Enrollments up in Mount Ayr schools
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Encouraging enrollment numbers and improving ACT scores highlighted the discussion at the Monday, September 13 meeting of the Mount Ayr Community Schools board of directors.
Enrollment
Elementary principal Chris Elwood reported a preliminary enrollment of 354 students in PreK through sixth grade, an increase of 34 students over the 2020-2021 school year. (See chart at top)
In addition, with the move of the preschool to the elementary building beginning this year, Elwood said he had approximately 75 more students in his building as compared to last year.
Secondary principal Bill Huntington shared a preliminary enrollment increase of approximately 15 students in his building as well.
Official enrollments are not established until the headcount in early October.
ACT
Huntington presented the latest ACT scores for Mount Ayr Community students. (See chart above)
Using data from the past four years, Huntington said, despite the missed fourth quarter in the 2019-2020 school year, he was pleased the composite score reflected continued improvement over recent years. In fact, scores in English and Reading showed significant growth. Dips in math, science, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) scores he said were likely due to the missed class time.
Personnel
In items related to personnel, the board:
• accepted the resignation of Bret Ruggles as golf coach;
• approved the hiring of Andy Clark as elementary associate, John Ford as wrestling co-head coach, Stephanie Hosfield as assistant drama coach, and Richard Spiez as baseball co-head coach.
• approved salary schedule lane changes for Dustin Larsen, Jessica Showalter, and Dara Greenland. Salary increases are associated with lanes changes reflecting additional college hours completed by teachers.
In a decision related to personnel, the board approved the purchase of time management software from Frontline Services at a first-year cost of $4,900. The software will more efficiently track staff time in service, vacation time, sick leave, and other personnel data.
Elementary activities
Elwood reported changes made to the Junior Raiders programs have gone “pretty smoothly.”
“We usually have 10-15 students in the morning program, 40-50 students in the afternoon program, and we had 11 preschool students the first Friday that preschool was in session,” he said.
He added Ringgold Raiders football program has 42 players participating, 53 students are playing volleyball, and 45 students are signed up for flag football.
Other business
In other business the board:
• approved an out-of-state trip for the members of the Mount Ayr FFA chapter to attend the national convention in Indianapolis, IN in October.
• approved board goals for the 2021-2022 school year. They include maintaining quality teachers by providing appropriate professional development, supporting the engagement of student learning by providing the most up-to-date technology, maintaining fiscal soundness, and providing a clean, well-maintained facility that will foster student learning and community pride.
• named board member PJ West as the district representative at the delegate assembly.
