Holten remains president of H-W CSD Board

CRESCO - In addition to the regular Howard-Winneshiek CSD monthly meeting, the annual and organizational meetings were held. 

Robyn Lane was again appointed as secretary and treasurer of the district at the annual meeting.

At the organizational meeting, nothing changed from the prior year. Alison Holten is still president of the board and Shirley Sovereign is again vice president. 

Since there are some sports games held on Monday nights, Supt. Kris Einck explained the night of the meetings could be changed to Wednesday, which has no games, but is a church night. Director Toni Johnson objected to that. The board approved the regular meetings be held on the third Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at NICC-Cresco Center. It was stated they could be changed if needed. 

Looking at the school calendar, it was decided to change the next three meetings. They will be held on Dec. 14 at 4:30 p.m. at NICC; Jan. 18 at 4:30 p.m. at NICC and Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m.

• At the regular meeting, Einck said the district has 10 build-in days for inclement weather for the students, which go by hours of school, while teachers have to go by days.

“The new website will be going live on Dec. 15. We are still tweaking it, but it will be easier to navigate,” he added.

• Secondary Principal Lisa Dursky  said the K-12 teachers will attend a purpose retreat on Jan. 3

There were 250 audience members who attended the high school musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

The Cadet Zone has been working on different projects. The latest was live-streaming the National Honor Society Induction ceremony on Nov. 17. There is now the Thanksgiving broadcast available to view.

Students Seth Lloyd, Ira Keck, Elise Stinson and Isaac Soto informed the crowd of when Veterans Day is celebrated.

Dursky said the school’s goal for daily attendance stands at 95%. For the previous month, it was close — 94.1%. She went on to state the school’s overall performance on the Iowa Report Card was at 56.41, which rates H-W commendable. The state average is 54.65.

• Einck gave Activities Director Todd Coulter’s report. The Junior High Girls Cross Country team was NEIC Conference Champions. In volleyball, Kelly Miller was named second team all conference. Kinze Shea finished in seventh and Dominic Bigalk finished 81st at thestate cross country meet.

“This is officially the first girls wrestling season. Coaches Anderlik and Trende have 12 girls working hard every day to get better.” There are 27 young men going out for wrestling under Coach Slifka.

Coach Dennler has 23 young ladies out for basketball and Coach Sullivan has 32 young men out for the sport.

• K-6 Principal Doug Sickles stated the fifth graders are in a pilot curriculum called Character Strong. If it goes well, the school may adopt it. On Dec. 2 is the fifth and sixth grade band concert at 7 p.m. in the high school gym.

Sickles noted there were 55 veterans and 14 other guests who ate lunch with an elementary student.

“The elementary teachers held 447 out of a possible 476 parent-teacher conferences. I asked the teachers if someone didn’t come to the school if they could reach out to the parents.”

• Director of Buildings and Grounds Trende said brick wall will be powerwashed on Thanksgiving and the day after. “The contractors are hoping that by the end of the school year, the inside can be all done.”

• The second reading of several board policies were approved.

• Also approved . . . 

~  The SBRC Application for modified supplement amount of $213,919 for open enrolled out students, who were not included in the district’s previous year certified enrollment count.

~ The request for additional spending authority of $30,765 for Limited English Proficient allowable cost.

~ The 2023-2024 Superintendent Sharing Agreement with South Winneshiek. The vote was aye - Andy Ludeking and Sovereign and nay - Toni Johnson.

~ The FY23 School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC).

~ H-W Wellness Policy - the only thing changed was the addition of social/emotional verbiage.

~ Fourteen early graduates were approved.

~ School Director Redistricting, effective July 1, 2023. Einck recommended sticking with four directors and one at-large. The process will hopefully keep the districts close to how they have been.

• Resignations were approved from Robin Gossman, Head Volleyball Coach, Anne Wemark, Food Service and Staci Wicks, Elementary Paraprofessional.

New hires included Paige Wemark, Food Service Floater and Abby Williams, Prom Advisor.

Activities Director recommendations were for Jerry Steffen, 7th Football Coach; Rick McCarville, 7th Football Coach; Jason Sorenson, 8th Football Coach; Jeff Freidhof, 8th Football Coach; Luke Jansen, 7th Volleyball Coach; and Gena McCaffrey, 8th Volleyball Coach.

The next meeting will be Dec. 14 at 4:30 p.m. at NICC.