Enrollment, SRO top MACS board meeting
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By Darrell Dodge
Enrollment numbers, adding a school resource officer, and the naming of district facilities were among topics of discussion at the Monday, September 8 meeting of the Mount Ayr Community Schools board of directors.
Enrollment
In their reports to the board, elementary principal Chris Elwood and secondary principal Josh Vanderflught shared early enrollment numbers in their respective buildings.
These numbers do not reflect the certified enrollments that will be reported to the state following the official head count that comes in early October.
The enrollments are these:
Pre-K 44
Kindergarten 36
1st grade 50
2nd grade 33
3rd grade 41
4th grade 45
5th grade 37
6th grade 38
7th grade 46
8th grade 36
9th grade 29
10th grade 47
11th grade 41
12th grade 37
EVOLVE 8
Flexible Ed 15
TOTAL 583
Vanderflught explained the EVOLVE students are enrolled full-time in online classwork, and the Flexible Education students are those enrolled in what was formerly known as the alternative school.
He noted the EVOLVE students and Flexible Ed students have now been designated as a separate “building” within the district, meaning their test scores and other assessments will be reported as a group separate from the elementary or secondary buildings.
In his report, Vanderflught also indicated the number of home-schooled students in each grade 6-12. Those include one student in grades 6 and 8, two students in grades 7, 10 and 11, and four students in grade 12.
Vanderflught explained that, in many cases, those students may attend a limited number of regular classes in the secondary building and/or come to the building for activities such as band/vocal, FFA, and others.
In discussion related to enrollment, board member Rusty Schuitema asked about the number of students who choose to open enroll out of the Mount Ayr district to a different district.
Board secretary and district finance officer Stephanie Newton explained that because Mount Ayr is geographically one of the largest districts in the state, many of the students who choose a different district are those who live closer to a neighboring district.
School Resource Officer
The board discussed the compensation and job responsibilities for a proposed School Resource Officer (SRO), a member of law enforcement assigned part-time in the district buildings.
Superintendent Jason Shaffer said he had worked on the wording of a proposed contract with Ringgold County Sheriff Rob Haley, and the contract language had been reviewed by Ringgold County Attorney Mike Wells.
The county board of supervisors will consider the contract at their next meeting.
If approved, the Mount Ayr school district will pay 35% of the designated SRO’s salary and benefits, totaling $35,790. However, due to the state’s financial incentive to share services with other public entities, the final cost to the district will be approximately $19,000.
Shaffer explained the SRO would be in buildings approximately 20 hours per week with the goal of building positive relationships with students and assisting with discussions on such topics as making safe choices, career exploration and other educational opportunities.
Shaffer stressed the SRO would not be tasked with student discipline other than serious infractions where law enforcement would normally be involved.
“I want to make sure that’s clear that they’re not coming in and yelling and screaming and I’m going to cuff you and stuff you because you’re not doing your homework.” Shaffer said.
Pending county supervisor approval of the compensation and duty language, Shaffer said he and the building principals would work together to outline expectations with the designated SRO.
Naming facilities
Over the years, the district has received occasional requests to name certain facilities in honor of an individual.
Several years ago, a request was made to name the new wrestling room after long-time coach Ron Scott, but at that time the board declined that request.
However, the board has never approved a specific policy on how to handle such requests. At Monday’s meeting, Shaffer presented a draft of such a policy, and board opinions were mixed.
Some preferred to continue the practice of not naming any facilities or events while others saw some merit, especially if the request came following a significant donation to a facility. Others preferred allowing the naming of special events but stopped short of naming physical facilities.
After considerable discussion, Shaffer said he would present a revised policy proposal for board review at the October meeting.
Other business
In other business the board:
• approved an increase in substitute pay to $175 per day or $225 per day for a long-term sub position lasting 10 or more consecutive days.
• increased meal compensation for overnight trips by district staff. The board set $10 for breakfast, $15 for lunch, and $30 for dinner pending receiving the receipts for those meals.
• approved the hiring of Lucas Smith to the kitchen staff.
• learned that new bids for the Career and Technical Education building will be opened October 1,
• approved 11 early graduation requests, pending completion of all graduation requirements.
• approved three out-of-state trips for FFA events.
• approved a one-year extension of the educational sharing agreement with the Diagonal school district.
