South Tama Schools Superintendent Jared Smith speaks during a Monday night, April 20, school board meeting in a screen shot of a Google “Hangout” meeting on the internet. From top right are School Board members Mandy Lekin and Alan Kline, School Business Manager and Board Secretary Mary Boege Board Member Ron Houghton. STC?Board meetings are being conducted electronically due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the public able to view and participate.

School work, grades, graduation and prom are high on the minds of students, parents and school officials based upon information shared Monday night, April 20, during the regular South Tama School Board meeting. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds officially ended the public school year in Iowa in an announcement made Friday, April 17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

School board members Mandy Lekin, Ron Houghton and Alan Kline met in a Google-Hangout” internet session due to the COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings. Members Penny Tyynismaa and Clint Werner were absent.The board was joined by more than 30 members of the public through internet capability. Graduation Day and the high school prom are, of course, put on hold. Supt. Smith said it has been decided by a school committee to designate June 28 as graduation day.

It is hoped restrictions may be eased by then, but some type of exercise will hopefully occur that day according to the current plan, Smith said.

Board member Mandy Lekin said the parent Prom Committee is also looking at possible alternatives.

Educational Other Considerations

A number of results affecting the schools are all levels is in practice or under discussion it was learned.

Supt. Jared Smith said the unanimous recommendation of the high school administrative committee which also included counseling staff and teacher leaders is to issue student grades for the 4th quarter on a pass-fail basis.

The use of an option for students to choose pass-fail or grades would likely be unworkable Smith said. He cited 450 students taking seven classes would total 3,000-plus courses which would have to be evaluated on a one-on-one basis and probably only four staff members would be in position odo it.e said for high school alone, four persons would be responsible for going over work in 3,000 course to deliver grades.He recognized larger schools with big staff might be able to do so.

Speaking during public comments, Pam Knock, rural Toledo, called upon the board to consider the effect grades have on scholarships and college admissions while recognizing this is unchartered territory.”

Smith said a online survey he conducted of about 50 districts and information about many other state-wide indicate many are taking the pass-fail route.

Board member Ron Houghton said, “every senior in the state of Iowa is going to be in the same situation this summer.”

“This has been tricky,” Smith said. “There is no right or wrong way, but a majority are going the pass fail route.”

School Work

The board was also informed:

teachers and counselors at all levels are available for school students and parents by telephone, social media or social distancing, in some cases, on a weekly basis. In addition, sessions are offered via the internet and in packets offered at the schools for study and course work to be taken on a voluntary basis.

Earlier, Supt. Smith said a survey found less than 50% of student homes in the district have internet access making course requirements electronically not viable.

Personnel

Terming it “hiring time,” Supt. Smith said the school board was probably seeing the most personnel items of the year on the agenda at one time. He told the board “exit interviews” are conducted with departing staff in South Tama’s continuing core value effort to attract and retain the best staff members.” He said many of the current resignations are from staff who have accepted positions closer to their home locations.

Resignations were accepted from Marissa Gren, 5th grade special education; Abbi Rust, 3rd grade teacher; Michelle Bradley, high school math; Molly Tafta, 3rd grade; Hannah Mullen pre-school; Aimee Forgie, 3rd grade ; Annie Lucas, benefits / payroll position; and Hailee Weiss, high school family liaison / at risk.

New teachers approved for hiring include: Kenadie Fiebelkom, 3rd grade; Brittany Hammes, pre-school; and Madison Cline, 4th grade.

The board also approved changing the position of Stephanie Lane, middle school art teacher from .56-time to full time.

In other business Monday the board:

approved a three-year audit contract required for district finances with Nolte, Cornman and Johnson P.C. at a rate not to exceed $10,700 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, $11,100 for 2021 and $11,500 for 2022.

approved renewal of a purchase agreement with Central Rivers Area Education Agency for 2020-21 for food, small wares and other food service supplies.

an agreement with Junior Achievement to continue to provide educational programs at the middle school.

discussed building new high school tennis courts which are under study by Steve McAdoo, district maintenance director. He said the present six courts have reached a point where they are not repairable. He said it is estimated replacement on the same site could be in the $700,000- $800,000 price range. He said this cost requires an engineering study and he expects to bring the matter back before the board with bids for engineering service

earned from Steve Chyma, transportation director, bids for three new school buses to replace two which are 20 years old and a third which is not able ot be repaired can be expected. He also said prices for the used buses are to be sought for activity trips in which 12 or less seats are needed. The district must use full-size buses in some instances to transport these small numbers of students.

discussed offering para-educators the option to be certified as para-educators and then as sub-teachers,enabling them to replace teachers who are absent. Supt. Smith said this should a solution to a shortage of certified teacher substitutes.