CLEAR LAKE – There will be a public listening post held in Clear Lake on Wednesday, May 7 at 6:30 PM at the Clear Creek Elementary School regarding the Clear Lake School District and concerns from the public. The public is invited to attend and ask questions.
NIT was informed of the listening post Tuesday morning by a concerned parent. The source said the after a number of attempts, Clear Lake School Superintendent Anita Micich relented and granted the listening post to parents and others who have several concerns about the school district.
Among the concerns NIT was told about:
– The sharing agreement with Mason City School District involving Anita Micich. The source indicated that Micich is “rarely” in Clear Lake and that “morale” at some schools is at an “all time low”. The Clear Lake School District pays 40% of Micich’s salary which is in the neighborhood of $200,000, plus perks and benefits. It was said by district officials recently that is the sharing agreement was ended, Clear Lake would have to “cut” up to 4 teachers. Clear Lake gets roughly $300,000 from the state due to the sharing arrangement with Mason City, the source said.
– Open records. The source said that a budget was requested from the school – and one was eventually turned over – but it was “very general” with little or no specifics on spending. There is concern in the community on how money is being spent, raises given to certain individuals and other expenditures.
Yesterday in Mason City, the community received a black eye when Micich fired a long-time school employee, only to be overturned later that same day by the school board. Tweets andFacebook posts by educators and coaches from around the state sounded off against the move, and media stories around the state covered the debacle. Many in the community were left wondering about the condition of Mason City school district, which is roughly $36 million in debt with declining enrollment despite two new taxes approved by voters last fall.
More on this developing story soon.
Government is too big and spends too much. $200K PLUS benefits. That’s like making $400,000 in the metro.
My parents are paying $4000 a year just for property tax so government employees can make out like bandits?
The continuation of overpaying Administration will have to end if we are to rescue our Children & Schools. Its understandable that MC is in a 36 Million dollar quandary with Ms Michich spending like there was no Tomorrow , which she has done in Clear Lake also. For starters a 40% cut in Her salary would be a start in the right direction
.We need to get back to the basics of what our schools are for to educate our children the best way possible not to pay an unrealistic wage to one person
I am not thrilled with this gal, if we need to cut money, she needs to go first. Think about it, sounds like she approached the AD in MC and told him he was gone before it was approved by the school board. (that is very stupid and wrong, the athletic director is very much needed. I say, eliminate her position and let the principals of each School set their budget and live with it, the finance department can handle the rest. The principals at each school can ddhandle staff responsibilities,
These districts are not that big, even if MC is considered 4A. Her position should be eliminated and handled by finance. All other tasks should fall on the Principals of each school.
MC school district finance director is not even a CPA! Ask her!
If she is not in Clear Lake that much and MC states she is not in Mason City that much, THAN WHERE IS SHE? So Clear Lake wants her gone, I have to say so does Mason City. I think someone should call for a full disclosure Audit by the state. Someone can not run a budget or is hiding excess spending? Something just does not pass the smell test here!
Can NIT request all her emails like they did in des Moines and find out what this lady is doing all day long? we dam sure can’t think the globe or mirror would look into this.
Boy she sure is stirring up a hornets nest. You dont want to mess with the lakers!
Word is, CL wants miss prissy pants from des moines GONE
I don’t have any kids in the school system in Clear Lake BUT my tax money goes for this and I don’t see WHY we’re paying SO much of her wages. She does NOTHING that I’ve heard of for CL.