School Board approves ‘Skip the Trip’ and discusses girls wrestling
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Monday, September 12 the Mount Ayr Community School Board held its regular board meeting.
The board started the night with a visit from Ringgold County Hospital employees Natasha Gourley and Leslie Dredge.
Gourley and Dredge spoke about the services that Ringgold County Hospital provides to the school, free of charge, such as providing Gourley’s services as athletic trainer for all seventh through twelfth grade sporting events, as well as hosting an injury clinic every Monday, which is also available to students from Diagonal Community Schools.
Gourley also provides and stocks 20 medkits throughout the school with Ringgold County Hospital supplies every year, along with four Junior Raider medkits.
Gourley also dissolved her CPR certification business into Ringgold County Hospital which now offers the same services to Mount Ayr Community Schools, free of charge, saving the school approximately $400. CPR is taught to teachers, as well as students, which is now an Iowa requirement for graduation.
The Board thanked Dredge and Gourley for their time and service, noting how appreciated Gourley’s presence at Mount Ayr events is.
The Board moved on to the activity fund to which they briefly discussed the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s requirement for shot clocks for the upcoming basketball season. The new shot clocks are installed. The school purchased two sets of shot clocks, one set for each gym, for $5,000 per set.
Seventh through twelfth principal Josh Vanderflught discussed a new program for students named Skip the Trip.
The program partners with the Iowa Department of Transportation to allow students to take their drivers tests at school, eliminating the need to leave the school grounds. The results will then go to the DOT portal and students and their parents can pick-up their permit or license at the Ringgold County Treasurers office. The board approved the program.
The elementary school principal Amy Bautista discussed how appreciated community organizations were in providing students with the appropriate necessities such as book bags and other supplies needed for the school year.
Bautista spoke about how the new Dean of Students has helped lighten the discipline load and is a welcome addition.
The Board set their goals for the year which were: Providing appropriate professional development; keeping technology up-to-date; maintaining a responsible fiscal balance; and maintaining the facilities which have seen new LED lighting in classrooms and the shop area, as well as tuck-pointing on the building.
Fundraising was another topic of discussion of the Board again with Director Russell Schiutema questioning how much the fundraisers bring in. Director Schiutema voiced concern over bombarding parents with fundraiser after fundraiser if the school is only getting a fraction of the proceeds. He would rather see fundraisers in the form of father-daughter dances, or more family oriented events. After some discussion, the Board decided they were improving, while also learning, how to better handle the fundraisers and that they will look into a better way of showing how much the school actually receives from fundraisers.
The Board moved on to personnel matters that saw lane changes for Tara Shields from BA 33 to MA 33 and Jessica Showalter from BA +15 to BA 22.
The Board approved the resignation of Jennifer Tipton, an associate, as well Shaun Kniep from the Drama Club Director, stating she has been in the position for over 20 years and put on over 45 plays. In the letter received by the Board from Kniep, she stated she would still continue with the Speech team.
The Board then approved the hiring former head wrestling coach John Ford, as volunteer assistant wrestling coach.
Amanda Clemens and Brooklyn Vos were hired as non certified Associates, while Janeane Greene was hired for a lunchroom position.
Superintendent Jason Shaffer discussed that four young ladies were interested in girls wrestling, which was recently sanctioned by the Iowa Girls Athletic Union. The Board discussed looking for a sponsor or co-head coach, but stated the difficulties lie in that with the new sanction, female wrestlers are allowed to condition and practice with their male counterparts, however, they cannot wrestler against males in practice.
Discussion was had about possibly joining with another program to share, however, there was dissent in sending students to another district and looking for a co-coach or sponsor was the general consensus.
On Wednesday, September 14, Sheriff Rob Haley and EMA Coordinator Mellisia Stark will be doing a threat assessment on both the elementary and high schools to determine where the schools fall short on safety against violent aggressors.
After the assessment is provided, Mount Ayr Community Schools will be eligible for two $50,000 grants from the State of Iowa to address and improve those deficiencies.
The final topic of discussion of the night was the decision to renew the contract with Coca-Cola Bottling Company.
The contract provides freezers, coolers and all drinks including soda, Gatorade and water.
If the school does re-enter the contract, Coke will provide $12,000 upfront as well as $3 for every case they purchase which costs between $17-$25 per case.
Right now, Hy-Vee donates water to the school, and in the event the school enters contract with Coke, they would no longer be allowed to sell donated water.
Director Craig Winemiller asked if they had any other discussion with providers such as Pepsi or if any negotiations with Coke had taken place.
The contract presented was the only one Superintendent Shaffer had received but Shaffer stated he will look into a representative of Pepsi to get a competing offer.
The board adjourned and will meet again in October on October 3.
