MAC adopts absenteeism policy
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The Mount Ayr Community Schools board of directors met in regular session Monday, October 14. Action items included changes related to attendance policies at both the elementary and secondary buildings, presentation of elementary reading assessment scores, and a number of personnel items.
Attendance
Elementary principal Chris Elwood and 6-12 principal Josh Vanderflught presented changes to their student handbooks regarding new state-mandated attendance standards as outlined in Iowa Senate File 2435. In response to the new requirements, the Mount Ayr schools have approved the following policy:
Chronic absenteeism
When a student meets the threshold of 10 percent of the days in the grading period, the school official will send notice by mail or e-mail to the county attorney.
The school official will also notify the student, or if a minor, the student’s parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian via certified mail that includes information related to the student’s absences from school and the policies and disciplinary processes associated with additional absences.
School engagement meeting
If a student is absent from school for a t least 15 percent of the days in the grading period, the school official will initiate a school engagement meeting to include the student; the student’s parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian, and a school official.
The purpose of the meeting is to understand the reasons for the student’s absenteeism and attempt to remove barriers to the student’s ongoing absences.
All parties will sign an absenteeism prevention plan.
Absenteeism Prevention Plan
The absenteeism prevention plan will identify the causes of the student’s absences and the future responsibilities of each participant.
The school official will contact the student and student’s parent/guardian at least once per week for the remainder of the school year to monitor the performance of the student and the student’s parent/guardian under the plan.
If the student and student’s parent/guardian do not attend the meeting, do not enter into a plan, or violate the terms of the plan, the school official will notify the county attorney.
County attorney notification
A student who is below the compulsory attendance age and is absent from school 20 percent of the days in the grading period will be referred to the county attorney for truancy.
Elwood felt the new policy was already making a difference at the elementary. He said last year he had 5-10 students who had an issue with absences, but they’re doing better so far this year.
Personalized reading plans
In a separate matter again resulting from Iowa legislative action, Elwood outlined new requirements related to reading proficiency.
According to Iowa House File 2618, school districts are required to provide personalized reading plans to any student in grades K-6 who is not reaching their reading proficiency benchmark for two consecutive assessment periods. All students are assessed in the fall, winter, and spring.
Parents are notified about the personalized reading plans, and they have the right to retain their child at the end of the school year if the child is still reading below grade-level.
Elwood shared the proficiency percentages of the recently completed fall CBMr and aReading assessments for second through fifth grade.
Percentages reflect the number of students reaching proficiency at their grade level.
Grade CBMr aReading 2nd 50% 50%
3rd 57% 52%
4th 46% 62%
5th 32% 46%
Personnel
The board approved a number of items related to personnel.
The contract with Emily Schnoor was amended to reflect a move on the salary schedule from lane BA to MA resulting in a salary increase to $54,301.
Coaching contracts were approved for:
Alec Hernandez – Asst HS Baseball
Sara Holmes – HS Softball
Nathan Nickle – HS Softball
Thad Streit – MS Baseball
Sara Holmes – MS Softball
Brookelyn Vos – MS Softball
The following sports volunteers were approved:
John Ford – MS/HS Wrestling
Bryce Shaha – MS/HS Wrestling
Jim Murphy – Boys Basketball
Eric Dolecheck – Bowling
In addition, a long list of volunteers were approved to assist with FFA activities. They include Debra Reed, Julie Neas, Kim & Dan Curry, Jennifer & Tim Creveling, Jessica & Justin Murphy, Beckey McAlexander, Carrie Main, Amber Fooken, Elisha Doubleday, Beau & Shannon Ebersole, and Rhonda & Jeff Quick
Other business
In other business, the board:
• approved a budget amendment that reflects the unexpected expense related to storm damage to building roofs.
The amendment increased anticipated expenditures by $1.5 million to a total of $15,567,985.
District superintendent Jason Shaffer remarked that additional roof work will be completed after the completion of the school year.
• approved the purchase of a new commercial washing machine for the boys lockerroom.
The board accepted the quote from Century Laundry for $12,998.
• approved an agreement with EveryStep to provide grief and loss counseling through their Amanda the Panda program.
• approved the district’s annual report and the special education supplement of $56,908.18.
