MASON CITY – Mason City School District Superintendent Anita Micich confirmed today that recommendations for cuts to coaches and other positions will be brought to the school board for their consideration at its May 6th meeting.
“These are all good people,” Micich explained, “and this is the hardest part of our job.”
Recommendations for staff cuts have to be made by April 30th. “It will be the school board’s decision,” Micich said. “All of these positions are recommendations that will be made to the Board of Education for the purpose of reduction of costs for the district especially in the General fund.”
Micich elaborated on the district’s funding problems, saying that the “tax rate for 2013-2014 will be $11.44 per $1,000 valuation on property taxes and this is the lowest in 40 years. This is a reduction from $13.32 per $1000 for this year. With these two years of reduction of property taxes, the loss of property tax revenues are in the neighborhood of $4 million for the district. Without knowing what the Iowa Legislature will settle at on Allowable Growth percentages for education/schools we have to build our budget on zero allowable growth which means no new money per student. Thus we have to prepare for how to make sure that our children and youth have what they need in the classroom and to be able to have a well-rounded education through participation in as wide a variety of learning experiences as is possible. This is no easy task for our district, with rising costs for energy, fuel, transportation, materials, curriculum materials, insurance costs, etc.
“Our responsibility and charge as administrators for this district are to bring recommendations to the Board of Education in an effort save costs and save jobs that directly affect the General Fund budget. The Board has the final determination of what exactly will be reduced or eliminated.”
More information:
SUPPLEMENTAL POSITIONS AFFECTED: Total Projected Cost Savings: $73,000
· PDF (Professional Development Facilitators): Rationale: As our work with Data Teams continues to develop, we are seeing the role of the PDF change/shift to be more toward the work of the Data Teams Facilitator role. If the Teacher Leadership/Compensation career ladder model is accepted in some form by the legislature and the governor then we will be ready to request a planning grant to implement what will work for MC. This will allow us to be eligible for the “categorical dollars” from the State that are tied to the Career Ladder model. The savings here is around $37,000
· ACTIVITIES/ATHLETICS: We asked Bob Kenny to provide us with coaching numbers from other districts of similar size as well as the number of students currently involved in all activities 7-12. We visited about how to support program growth, insure safety of our student athletes, sharing of positions, how we might engage more volunteer coaches if needed and review the current criteria for when a paid coach is added to each particular area. Mr. Kenny would recommend where, how manyand that head coaches would be involved in this process regarding which specific people/positions would be affected. There were 13 positions recommended for elimination or to be reduced. 9 of these are from the high school athletics and 4 are from 7th and 8th grade athletics. These are never easy decisions or decisions that are made lightly. The savings is around $36,000. Coaches are considered as part of the Supplemental Positions for the school district and are paid from the General Fund budget.
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Micich said Monday that school funding is in a precarious spot at this time, with massive cuts coming from the state level and the fact that Mason City has no Instructional Support Levy at this time.
“We have to prepare for the worst,” Micich said, “until we know where our funding will come from.”
“People want to compare us to Marshalltown and Fort Dodge and say they have more coaches than we do… they also have ISL’s.”
Up to 13 assistant coaching positions are being recommended to be cut, with 9 of those positions at the High School.
An orchestra director position is also up to be cut to half time.
The Instructional Support Levy was passed in March by the Mason City School Board but citizens obtained a petition with about 1,100 signatures that will force the issue to go to the voters.
The school district is hiring for some positions. See those opportunites here.
Thank god we saved the assistant coaches! Especially for football, I see big things on the horizon for me and my team. We will shock the state! It would of been really hard without our Offensive coordinator…
If everyone that works full time as a teacher and administrator for MC takes a pay cut based on pay you recieve 1% for every 10k you make I will vote for the levy, NO PAY CUT NO VOTE. Its in your hands now MC School Board
correct me if i’m wrong but the girls basketball team has 9 coaches. 9 seems like a hell of a lot-what happened to a head coach and a couple of assistants? How is it that Anita can share her time with C.L and get paid those type of numbers. If you compare dollar per hour now and before they shared, we are really getting screwed for the time she puts in at each district. How did we get by all these years on each district having it’s own Supt. ???
