budget last year to adjust for costs related to replacing rooftop unit at the High School, additional costs for snow removal and utilities, and an additional staff position in the maintenance department.  Amending the budget is a fairly normal process, but is good to know the reason why there was a change. There was Board action to approve a transfer of funds from the General Fund to the Nutrition Department until reimbursement from the State is received. Additionally, Nolte Corman and Johnson auditing services were agreed upon for the next three years.  The contract for construction management with Carl A. Nelson and Company was also approved.

Many decisions were made last night. It was a productive meeting.

Committed to the Profession

Today is National Teacher's Day, so we took time as a staff to celebrate this morning over breakfast. We acknowledged several staff members for their years of service and also recognize staff members who are retiring at the end of the year.  

5 Years of Service

Shelly Davidson, Art Teacher 

Megan Dukes, Special Education Associate

Chris Gibson, Food Service Staff

Kelsey Heintz, Special Education Teacher

Jacquelyn Holste, 5th Grade Teacher

Hailey Johnson, Special Education Associate

Tammy Lauman, Associate in the Library

Sarah F. Martin, Agriculture Teacher

Keisha McHargue, Master Teacher

Stacy Resh, Librarian

Traci Toms, Kindergarten Teacher

10 Years of Service

Mary Karr, 3rd Grade

15 Years of Service

Sarah L. Martin, Math Teacher

Traci Regan, Kindergarten Teacher
Angie Trowbridge, Spanish Teacher
Jon Weinrich, Dean of Students and Transportation Supervisor

20 Years of Service

Sonia Leece, Home School Liaison
Hillary Rodewald, Special Education Teacher

Retiring Staff Members

Marcia Armstrong, Special Education Associate

Kelly Carey,  Talented and Gifted Teacher
Ellen Christensen, 5th Grade Teacher

Toni Graham, Preschool Associate

Marcia Johnson, 3rd Grade Teacher

Renee Kettwick, School Counselor

Cindy Novinger, Kindergarten Teacher

Dennis Rogers,  Director of Maintenance

Kent Schubert, 5th Grade Teacher

Becky Sturm, Junior Kindergarten Teacher

Kim Terry, Custodian

The students in Carleen Perry's Digital Stream Class created this video about our staff who are retiring. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

The breakfast was a very nice way to start the day and recognize staff for their commitment to the district and calling to the profession. It was good to be able to talk with them for just a few minutes about the importance of their work and remind them that educators make a large impact on the life of our students.

Full Agenda

The campus was quite full of life last night as there was a track meet, a tennis match, and a Board meeting. We had such a gorgeous day to host these athletic events! I am so thankful for the sunshine and warmer weather.

Linda Laughlin and Kerra Ratliff gave a presentation on Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) at the High School level.  PBIS is a great way to reinforce positive student behaviors and build a strong school climate and culture. It was good to hear about the progress they have made toward implementation. The staff is focusing on developing character through positivity, respect and responsibility, integrity, determination, and excellence (PRIDE).  They have identified being on time for class as a priority behavior to reinforce and are seeing positive results.   

A public hearing was held for the FY 20 Budgets. No public comments were made, and the board voted to approve the FY 20 Budget. I was pleased we were able to slightly reduce the tax levy to $14.60.

The consent agenda was approved. This includes items such as the standard financial report, personnel matters, fundraising requests, and out of state travel requests. Additionally, a list of graduating seniors was presented for approval.

There were a few contracts that were approved including a property damage insurance for environmental control components ($49,499), the AEA purchasing agreement for the 2019-2020 school year, and a three-year renewal contract with Timberline for Medicaid reimbursement

The Board approved a 2.58% settlement with the support staff association (SSA+) for FY 20.  Additionally, the board agreed to a multi-year contract which allows SSA+  2 years under the existing contract with the caveat that negotiations can be reopened on an annual basis to discuss base wage.
Finding bus drivers is challenging, they are in high demand.  The board voted to increase route pay for bus drivers $2.00 per route and also provide a $40 a month stipend for drivers who maintain a CDL Class A or B with Passenger/School Bus/Air Brake endorsement on their license. The Board also approved a 2.5 % base increase for administrators, supervisors, superintendent, and non-negotiated salary positions.  Central office support staff will receive a $.35 an hour increase as well.

The Parent/Student Handbook for the 2019-2020 school year was approved.

School Bus Sales was awarded two bids for buses at the meeting.  We will be purchasing a 77 passenger bus for $92,992 that will be used primarily for regular routes.  An 84 passenger rear engine bus with air conditioning will be purchased for $128,967 and will primarily be used for student activities.  These are large, expensive and important purchases which is why we requested competitive sealed bids from three different companies before making the recommendation.

The board approved the creation of two new full time driving positions. These positions will help to reduce the number of drivers that are needed for trips that occur during the day and early evening hours.

The agenda for the Board meeting was quite full, but it was not a lengthy meeting.  The Board was able to consider the information and make decisions in a reasonable amount of time.

