South Tama School Board members (seated-l-r) Michelle Yuska, president, Toledo, Mark McFate, vice president, Toledo. (Standing, l-r) Jackie Dvorak, Chelsea, Alan Kline, rural Toledo and Penny Tyynismaa, Tama. -STC photo

South Tama schools enrollment is up over 20 students in official enrollment figures for the current school year. This totals 1,636 students compared to 1,612 last year or a 1.5 percent increase over the 2014-15 year.

By grade levels the student number totals are- high school- 438, middle school- 429, elementary- 556 and pre-kindergarten- 91.

It was reported at the Nov. 16 South Tama School Board meeting, each year the district can apply for on time funding modified supplemental amount for increasing enrollment.

With the enrollment increase, board members voted to make application for $136,433 in these funds. Voting in favor were members Michelle Yuska, Mark McFate, Alan Kline, Jackie Dvorak and Penny Tyynismaa.

South Tama has a total of 43 limited English proficient students that have received instruction beyond five years. As a result, the Board also voted to apply for modified supplemental amount of $61,168.

High School Addition

Superintendent Mary Jones gave an update on the High School Facility improvements. Jones has been meeting with several organizations and public officials, as well as working with architects who are designing the improvements.

During public comments, Steve Vesely, Toledo resident and city council member-elect, asked if the school had given any thought to the option of using the Iowa Juvenile Home building for school building improvements. Vesely said with the amount of improvements already done to the Juvenile Home facility, and the taxpayers money that has been used he would really like to see some type of progress in finding a beneficial use of the buildings.

Jones said this will be financed by the Local Option Sales Tax program. South Tama has saved what they have received so far, waiting to make this improvement.

School board members and South Tama administrators encourage anyone interested in this project to attend the school board meetings and voice their concerns.

Personnel Changes

Betty Anne Lacina will be ELL Aide, effective Nov. 16, at a salary of $12.11 per hour, for five hours and Bryan Foster and John Wagner were approved for Middle School wrestling coaching.

Resignations were accepted from Kasey Smith as assistant varsity girls basketball, Jackie Ellenbecker as Juvenile Court School Liaison and Michelle Wiegand as 7th Grade Volleyball coach, all effective Oct. 26. Jeffrey Burlage’s resignation as a substitute for vocational agriculture and FFA, effective Nov. 6 was also accepted.

School Improvement

Advisory Committee

The South Tama School Improvement Advisory Committee serves as an advisory group with the purpose of enhancing the relationship between the school district and the community, (SIAC). This committee meets to review district needs assessment data, and make recommendations to the school board regarding major educational needs, student learning goals, and long range goals and indicators for content areas.

The SIAC Committee members are board approved and the committee is required to meet at least once a year. This year the committee plans to meet on a regular basis each month.

Committee members representing staff and administrators are Mary Jones, Ben Adams, Brent Bagnall, Scott Bolen, Melody Cole, Nancy Dostal, Laura Edwards, Jeff Funk, Laura Galvez, Abby Gard, Travis Gratteau-Zinnel, Jon Huebner, Marsha Keahna, Seth Koch, Karen Mixdorf, Michelle Morgan, Kim Nelson, Deloris Ryan, Jessica St. John, Joy Schirmer, Amy Stewart, Ian Tayner and Kathy Wilkerson. Student representatives are Callie Frakes and Clarissa Rosenberger. Parents and community members are Jill Bacon, Carrie Musgrave, Julie Berger, Sally Slaven and Denise Thomazin.

Elementary Update

An elementary update was given by Stacy Stull, elementary principial, telling what the elementary teachers and administration are working to accomplish and the methods they will be using to accomplish their goals. The elementary is still a little behind national average, but tests show they are gaining.