I would like to know how much Micich gets paid. Could we cut her pay? Also, how often do the Mohawk sports teams get new uniforms? I am not sure if this is true but I heard they get new uniforms every other year. If this is a fact, maybe they could wait 5 or so years to purchase new uniforms. It seems to me like there are other ways to cut the spending rather than eliminating coaching positions.
Do ya hear dem voices Matt! This story line hit a raw nerve with most of us. It’s time for one of your world class “in your face” interviews with Anita and Company. Coverage of the next School Board Meeting perhaps or exposing some of those minutes and memos? That would certainly shed some light or turn up the heat on MC School District.
And by the way, how come we havent heard anything about the impact on Clear Lake (Anita runs both schools)or do they get a free pass on their infamous football program under Fast Freddie?
Information requested about the school board meeting on May 6, 2013. Where will it be held? What time will it be held? Are citizens allowed to attend? If citizens are allowed to attend, will they be allowed to offer input, i.e. questions, comments, clarifications on issues, etc. Will it be covered by NIT or the Globe Gazette? Appreciate all information. Thank you.
Problem with cutting the coaching positions is that you’re probably going to end up with even less competitive Mohawk sports teams.
This will likely result in some kids open enrolling to another nearby district or switching to Newman, just because they don’t want to be part of a losing team.
Losing just 6 kids will eat up all savings from the coaching cuts….more than 6 will put the district further into the red. Then what do you cut, more coaches, music program?
Thus speeding up the process of student defections and further cuts.
Anita is slowly killing the Mason City school system, and does so with a smile on her face.
Great post! The only thing wrong with this is that Anita will never cut anything of importance from the music program. That’s her baby.
This is just like everything else in government. It NEEDS to be cut, but not what and where I want it cut. Mason City is a dying town, and the school system is, and will continue to get smaller. With a smaller school, you need less and less people.
What is there? 3500-4000 kids in the school? I would bet there are more people employed today in the district, than in the 70s when there were 6500-7000 kids.
That is nothing more than typical government! Cost more and more for less and less
School sports are important to some degree, but our big mistake is putting sports above academics. Take a look at some of the countries with the highest scoring students, such as the Asian countries. They seem to have their priorities straight. Why can’t we learn from this? Could it be that it’s all about money in the U.S.?
I’m amazed at the parents who gloat about their children’s achievements in sports without giving a thought to their grades. I mean, what are the chances that any of these kids will go on to play professional sports? But we KNOW they’ll go on to needing a good job and being able to support themselves.
Less attention to sports; much more attention to academics.
I agree 100%. Sending grade school and/or junior high kids all over the area to sporting events is unnecessary and expensive not only to the school district, but also intrusive to businesses when parents want time off to attend.
What you don’t take into consideration is that other countries do not try to educate ALL their students. They also don’t test all their students. Early on in their educational careers, tests are given and students are then divided up accordingly. If they do not show an aptitude for math or science, then they don’t go to one of those school where math, science and other subjects that we call core subjects are taught. They go to technical, vocational or trade schools where they learn a trade. In the US, our system is not developed by teachers but rather by politicians who rely on ‘experts’ to tell them what is best. Those experts have decided that every child in the US should have the same education knowing full well that the same education does not suit all children. It is becoming more evident as the world becomes more technological.
Yes, and then we get to deal with people at our businesses who don’t understand basic math. I once worked at a bank and a woman swore we were stealing from her when she deposited her husband’s $250 paycheck, took $30 cash, and only $220 went into the account instead of the entire $250 every week. She got overdrawn and couldn’t understand it. She was going to call the police and report the bank. There was NO explaining it to her and I tried about 5 different ways that she couldn’t have that $30 twice. She was not what I would have thought of as low-functioning. I finally told her to please talk to her husband before she called the police. He took over the banking. That’s what happens when people get passed through the grades without understanding basic math. Businesses can’t reason with people who are that uneducated. People need basic skills to get along in this world. Knowing a trade is not enough.
