Van Buren, Harmony transition to sharing

KEOSAUQUA ? The Van Buren Community School Board approved a resolution to study the question of reorganizing with Harmony Community School District during the Van Buren school board meeting Feb. 10.

Harmony is scheduled to vote on the resolution at a special meeting Wednesday. The motion to study reorganization anticipates that the reorganization would occur on or before July 1.

Last month, the two school districts voted to enter into a one-way whole-grade sharing agreement beginning with the 2016-17 school year. School districts that enter into whole-grade sharing agreements are entitled to ?supplemental weighting? which gives them extra funding per student. However, the extra weighting ends after a certain time if neither district moves towards reorganization.

During the Feb. 10 meeting, Van Buren Superintendent Pam Ewell and Van Buren Secondary Principal Chuck Banks updated the board on the transition process for the whole-grade sharing agreement.

Harmony seventh through 12th grade students will be transported to the Keosauqua center beginning next school year. Banks said that students from Van Buren and Harmony met at Great Day Cafe on Feb. 4. Harmony students also toured classrooms at Van Buren, Banks added. Ewell said Harmony and Van Buren teachers have shared professional development sessions.

In other action, the board approved an early retirement package, after much discussion. Ewell said that between one and three teachers might be interested in early retirement. Certified staff who participate will receive a lump sum incentive of $5,000 plus reimbursement of $200 per day for each accumulated sick day remaining up to a maximum of 105 days. Originally, the plan had contemplated a $10,000 lump sum payment. Funds for paying for the cost come from the management levy.

The vote was 5-2, with board members Jane Wells, Cindy Lowe, Rick Plowman, Sheila Parsons and Alex Richards voting for the motion to offer the early retirement package and Andrew Lydolph and Bob Steingreaber voting no. Lydolph said that, with so few staff members expressing an interest, he would like to lower the levy to benefit taxpayers.

?If we don?t have much interest, let?s lower the management levy,? Lydolph said.

Steingreaber asked for the rationale for lowering the lump sum payment and that it ?makes us look chintzy. If we don?t want to do it, let?s not do it.?

Other board members said they were comfortable with offering $5,000 as the lump sum payment.

? Third grade teacher Heather Coffman explained the new standards-based grading being implemented in the elementary classrooms. Standards-based grading measures students? proficiency on well defined course objectives. The grading system is one to three, with one being beginning, two meaning developing and three indicating that students can demonstrate they meet 85 percent of the specific standards.

?The kids are very involved and are taking ownership in their learning,? Coffman said. ?They know the academic language involved in standards-based grading and they are very aware if they are getting a three.?

Van Buren Elementary Principal Brent Moews said, ?It?s about the standards; it?s not just about the score on a test.?

Coffman said that the system has really encouraged peer support.

?The peer groups are helping the other kids,? she added.

Coffman said while it is a change, she?s emphasized to parents that the learning expectations haven?t changed.

? Banks told school board members of a 20-year old male who will receive his high school diploma. He attended high school three years but dropped out in the middle of his senior year. He came back at the beginning of this school year, Banks said, and asked what he needed to do to fulfill all his credit responsibilities in order to graduate. Last week, with the help of the school?s credit recovery program, he finished his schooling and will get his diploma.

?That?s why we do what we do,? Banks said. ?The student commented that this was something no one can take away.?

? Curriculum director Mary Dawn Schuck explained the new Iowa Report Card, which measures the achievements of school districts.

? Linda Hinshaw received the spirit of the community award through KTVO. She was nominated by Nikki Bowermaster, a former student, who explained what a difference Hinshaw makes in the lives of students. The award is sponsored by Community First Credit Union.

? Negotiations have begun with the bargaining unit that represents the Van Buren Education Association. In its first presentation, the association asked for a 7.75 percent increase in salaries. According to Van Buren School Board President Rick Plowman, the increased cost is $300,000. The district had yet to make its initial proposal.