H-W received PIE award

CRESCO - State Auditor Rob Sand hand-delivered an apple pie to the leaders of the Howard Winneshiek Community School District (CSD) at the Oct. 17 school board meeting in recognition of their Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) Award. Howard Winneshiek is the Best Performing 3A district.

How-Winn Supt. Kris Einck noted the award belongs to Facilities Director Larry Trende and former Supt. Ted Ihns.

Earlier in the day, he had delivered pies to Gilbertville (most improved city) and Plainfield (best performing next to smallest city category).

The following day, he was delivering pies to MFL MarMac (best performing 2A CSD), Jackson County (most improved) and Clayton County (best performing in next to largest county category).

“The application has a nine-page checklist. Cities, counties and schools are asked to fill it out every year. There is also a spot for ‘PIE recipes’, if you have one of your own ideas for saving money.”

School Board President Alison Holten said, “Thank you, Larry, for your hard work.”

Sand created the PIE program in 2019. It serves to encourage governmental entities to implement cost-cutting measures and spark innovative ideas to save public funds. In the last year, PIE participation increased by more than 55%. 

Eighty-four counties and 310 cities submitted entries in 2021, and for the first time, 121 school districts participated. The PIE program is so successful, that the Mississippi State Auditor, a Republican, launched the program in his state.

Cost-cutting measures range from shutting off the lights to reduce energy costs, to the creation of policies that reduce travel expenses.

Cities and counties were awarded points, based on the number of cost-cutting measures implemented in 2021, and in the most improved category, compared to the previous year.