@Well rounded.You are correct and I too have seen the lack of education. Most of the young people who came into the factory could not read a tape measure and did not understand fractions at all. They were completely unable to read simple blue prints and in a lot of cases could not even read work instructions. There are those people who would like to say that they were all athletes but that is not true. For a number of years if you do not have a passing grade you can’t play sports. There is no penalty like that for those who don’t play sports. If they flunk they just go to alternative school and they find a way to pass them.
@bodacious-excellent post and very true statements. It’s about time some one came out with something that makes sens. I just wish our school board would listen to you, but, they probably won’t. To many big ego’s on the board.
Bodacious, are you certain about that? It just makes too much sense. What’s keeping us from doing that in this country?
Divide Micichs 225.000 a year, and you pay pay for a LOT of coaches!!
One must wonder if this is a move to force or scare people into voting YES on the instructional support levy. Will there be more cuts to come in the coming weeks, leading up to the ISL vote? We know this school board and administration plays dirty, just look at how they selected Bob Thoms to be on the board after he clearly got way fewer votes than Ed Wineinger in the last school board election. Remember, just because the people speak, doesn’t mean this school district will listen.
@ newman – You mention Ed Wineinger. I have only met the man twice. The first time I found him arguementative, quick to anger, and impolite to the point of rudeness. The second time he was so arrogant he would not even talk to the people around him, and acted as though he could barely tolerate the “common folk”. You like him? Fine. I would not vote for him if he were the only name on the ballot.
Well, more people voted for Ed than Bob. And it wasn’t close. So you are in the minority and the board ignored the voters. Seems like they ignored they “common folk.”
@ newman – Perhaps, in this case, the board knew more than the voters.
Its pretty sad if our Micich is playing this game to get a yes vote. My feeling on this that yes the administration and teachers pay has jumped a little to much for the number of students we have. How come there was just a couple of promotions in admin and then you see they are looking for replacement of the 2 people. Their salaries are all over 100k each. Things just dont add up. Mason City tax payers wake up and do your math. IT JUST DOESNT ADD UP. If the school cuts these coaches then the 1500 to 3500 they were getting each put that into the bank to help pay the water bill for the football field or to pay interest for the million dollar tennis courts or better yet to foot Anitas next raise. Why is it only our school that is having this problem? FT Doge with over 70 coaches? WE DONT NEED ALL THE ADMINISTRATION HERE AND WE SURE AS HELL DONT NEED TO GIVE A RAISE FOR OUR TEACHERS.
It seems everyone want to raise teachers pay and hire more teachers. When will people realize that teachers can teach all they want, but if the students don’t want to learn, nothing is going to happen. If teachers would start doing their job, giving homework, making students accountable, and not just passing them to the next grade for showing up in class, maybe things might change for the better.
Accountability for todays generation? Good luck with that. Parents don’t want teachers enforcing it.
Newman teachers make 30-40% less than public school teachers. With little or no retirement. Thats how it is in the real world, the private sector.
Evedently They teach for the love of teaching, not the $$$$$
Not only do Newman teachers make alot less than the public school teachers, they have not always had the same resources available to the public school. The result….90 percent of Newman students go on to secondary education including some of the finest colleges in the nation…Ivy league, Notre Dame, MIT, and such.
What this shows to me is that the teachers at Newman do their job as a calling, a love of teaching and mentoring young people to be successful in life something the public school teachers and their union could take a lesson from.
As far as the coaches go, so much emphasis is placed on winning, at Newman the emphasis is placed on making young people better people thru the use of sports. I have heard the coaches tell parents we dont care if we win or lose, as long as the kids develop as successful adults. You see its not about the win lose numbers its about teaching drive, determination, social skills, friendships, and such. The results of that approach speak for themselves, and yes I am a former Newman parent…and proud of it.
