The South Tama School District Budget estimate is $19,368,558 for fiscal year 2014. The property tax levy is $16.03 per $1,000 valuation.

This compares to the current 16.11 rate.

On Monday night, March 18, school board members authorized publication of the budget estimate and set a public hearing for April 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Partnership Center in Tama.

Also on Monday, Superintendent Kerri Nelson advised the South Tama County Board of Education members to consider the renewal of their contract with KeBecca, formerly EduCare. KeBecca provides special education services for Level lll BD students in the district. The district has contracted for these services for the past three years.

School board members Michelle Yuska, Ron Hala, Mark McFate Anne Michael and Jackie Dvorak all voted to approve the contract.

The contract provides for a two-classroom comprehensive special education program at the South Tama Schools for the 2013-14 school year. The only noted change is the age span of the students eligible to attend the elementary classroom. KeBecca will now offer services for first and second grade students as well.

Terms of the contract include:

KeBecca Education Services, Inc. will provide certified instructional staff employed, trained and supervised by KeBecca. Full time equivalency for the instructional staff shall be 2.0 Full Time Employment in support of two full time instructional classrooms. Annual contracted days of service for the instructional staff positions shall be 190 days.

KeBecca will also provide 4.0 Full Time instructional support staff employed, trained and supervised by Kebecca. One of these instructional staff positions shall be termed Interventionist with a job description commensurate with the unique responsibilities of the Interventionist role. Each instructional support staff position shall average 35 hours per week and 180 days of instruction per year. Hourly wages and benefits for the instructional support positions shall be the responsibility of KeBecca.

Kebecca will provide for a comprehensive special education academic – behavior management program.

The classrooms shall be termed “Self Contained” and consistent with the KeBecca Comprehensive model.

The program shall meet or exceed all minimum requirements of the Iowa Department of Education.

KeBecca will provide for a comprehensive Title 1 reading and math program for students enrolled in the program.

South Tama will provide for the term of the contract appropriate clerical support for the teacher and instructional support staff.

South Tama will also provide for the term of the contract appropriate custodial support for the program.

South Tama will be responsible for the food service support for the students enrolled for the term of the contract.

South Tama shall provide for the term of the contract, appropriate student transportation services for STC students enrolled in the special education Level III Behavior Disorders program.

The board also approved a contract with Kagan Cooperative Learning as part of the district’s professional development plan. The contract is for services on March 28 at the elementary school. The focus will be on using the strategies of math instruction. This is a one day program and will be held from 8:30am to 3:30 pm. Participant fee for those attending is $154. If the final number of participants is less than 99 the price could be increased and if the final number exceeds 100 it could be reduced.

In other business the school board:

-approved a contract for George Corum as Varsity Girls track coach was approved, going into effect immediately at a salary of $4,797.

-accepted resignations from Mike Cherveny, high school custodian and Sandy Merfield, Print Shop, both effective May 31, and Emily Chyma, varsity girls track and cheerleading coach, effective immediately.