Published: August 15, 2008 10:17 am      

Central featured on ‘watch list’

By Janet Huffman

Herald Correspondent

GRAND MOUND — Curriculum Director Steve Haines presented the Adequate Yearly Progress report to the Central Community School Board at its meeting Wednesday held in Grand Mound.

The report shows Central District will be on the “watch list” for No Child Left Behind rules. Haines noted several ways to get off the list if students do not reach a proficiency goal of 76 percent. The easiest answer would be a “safe harbor” which provides protection for schools making progress but not making their target, he said. Another option would be using a two-year average to meet proficiency rates.

Though this was expected, Haines added, if the district continues to not meet its goals, it can be declared a “school in need of assistance.”

Measures taken to remedy the situation include, at the high school and middle school level, a “second chance” reading course, at the middle school focus lessons, and at the elementary level intervention groups and a focus on reading strategies.

Area Education Agency representative Gayle Powell told the board the district should apply for a grant to become part of the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program.

The program provides opportunities for young children through voluntary access to preschool curricula.

Powell said the program includes established area preschool programs and is a collaborative program between the schools, other agencies and parents.

Work on the grant needs to begin now because there is a great deal of documentation required. Superintendent Dan Peterson was directed to begin the process.

In facilities updates, the board was informed the new modular at Ekstrand Elementary is in place and under budget by $6,000.

Construction at the high school will be completed Oct. 16 with occupancy scheduled for Oct. 20. This includes the new cafeteria and alternative classrooms. Cooking continues at the United Church of Christ with students eating in the weight room.

In routine business the board appointed Business Director Jan Culbertson board secretary, Patricia Waack board treasurer, and Gruhn Law of Cedar Rapids as legal counsel. Brent Cook and Terri Selzer are Level I investigators and James Marshall of Marshall Investigations in Clinton is a Level II investigator.

The board also approved reinstatement of a previously expelled student and the school nutrition program.

Weight room rules and regulations were discussed, with the district allowing recent graduates participating in collegiate programs use of the room under supervision during normal operating hours.

In the personnel report, teachers moving up on the salary schedule were Tami Jaeger to $40,668; Jennifer Hill to $34,353; Angela Robinson to $33,090; and Cheryl Fuller to $39,405. Don “Eddie” Mercado was hired as secondary talented and gifted teacher at $25,260 and Amanda Greubel as Family Resource Center Director at $37,500.

In extracurriculars Blaine Parketon was employed as assistant varsity football coach and Cody Cooper was transferred from head seventh- grade football coach to assistant varsity football coach at $2,917.

A stipend of $1,500 was awarded to Culbertson for her extra hours in the hiring process for a new superintendent.