Obviously you’re a Newman parent since you believe all the dribble drabble that the coaches shoot your way about “doesn’t matter if they win or lose…” Makes me laugh.
How is that win at all costs doing for you at MCHS? I go to Newman games and see the state championship banners hanging. Pure dribble?…this as I have mentioned is the mantra of Newman coaches, and by the way there are 3 Hall of Fame coaches still working there…how about MCHS?
@commonsenseman-Newman is an excellent school where the kids are taught discipline and respect. It is a whole different attitude than Mason City Schools. People would not believe how many non-catholic kids attend the school just because they get a better education with out the bull sh##
LVS…I believe the non catholic enrollment at Newman is currently around 25 percent. Parents who choose to send their kids there have a wide spectrum of income. Yes some are well off doctors lawyers and such, others like myself had to sacrifice to go there. But with that said my wife and I as parents felt were were investing in our kids instead of a new car or fancy vacations. We talked alot to our kids about our investment in them and that we needed them to try as hard as possible to make that investment pay off, and the result?…they all make more money than I ever did and are well rounded adults….and you are right LVS Newman tought them discipline, drive, and respect.
My kids also wrestled in high school, and they did not have 5 assistant coaches, they had the graduated wrestlers come back and help the younger kids. Its a policy of giving back to the program that helped you become a better person.
Newman is a good school; I would never argue that point. But the fact is that the Newman students go to MCHS for the advanced and AP classes and take those classes right beside MCHS students. Personally, I believe that the reason a higher percentage of Newman students than MCHS students go on to college is due to economics: parents used to paying Newman tuition have the means to pay for at least a community college tuition.
The reason a higher percentage of Newman students than MCHS students go on to college, may have more to due with the interest the parents have in their children.
You talk about the state championship banners but forget that Newman is 1A. Mason City is 4A. We play powerhouses like Ames, Ankeny, Valley, Waukee, etc. Newman only plays one horse towns in north Iowa. Huge difference in competition and athletes.
Lets not miss the point of this political dance. Its all about timing and strategy.
Micich and Company are making a premptive strike against the efforts of those who would vote NO on the ISL. They are deflecting the conversation to the coaches and others, making this an emotional issue instead of dealing with all lard in the budget. Dont be fooled.
She is taking her cue from Obama. Make the cuts where it will hurt the public the most and cause the biggest outcry.
Lvs where did you get your information that Newman teachers get full benefits?
One of my friends works there. They get an allowance for that but not nearly enough to pay for the health care.
From a teacher that works there. They don’t like to talk about it but he said it was true. I didn’t say there was anything wrong about it. The teachers at Newman make less than they do at Mason City and this helps compensate them somewhat.
The real problem here is not at the state level, it is at the local level. Something needs to be done about teacher benefits and salary’s. Bad mouthing Branstad is not the answer. Every year the enrollment goes down and every year they want more money. The spent 35 million on remodeling the high school and then had to add more to put is security doors. That is mismanagement. It has been going on for years. If they have to cut down on sports coaches then so be it. Fund it through the people who are using it.
I do agree- those that want the program will find a way to fund it. It’s no different than scouting, 4-H, travel teams (I have no clue how many of those exist) , and those types of programs. But, many of us think that we are owed these extra programs in our schools.
I’m glad to see they are making cuts in the right places.
I never understand why there were school sponsored sports in the first place. All sports could easily be done by outside funding, like the trap shooting team mentioned above.
I would prefer my education tax dollars be spent on actually teaching the youth instead of stupid muscle jocks slapping their balls around.
So much truth in this post! Sports are NOT part of education, as was the thought back in the days before effective PE classes. There are so many out of school “leagues” and “teams” that these kids join after school and pay good money to be in them – why are we paying them to practice at school???
The ridiculous salary argument has been shot down so many times by so many people that it really doesn’t deserve any further comment.
