WACO students bend the curve on the ACT exam

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

WAYLAND ? There?s no arguing with statistics. WACO School District students taking the ACT college readiness test last year were an intelligent group.

During Monday night?s regular meeting of the WACO School Board, the district?s results on last year?s ACT were announced. WACO students scored a composite 26.1 on the test, compared to a state composite average of 22.1. Generally, juniors take the test each year.

Naturally, the WACO students fared well above the state average in all four areas of the test. In English, WACO had a 25.6 score, compared with a state average of 21.4; mathematics scores had WACO at 24.5, while the state average was 21.4; WACO test-takers had their highest score in reading with a 28.2 compared to a state average of 22.7; in science WACO was at 26.1 while the state had an average of 22.3.

Perfect score on the ACT is 36.

In the college readiness portion of the test, WACO students were at 100 percent in college English composition; 85 percent in college algebra; and 80 percent in both science and biology.

Superintendent Jeff Dicks termed the WACO ACT scores awesome.

Monday night featured both the year-end and reorganizational meetings of the board. Board President Tim Graber was re-elected to the position for the sixth time. Amy McLaughlin will serve as vice president.

Board members approved a resolution to seek $10,000 in allowable growth for the special education deficit.

Dicks said the district has a $10,800 balance in the account but urged the board to pass the resolution.

?We shouldn?t need it, but it would be prudent to do it,? the superintendent said. ?If we over-spend, then we can levy back for the deficit.?

He also said that the state allows districts no more than a 20-percent carryover in special education funds, and if the district exceeds the 20 percent, it has to remit the surplus over 20 percent. ?We aren?t close to that (20 percent),? Dicks noted.

Cobb Oil Co. (BP) was the lone bidder and recipient of the fuel contract for the 2016-17 school year.

Directors also approved a $9,250 quote from Sportsgraphics of Clarion for a new wrestling mat. Dicks said Chad Edeker, school athletic director, told him that the purchase was considered several years ago but then the program went through a coaching change and loss in the number of participants.

?Chad feels confident we can move ahead (with the purchase),? Dicks said. The purchase will be financed through the physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL) account. The board asked whether the WACO Booster Club could make the purchase, and Dicks said he would rather have the school purchase it because PPEL funds can be used. He said Booster Club money may be needed for some purchases not allowed through PPEL.

School board committee members also were approved.

Board committees and representatives include the following: Iowa Association of School Boards Legislative Network: Graber and McLaughlin; collective bargaining: entire board; Henry County Conference Board: Barb Shelman; Washington County Conference Board: Tom Gerot; comprehensive school improvement: entire board; WACO Foundation: Graber; finance sub-committee: Graber and McLaughlin; board policy sub-committee: Brooke Carter and Gerot; facility sub-committee: Graber and Shelman; curriculum/program sub-committee: McLaughlin and Shelman; technology: Gerot; wellness: Carter.

In final agenda matters, the board:

? Approved the hirings of Molly Hare as a high school associate, $8.10 per hour; and Emma Herman, assistant junior high volleyball coach, $1,050.

? Established the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the secondary building media center at Wayland as the official date, time and place for regular meetings of the board.

? Appointed Bret Nitzschke as school attorney.

? Approved the Wayland State Bank and Peoples Savings Bank as official depositories with a $5 million deposit limit at each bank.

? Approved a 28E agreement with Kirkwood Community College for WACO students wishing to take classes through the college.

Next meeting of the school board will be Monday, Oct. 17, at 6:30 p.m., in the secondary building media center at Wayland.