Editorial by Matt Marquardt –
MASON CITY – The Mason City School Board raised the cost of student breakfast and lunch meals by 10 cents for the next school year. The new costs will be: K-6 breakfast $1.20, 7-12 breakfast $1.45, K-6 lunch $2.20 and 7-12 lunch $2.45. The increase was attributed to costs associated with the number of students taking free and reduced price lunches. That number was said to be 1,534 students.
A presentation was given by an outfit called “Skills Iowa” from the Iowa School Board Foundation that offers assessments for students so teachers can understand what they are teaching. The tests are described as “an educational practice involving both teachers and students. Students take assessments and are provided instant feedback on their performance. Teachers use the information from student assessments to determine what to teach next based on what kids have demonstrated they know and can do (or don’t know and can’t do).”
The program used to be free, but the board was told that the price of the assessments had “changed considerably.”
Skills Iowa associates Kelly Kirstein and Program Director Susie Olesen (pictured, right; Olesen on left) made a sales pitch to the board to continue the program. “It’s not everyday we get to thank someone for buying our products,” Kirstein told the board, who nodded in approval.
According to Finance Director Ramona Jeffery, “The Mason City CSD participated in the Skills Iowa Assessment for school year 2011-2012. It cost the district $7,250.00 per building to participate. The following six buildings participated: Harding Elementary, Hoover Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Lincoln Intermediate and John Adams Middle School for a total cost of $43,500.”
In other business, student fees will remain unchanged for the 2012-2013 school year, except for the meal fee increases. Transportation fees (busing) will remain the same.
Anderson-Erickson of Des Moines will be providing dairy products for the district after submitting the low bid of $133,335.55.
Pan O’Gold of St. Cloud will be providing baked products after submitting the low bid of $12,545.
The district’s enrollment continues to decline. The board stated that it hopes the numbers “plateau” soon.
The board went into closed session to discuss a new contract for Superintendent Anita Micich and a one-year sharing agreement with the Clear Lake School District for her services. The Clear Lake board will also discuss her contract in the near future.
Watch videos:
School Board and Superintendent questioned by NIT Publisher Matt Marquardt:
httpv://youtu.be/fT9swxV2kr0
MC School District Finance Director Ramona Jeffrey describes district’s finances:
httpv://youtu.be/AgDczq1S3mU
Board discussion- Change orders, student fees, design of tables and booths, dairy and bakery contracts:
httpv://youtu.be/n3U-zgnPg-E
Board discussion- District enrollment numbers:
httpv://youtu.be/FZQRJfaVwr0
I like how the board member that used to teach talked about how helpful The Skills Iowa Assessment stuff is. The program that costs THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. Really? Well there is a lot of stuff I would like to have at my home and my work that would be helpful to me but you can’t afford everything now can you? Get out into the real world where people had to cut back and quit spending everyone’s money so freely. The federal stimulus bill gave much extra money to schools to use last year. Please do not be fooled into thinking we are cutting way back by not foolishly continuing to fund all this stuff. It was a federal stimulus bill that inflated funds for use,it was not meant to be a permanent spending increase. Show some decency to the taxpayers.
The Board isn’t hiding behind laptops.Proper protocol has to take place at Board Meetings. I think rather than attack the Board with questions, North Iowa Today should listen in on the meetings and report from there the facts. There’s alot to be learned by attending these meetings and listening.
So now it costs me 2 hours wages just for my kids to eat at school???? Sounds like I’m better off not working & home schooling. The dollar menu at McD’s is cheaper & probably the same nutritional value as that school crapola. I knew that about the dismissals too. Another good question is – WHY are our schools the first to start in Aug & the LAST to let out in JUNE???
“assessments for students so teachers can know what they are teaching” – YOU don’t know? And you don’t know if the students are learning? What???
Is it me or do others find it irritating that the Board is hiding behind laptops??? What are they doing with those laptops? So the bigger the laptop means the more important the person!!?? Personally, I think these things should be banned at public meetings. Be transparent and close up the laptops.
You know what’s weird about the school board and micish. Even when they lose an election- they stay on the board. Right mr toms?
Here’s a little tidbit you don’t know also. The money the school charges for lunch doesn’t go to the school to pay for its ‘exorbitant’ salaries. It goes to the government who provides the food to the school. When the government charges the school more (because the producers and middle men charge them more) then the school has to charge more or face a deficit. As for not dismissing before 1230, lots of schools do that to save throwing away a large amount of food that has been prepared. Fred, why don’t you ask before you spout off? Would that be too much to ask?
I don’t need to ask, Einstein. Read my post. ALL the other schools in N Iowa dismissed. They put the safety of their students before a few dollars worth of food.
Hit the keyboard again genius. Give us all another laugh.
Here’s a little tidbit about the MC schools you may not know. No matter what the weather situation, the MC schools will NEVER dismiss before 12:30. The reason? They wouldn’t get to charge the kids for their lunches.
2 years ago a storm blew up in the morning. Every school in North Iowa dismissed before the storm, except MC. Finally 12:30 comes along, MC has charged all the kids for their lunches, and they finally decide to dismiss. The only problem is, it is now the height of the blizzard. Buses are navigating down rural roads in zero visibility not to mention 16 year old kids. It is a wonder no one was killed.
The point being, MC schools care only about finances, and nothing for the safety and education of kids.
How do we improve test scores? No. Let’s charge more for lunches and give Michich a raise. We’ll just raise taxes to pay for it.
Good information. From what some people say, the schools get away with a lot and are very secretive. They love how the glob covers their news… no wonder they were rude to Mr. Marquardt in the video. He’s the last one they want coming around asking questions. They’d be held accountable. Did you see the look of horror on recinos’ face during the interview? Priceless.
The reason school dismisses at 12:30 is to make sure every child goes home on a full stomach. If the school sent students home at 11 alot (60%) would be going home on an empty stomach and waiting unil the next school lunch to eat a solid meal. You can beat the school district up all you want but making sure every student is properly fed before they go home for the day is NO reason for it!
If they don’t stay till after lunch the time spent at school doesn’t count as one of the 180 days required in school by the state.
Hey Fred: Another reason the schools never let out early is because if they let out after 12;30, they can call it a full day of class. Teachers teach half a day, (or rather,go to school and talk to kids for half a day) get paid for a full day, take half a day off. And then there are those silly rumers about how bad teachers have it. Right. OK.
Oh yea, and the check is in the mail. Gotcha.
Enrollment will continue to decline. Its time to start cutting people and wages and benefits, thats how it goes in the private sector. I am tired of being asked for more and more. Thats the REAL world.