It’s priorities – if we really want to educate our kids to succeed, we need to spend the money to do it right. We need to hire MORE teachers in order to reduce class size, which has been proven again and again to be the superior way to teach kids. We need to supply them with the space and the tools to teach our kids. We need to pay them a decent wage – if we aren’t going to raise our kids, somebody has to.
We need to stop this god awful focus on sports, sports and more sports. We need intelligent, articulate leaders for our communities, not slack jawed boobs who can throw a ball.
That post will win you some friends. Now that being said, I played football, wrestled and ran track when I was in school. Of course that was a long time ago and times change.
the fact you played sports makes a good argument to eliminate all sports
Ah Dave-now look what you did. Are you really stinksofstupd posting under another name again?
OMG, Sicka, I agree with you! LOL I think some sports are fine, but there is way too much emphasis on them. Academics always came first in my high school and that’s the way it should be. My high school class was in the 99th percentile in the nation and 98th in Iowa in Basic Skills. That’s how driven we all were. Our competition was for grades, not sports letters. We have an amazing number of PHD’s, an MD, a JD, a CPA, Masters, BA’s and AA’s for a class of 53. And not a single professional athlete!
We may have differing political opinions, Katie, but I respect your intelligent posts – even when I don’t agree with them!
Much of the funding for school activities come from the athletic programs that generate income – football, basketball, volleyball and baseball/softball (in some districts on the last 2). Cutting positions helps no one except the money managers. They find more money for their pet projects and leave those activities that provide refuge for their participants with nothing. I don’t know exactly what activities are losing coaches, but I would bet it won’t be the football or basketball program. Football and basketball are the high-profile sports.
I also wonder about the discussion the board was supposed to have (or is going to have) on the administrative salaries. A 3% raise on a salary of $50,000 is $1500, a 3% bump on $120,000 is $3600. That is the difference between a teacher’s raise and an administrator’s raise. But the teacher is also paying healthcare costs because I don’t believe that teachers’ are receiving fully paid health insurance while administrators are. When healthcare costs jump 10-12%, the employee has to absorb that cost while the administrator doesn’t.
@bodacious-good post. I don’t know about Mason City School benefits, but Newman teachers have fully paid benefits. I have to believe if they do Mason City does too. However, that was good information you provided. Thank you.
Mason City teachers do NOT have fully paid benefits. I know many of the district employees well and they do have a nice benefit package, but @bodacious was correct in stating that the teachers do pay more when there is an increase in insurance costs.
@upperclassman (another damn socialist) 1st amendment says I can say what I want too. So, up yours.
I, like you LVS, am not looking for friends.
Speaking to bodacious – the associations could put their muscle into private teams and clubs. They benefit no one and take up valuable learning time.
@stupd-how about you minding your own business. You do not live here in Mason City so you don’t get a vote.
1st amendment says he can say what he wants. Stop trying to bully people. Again.
What do you know-stinksof stupid posting under another false name. Up yours.
I hope you don’t wonder why no one respects your opinion.
LVS, instead of obsessing about me, why don’t you contribute something meaningful to the conversation – any conversation? This is an important issue affecting our future leaders. Stop acting like such a childish moron.
Don’t care what your opinion is. What you Libs think means nothing to me at all. By the way I have been told by most people one here that they like my opinions. It is only the communist that don’t. Where do you fit in. I didn’t solicit your opinion and I am using my first amendment rights just like my second amendment rights.
@stupd-It’s not me with the multiple personality disorder it is you. Why don’t you learn to post without throwing in insults. You are no where near as smart as you think you are. You throw in things like slack jawed boobs and childish morons and expect people to disregard that as cute. You are far past the age of being cute so wake up and try growing up. You act like a whiny, spoiled brat girl. You will be treated the way you treat other people. You have no say in what happens here in Mason City. You don’t live here and you don’t pay taxes here. You were probably run out of town years ago.
