The Perry School Board held their February meeting Monday
At the meeting, Teaching and Learning Director Kevin Vidergar shared an update on the district’s Teacher Leadership and Compensation program plan. All districts in the state are required to implement this program within a three year period. Perry’s goal is to apply and be approved for the 2016-2017 school year. New positions that would be created are a teacher and leadership coordinator, a mentor teacher, instructional coach, model teacher and professional learning coordinators. Some of the positions would be new hires that are brought on to work on this program, while others will be successful teachers who take on leadership positions. Director Kyle Baxter asked how the district will pay for these additional positions once the state stops funding it. He expressed being in favor of the leadership positions for current teachers but adding additional positions, when the funding source is unknown long term, is something he struggles to support. Vidergar says the answer to that is unknown at this time, and Superintendent Lynn Ubben mentioned that the state has said they plan to roll those needed funds into the money they give school districts. The next committee meeting is scheduled for March 9th and the goal is to have the application submitted this fall.
After reading through commendations, Ubben then gave an update on the State Supplemental Aid issue with the legislature. Right now, Governor Terry Branstad’s proposal includes an increase of 1.25 percent per student, and the Senate has proposed a four percent increase. However, school funding bills have not yet been passed through the legislature. In addition, Ubben shared that the school calendar committee continues to meet and look at options for the upcoming school year.
An audit firm bid from Hunt and Associates P.C. out of Oskaloosa was then approved for 2015-2017 fiscal years at a cost of $11,000.
The Board then approved Grandwood, a special education school serving students with mental and behavioral disabilities in Woodward, to seek School Budget Review Committee approval to charge administrative costs.
Board policy revisions in regards to director conflict of interest, code of ethics and board member liability were then approved. Jeffrey Arguetta was approved for early graduation, and cooperative sponsorship agreement renewals were approved for boys and girls soccer with Panorama, bowling with Waukee and boys swimming with Boone.
Resignations from high school business teacher Megan Fiscus and middle school volleyball coach Jennifer Molitor were approved, along with the retirement of elementary para-educator Sandy Burris.
The Board then reviewed the school board standards and evaluation documents from the Iowa Association of School Boards.
As a late item, bus bids were approved from School Bus Sales in the amount of $94,153.
Finally, the junior class president and secretary then approached the Board asking for a $500 donation toward this year’s prom. So far, the class has raised $10,000 of their $12,000 goal. This year’s theme is The Great Gatsby and the prom will take place on May 2nd at the Lake Robbins Ballroom. The Board approved making the requested $500 donation.
We will have more on Monday’s meeting when we speak with Superintendent Lynn Ubben on tomorrow’s Let’s Talk Dallas County during the 9am, noon and 5pm hours on AM 1310 KDLS.