H-W payouts to other school districts

CRESCO - For anyone who reads the legals in the Times Plain Dealer, he or she may have noticed the bills paid by Howard-Winneshiek Community School District, approved at the Jan. 17 meeting.

The bills included payments to other school districts for students who open-enrolled out of H-W and into another district. 

Each public school district in Iowa receives $7,388.89 per student. For students who open enroll out of their district, the local school makes payments that are disbursed once a semester (on or before Feb. 15 and July 15) per Iowa Code Section 282.20(3), according to Board Secretary Robyn Lane.

In addition, the district pays any extra costs associated with students who have IEPs (Individualized Education Program).

Supt. Ted Ihns explains, “The reason about 95% of parents choose to open enroll their children is proximity. Perhaps one or both parents work in a different town, the school is closer to where they live or they want a smaller school. Others open enroll their children because of programming needs.

“I try to contact every family and ask if it is something educationally we aren’t offering, and the answer is almost always a matter of proximity.”

Riceville and Decorah districts have the highest number of students enrolling into their schools, $415,482.29 and $354,381.18 respectively.

How-Winn continues to offer a large selection of classes and extra-curricular activities to families, along with retaining high-quality teaching staff. In addition, they recently raised the pay of substitute teachers to stay competitive.

To keep students safe and add much-needed gymnasium space, the board just approved a $10.1 million update and expansion of its facility.