School Board Works Through Summer Agenda
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa School Board met in regular session on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, inside the board room of George Daily Auditorium.
The first item on the agenda for the evening was to tackle contracts, resignations, and transfers of teachers in the district. Those changes will be listed at the bottom of this article.
Board member Sharma Parlett asked administrators about the reduction in school suspensions this year. “They were a lot more responsible for behavior than last year, and I think they addressed many of the small issues, which kept kids in class longer. I think our philosophy is now, we want kids in the building.”
The Oskaloosa Elementary had 37 total in-school suspensions among 32 students during the 2018-19 school year, which is a decrease from the all-time high of 115 among 74 students back in 2016-17.
Out of school suspensions also decreased with 70 suspensions taking place over the year among 29 students. That’s down from 260 suspensions among 136 students in 2016-17.
There have been no expulsions since the 2012-13 school year.
In the middle school, the number of in-school suspensions climbed slightly to 80 among 38 students, up 3 from last year, but down from the 2016-17 school year when there was 110 among 67 students.
Out of school suspensions for the middle school jumped to 122 among 66 students for the 2018-19 school year. Last school year there was 85 among 35 students. There was a total of 155 suspensions among 62 students back in 2014-15.
At the high school, there were 77 in-school suspensions during the 2018-19 school year among 50 students. That’s down from 182 among 107 students the year before. According to records, 217 in school suspensions among 104 students occurred during the 2011-12 school year.
Out of school suspensions in the high school for 2018-19 was 62 among 37 students. 125 suspensions among 66 students occurred during the 2017-18 school year.
High school administrators said they believed that teachers have done a good job at helping the administration with some requests.
Students receiving free or reduced lunch at the high school is at 44%, an all-time high, for the 2018-19 school year, which is up from a low of 31.4% back in 2011-12.
At the middle school, 52% of students are receiving free or reduced lunch, which is also an all-time high. In 2011-12, that number was 39.1%, the lowest point in recent data.
At the elementary, 57.4% of students receive free or reduced lunch. That is also the highest level in available data. The lowest was back in 2011-12 with 40.7%.
The Board considered a memorandum of understanding and contract regarding the new building trades home that will be built in the Marge Addition. The memorandum will allow the district to negotiate a final price for the lot depending upon the selling price of the trades home.
The board also released the retainage for the High School Gymnasium Renovation Project in the amount of $58,472.83.
The next scheduled meeting date is July 16, 2019 beginning at 6:00 pm.
Teacher position announcements-
A. Contracts:
1) Sharon Hammes 0.5FTE OES Music (one year contract)
2) Alexis Wahlert OES Special Education
3) Mackenzie Paris OES Special Education
4) Nicole Stewart OMS 6th grade ELA/SS
5) Melanie Hatch Director of Student Services
6) Angela Hanson Director of Curriculum & Instruction
7) Bart Elliott OMS Football Coach
8) Andy Fuhs OMS Wrestling Coach
9) Justin VonAhsen OMS Wrestling Coach
B. Resignations:
1) Shannon Nikkel – 1st grade (pending suitable replacement)
2) Stephanie Wilson – Curriculum Director
3) Matt Johnson – OHS SPED (pending suitable replacement)
4) Joyce Eveland – PT HSAP Instructor
C. Transfers:
1) Deb DeJong from OMS Technology to OMS FCS/Health
2) Autumn Reisetter from HS Special Education to OES PE
3) Heather Van Gorp from 4th Grade to 1st Grade
4) Molly Sterner from OHS Language Arts to OHS ELA/TAG