Well Aligned Work

As you might be aware, the district is working on several facility projects and is contemplating the need to build an addition to the High School to support career technical education (CTE), STEM, and also include additional gym space.

The District has been actively engaged in work on several facility improvements that have been prioritized to move forward such as life safety systems (fire alarm systems), window replacement, control expansion joint repairs,  lighting on the football field, carpet replacement, and a few other projects. We will be starting the process to work on the HVAC system once the windows are complete. The planning is well underway, and the work on these projects is will be starting quite soon.

The facility committee has been meeting and has made some excellent progress. I am pleased with their willingness to openly share their thinking, discuss, and work toward developing a consensus on what is needed and must be prioritized. 

We have worked with DLR an architectural firm to complete an exhaustive study of our facility, help identify priority projects, and to provide an estimated cost of what it will take to complete the work that is needed.

Of course, the more difficult work comes now, which is finding the right balance between what we want to be able to have to support our students and programs, and what is reasonable to financially obtain. Last night, the Board held an excellent work session to discuss the possibility of working with the Carl A. Nelson and Company as a construction management agency.  Their consultants facilitated an excellent discussion on how they can work alongside architects throughout the design process to meet the District goals, and also reduce costs along the way.  They can also serve as the construction manager throughout the project.

The Board is engaging in really important conversations, and this work is well aligned to our goals to increase STEM literacy for all students and to expand curriculum and access to CTE Programs.  This is really good work.

All the March Board News

Admittedly, the Board agenda for tonight's  meeting was a little bit longer than what we normally publish, but we were able to get through the agenda in a reasonable amount of time and also have our work session.

Mrs. Spiegel, the Director of Early Childhood & Extended Learning, provided an administrative report on the expansion of our preschool program over the past three years. We have more than doubled our enrollment since 2016-2017. We are now serving 105 children and it is estimated there are more children in the area that are not being served by area preschools.  She also presented information about the different assessments that are used, ECERS (a type of program evaluation standard tool), curriculum changes, and the implementation of PBIS at the early childhood level.  Mrs. Spiegel also presented the preschool handbook and requested additional instructional resources. Both requests were approved as presented.

Our Business Manager, Mrs. Ruzek, presented an overview of the district's budget planning process. You can view her presentation here.  I appreciate the time Mrs. Ruzek took to prepare this presentation as planning the budget is a lengthy and involved process. The Board approved the 101% budget guarantee resolution which will help us move forward. The budget guarantee provides a buffer for district's that have had a decline in enrollment and fills in the funding gap for a one year a period. The next step is to publish the budget, hold a public hearing, and have it approved at the next meeting.  It is anticipated the levy will decrease to $14.60.

The consent agenda was approved as presented.

School Calendar was approved for the 2019-2020 school year after the hearing was held.

We are continuing to move forward with our facility planning process.  Our contract with DLR was amended at the meeting to include prebond planning services, additions, and renovation work.  There were also bids approved for carpet in the high school library (Sheridan Decorating, $9078.30) and the K-8 building (Cabinets by Stac, $59,232.00).  The Board also authorized purchasing two riding mowers from Vetter Equipment ($20,800.00) and new fitness equipment ($16,961.00) for the weight room.  I am pleased the Activity Boosters agreed to pay for $5,000.00 toward the fitness equipment. I appreciate their ongoing support, it makes a difference in what we can do for our students.

After some discussion, the Board agreed to support the addition of soccer (intramural) and dance team at the high school. Middle school cheerleading was also approved. This proposal came from the high school after they survey their students about activities they are interested in participating in that are not currently available.  Most of the Hawkeye 10 schools have soccer as a competitive sport. This is something we may consider as a future option for our students.

The Board also approved the addition of three "zero-hour" or early morning classes.  These include options for Agriculture, Industrial Arts, and Weights.  Adding the additional sections will allow students more flexibility with their schedules and allow them to take more courses in career technical education areas and fitness without having to "give up" or make as many choices about other curriculum options.

There was a work session after the Board meeting tonight.  This work session was scheduled for the Board to discuss the sharing committee's update on sharing agreements with other districts.  Adam Van Der Vliet provided an overview of the steps the District has taken in response to the request for information from Essex about whole grade sharing. He shared with the Board that in addition to the information that was provided to Essex, I have also met with Mr. Croghan and his leadership team to discuss options and tour the campus.  I had arranged for the sharing committee to tour the facility last week, but the tour was canceled due to the weather and has not been rescheduled.

There have been different rumors and incorrect information about the District's intent to work with Essex that the committee has tried to respond to by making some personal contacts and using social media.  Tonight was the first time the full Board was able to discuss this matter in an open meeting.  I was very pleased the Board members discussed and expressed a consistent message that they have a desire to work with Essex to create a long-range plan that is cohesive, consistent and beneficial to students. There is nothing further Shenandoah CSD can do at this time without an invitation from Essex to do so.