FFA practices Ag Issues team presentation at H-W board meeting

CRESCO - Members of the Crestwood FFA Ag Issues team gave its winning presentation to Howard-Winneshiek CSD board, administrators and visitors at the March 21 meeting.
Team members Kelsey Burke, Taryn Grube, Marissa Bronner, Emily Church, Nora Ryan, Kayla Burke  and Ashley Reicks were first place state qualifiers and had to practice their presentation in front of five meetings. 
Each participant played a role in giving pros and cons to a topic of their choosing . . . Carbon Dioxide Pipelines. After their presentation, audience members were encouraged to ask questions.
Their advisor is Mr. Mike Adams. They will be competing in Ames on Monday, April 11.
• Superintendent Ihns report included the school calendar year has 42.5 hours remaining of the 72.4 built in. “Enrollment for the month is steady at 1,048,” he noted.
“I would like to thank Adam Skoda and Kim Kerian for their success in securing two grants for the Cadet Zone — a $2,500 grant from the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa and $1,500 from the Alvin and Karen Voyna Family.
• Resignations included Megan DeBack, ELL Teacher; Ted Ihns, Superintendent; and Kim Becker-Lehmkuhl, CHS Color Guard Coach.
New hires were Martha Haugerud, High School Spanish; and Laurie Uhlenhake-Thompson, Junior High Art.
• Michelle Martinek of Hacker Nelson, district auditor company, gave the report.
She noted there were no disagreements with management and Hacker Nelson staff was treated with courtesy and given assistance.
Martinek said there were only three items the auditors noticed. 
~ “We noted one variance in the basic enrollment data certified to the Iowa Department of Education. One student was missed being certified with the District. The District thought the student was attending a treatment center and was actually attending classes in the buildings and was missed.”
~ Twenty students were found to have negative lunch balances over $30. The district was aware of the issue and is now committed to reinforcing the existing policy.
~ Out of 64 invoices tested, 10 general fund and one nutrition fund payments had orders delivered before the purchase was approved. The district will work with staff to work on this issue.
• Because of several extra reports being given, the administrators’ reports were included in board members’ packets.
~ PK-6 Principal Doug Sickles, noted about 350 students and parents attend the Stem Night on March 3. A fifth-sixth grade band concert was held on March 8, the fourth grade hosted a poetry cafe, the Cat in the Hat visited and handed out books for Dr. Seuss’ birthday and a family game night was held on March 17.
~ Secondary Principal Chris Rogne stated three high school students, Connor Carter, Alayna Larson and Emily Church, participated in the Northern Festival of Bands at UNI. 
In addition, the band spent the week of March 14-19 in Florida “making memories and music.”
He explained the Iowa Department of Education released graduation and dropout rates. The state average is 90.25 for the Class of 2021; Crestwood’s rate was 94.74%. The state average for the five year rate for the Class of 2020 is 93.5%, with Crestwood’s rate at 95.92%.
~ Activities Director Todd Coulter reported girls’ track has 44 participants, boys’ track — 36 and boys’ golf — 25.
~ Director of Special Education/Student Services Ann Smith reported transition meetings are being held from students going from preschool to the elementary building and eighth graders going into high school.
She also noted the Cadet Zone Coffee Shop is up and running. Teachers and students order through an app. Students are making lattes, hot chocolate, and serving drip coffee. 
• The H-W Board approved the elementary literacy curriculum; Emergent Architecture February invoices; the first reading of the debt management, sale of bonds and bond disclosure policies and post issuance compliance regulation for tax-exempt obligations; 2022-2023 AEA purchasing agreement; 2022-2023 special education service deliver plan; and 2022-2023 HWCSD fees, which are staying the same as 2021-2022 school year.
• Board members approved a HWCSD staff retention bonus for employees not eligible for the State of Iowa Governor Reynolds retention bonus as presented by Superintendent Ihns at $62,975.25. 
• The board approved the HWCSD assessment policy and procedures handbook. Smith explained, “We were externally audited. We had all the pieces and have been doing everything, but we needed to put it together in a nice package. Here it is.” Board member Shirley Sovereign said, “It’s great to have it all in one place. Thank you.”
• Team carts were approved. The mobile carts provide locked athletic storage for each sport. When not in use they can be stored out of sight.
• The board agreed to pay off an outstanding $1,420,000 school  bond. Ihns explained by paying off the bond early, it will help with getting funds for the new addition.
• The district entered into a student teacher placement with Morningside University and University of Northern Iowa.
• Tabled at the March 21 meeting, but approved at the March 23 special meeting, the Bond Counsel Engagement Letter from Ahlers and Cooney, P.C. Attorneys at Law and the Resolution Directing the Sale of $7,900,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services and the Use of Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 2022 to CUSB & Decorah Bank & Trust (board member Andy Ludeking abstained).
• The next board meeting will be a week early, on April 11.

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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