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Operational sharing agreements approved amid concern for the program’s future

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By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

 

At its April 9 meeting, the MFL MarMac school board approved the district’s operational sharing agreements, with no changes from the previous year. 

 

MFL MarMac currently shares superintendent Dale Crozier with Eastern Allamakee, transportation director Trent Miene and elementary guidance counselor Kurt Gaylor with Postville, and curriculum director Eliza Philpott with Central. By sharing those positions, Crozier said the district receives funding equal to that of 19 students from the state. Each shared position is worth a certain number of students.

 

Crozier said operational sharing will sunset in 2018-2019, and was expected to be renewed by the state legislature this year, but that has still not been done.

 

“It would be devastating for ultra-small schools if this doesn’t get renewed,” he told the board. “We need this for survival. It would be a big deal to lose that kind of funding.”

 

Crozier said operational sharing has not only given a financial boost to the district, but has allowed MFL MarMac to become more collaborative with neighboring schools.

 

“It’s a win-win if you can do it,” he noted. “It’s really enhanced our district. We’re more in-sync [with other districts].”

 

He encouraged school board members to push legislators for renewal.

 

“The legislature doesn’t seem to listen to the superintendents,” Crozier stated, “so maybe they’ll listen to the school boards.”

 

 

Calendar

Since MFL MarMac will surpass the 1,080-hour requirement for the school year, the board approved adjusting the school calendar, waiving two student days at the end of the year. As a result, the students’ last day will be Tuesday, May 29, rather than Thursday, May 31.

 

The board discussed waiving a third day, making Friday, May 25, the last day for students, but felt it would be best to hold off on that decision until the May meeting, in case there are additional cancellations, delays or early outs.

 

The last day for staff will be Friday, June 1.

 

Contracts 

The board approved a contract for Cheryl Drowns, who will teach high school physics and chemistry starting next year. Drowns has five years experience and is currently teaching at Dyersville-Beckman. She will replace Tom Oppelt.

 

The board also agreed to renew the three-year contract for Crozier and freeze the total salary portion of total wages, not related to performance, but at Crozier’s request.

 

Graduation rates

Crozier said MFL MarMac recently received good news related to its graduation rates. The district had a 100 percent graduation rate for the 2017 cohort and 97 percent for 2016. Iowa’s rate is 91 percent overall, which is first in the nation, Crozier noted.

 

“This is hard data that shows the things we’re doing have been working,” he said. “You don’t get that by chance.”

 

Field house crawl

On April 28, Crozier said he, several school members and other staff and community members will go on a “field house crawl” to four districts in northeast Iowa and southern Minnesota. By viewing their sports centers, or gyms, Crozier said the group hopes to gain ideas for a potential new sports center at MFL MarMac. He stressed that plans to construct something new are not immediate.

 

“This is very preliminary. It’s not like this is going to happen anytime soon,” he said. “We’re doing this so the committee can see examples.”

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