Why does it always take you at least two posts to reply to me, LVS? Have to take a break to lie on the floor and kick your feet?
@stinksandstupd-the last post was for upperclassman who must be your brother. Are you so paranoid you think every post is all about you. You are a waste of space and time.
@ bodacious: Not sure if you’re living under a rock but…Football,boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball and softball will all be effected by these cuts. Educate yourself before you post your comments.
mcsupporter…sorry but I do educate myself. When I first posted here, no mention had been made of where the cuts would be made. Later, more information was available and, yes, there will be some cuts in the major sports on a minor level. Sorry to ruffle your feathers. I also noticed that there was a fine arts position cut to 1/2 time.
Instead of the asinine comment about cutting teacher salaries, how about fixate on the REAL problem? Terry and the Toads in the House are slashing education as hard as they can, despite the SURPLUS in our state budget. Why, you ask? So Terry and his pals can lower their commercial property taxes… don’t think so? Look it up..
Absolutely agree with you on this one. Gov Branstad is an expert at looking out for himself and his cronies. We don’t need to cut teachers’ salaries. We need to cut back on salaries and perks that our state legislators are receiving. And what are the chances of that?
There’s a lot to be learned from the trapshooting team. 100% self funded- currently 10 volunteer coaches. There are people willing to work with the kids in our community. The kids and parents need to show enthusiasm and how they can all work together. Just because these cuts were made, it does not mean that these sports must come to an end. I’m not sure how many state championships the Mohawk Trapshooters have brought to the high school, but I do know it’s several. Last year- 2012 was the last year they won. So- I do think parents of kids involved in these sports, should talk to parents of the trapshooting team to see how it can be done. The trapshooting team seems to be doing something right.
I’m asking this with respect because I really don’t know. How many kids participate in trapshooting compared to football, basketball, soccer, baseball? Might be comparing apples to oranges.
I don’t know what they currently have for numbers- usually 35-50 kids. Anybody know? I guess, my point is that just because these positions are cut, these sports can still go on if people want them to. It’s up to the people in the community to make it happen. It’s obvious that opportunities for kids cannot rely 100% on state funding through the schools. We live in different times.
There are 9 volunteer coaches and at least 25 kids total from Mason City, Clear Lake, Ventura, and Garner. The coaches have to go to classes to become certified. Many of the coaches do NOT have children in the sport. They put in countless hours on Saturdays taking the kids to trap meets all over the state. They also practice with them evenings during the week. I believe their team won the meet in Cedar Falls this past weekend. The parents are very active with the team as well. These coaches are very dedicated and get nothing but satisfaction for their efforts. This sport is a model for what other sports could be.
There are millions to be made by state and local governments in the regulation and taxation of marijuana. Problem solved.
If everybody would work for a realistic wage, we could have more people, BUT, everybody gets their annual raise reguardless of fewer students, less funding, etc.
All of this, especially from the Globe is to get people to vote for the ISL.
FREEZE wages, make people pay for some of their benefits, and I may change my mind, but NONE of that is going to happen.
Almost forgot about Horner. He was my teacher in Lake Mills.Well actually he was in the classroom and that’s about all he had to offer.
Exactly what positions are being cut? Anita has a tough job. It’s not the superintendent’s pay it’s the pay and fringe benefits that those teachers who have benefitted for years on the basis of seniority. Nobody ever said that Bob Horner was going to be in the teaching hall of fame but he was a basketball coach and was in the classroom for 25 years too long.
Anita, how about cutting your pay??? That would be a great place to start if you’re making cuts? It’s extremely selfish that you reap the salary that you do and keep cutting positions.
Agree 100%. Anita’s salary should be the 1st thing to be cut followed closely by the other overpaid administrators. Can’t help but notice that Anita’s baby-the arts-only have to cut 1, yes, 1 orchestra director to 1/2 time. 13 coaches vs 1 part time orchestra director. Seems a little one sided with the cuts, Anita.