School Board keeps most fees unchanged for 2022-23

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Although high inflation rates seem to be driving prices up both locally and world-wide, it won’t have much of an impact on parents and students in the Charles City School District during the upcoming school year.

The Charles City School District Board of Directors reviewed and approved school fees for the 2022-23 school year in action at Monday’s meeting, and the only fees that went up were for activity passes.

The cost for an activities pass increased by $3, and will now be $40 for students and $70 for adults. All other fees — for textbooks, yearbooks and meals — will remain the same.

Textbook fees are $30 for elementary students, $45 for middle school students and $50 for high school students. The technology fee for students in grades 5-12 will also remain the same at $30.

For high school students, the graduation fee will remain at $40, the yearbook fee will stay at $50 and the driver’s education fee, through StreetSmarts, will be unchanged at $380. Middle school yearbooks will cost $6.

Breakfast fees will be $1.50 for students and $2 for adults. Lunches will cost $2.70 for students and $3.95 for adults. The cost of $1.60 for an extra entree for lunch is also the same as last school year.

Also Monday, the board heard from CCHS Principal Bryan Jurrens and members of the high school leadership team regarding graduation rates for the 2021-22 school year.

The preliminary high school graduation rate for the Class of 2022 for the high school campus was 92.8%, while the Innovative Campus had a 38.4% graduation rate, and the Carrie Lane Program had a 54.5% graduation rate.

All programs combined at all three campuses amounted to about an 80% graduation rate. Jurrens told the board there were still a few students who could achieve enough credits to earn a diploma before the start of the next school year, so it’s possible the number could be slightly higher.

At the high school, 91 out of 98 students graduated, while four did not and three dropped out before the end of the school year. Six of 11 Carrie Lane students graduated while 10 of 27 Innovative Campus students graduated.

Jurrens said that much of the slight increase in dropouts is due to the COVID epidemic, available jobs and changes in the dropout process. He added that dropouts related to COVID have impacted graduation rates nationwide.

“I hate to say it, but it’s kind of a national trend,” Jurrens said. “Dropouts since COVID have been tough. Some students have really struggled with the transition.”

He said that the increase in job availability is a problem he hasn’t seen before.

“Jobs is a new one,” Jurrens said. “We have kids who leave school to take a job, because there are a lot of higher-paying jobs out there.”

Jurrens said the district needs to continue to evaluate the Innovative Campus and adjust.

“I’ll be the first to admit that, looking at this data, we need to take a look at the Innovative Campus, which was in its first year,” Jurrens said. “Looking at the raw data, it does look bad and kind of alarming. We will address that.”

Jurrens also addressed the board regarding initial plans for a monument to be placed near the flagpole at the high school.

The Charles City Class of 1985 has approached the district to discuss a donation to the school to remember students from their class who are no longer with them, as well as to “shine a focus on providing support for students and community members who are in crisis.” The design of the project is by Molly Barrett, CCHS class of 1985.

The project entails the creation of a gathering space highlighted by a six-inch thick 8-foot-by-8-foot granite platform with a sculpted steel base that is strong enough to hold the weight of all people and their individual joys and concerns. A plaque with phone numbers to call in times of crisis will be placed nearby as well as a time stamp that will convey the message “you know you’re not alone.”

The board also approved Director of Operations Jerry Mitchell to purchase a wheelchair lift for $17,345. Mitchell has worked with several stakeholders to make sure that all district facilities are ADA accessible for all students and their needs. Upon examination, Lincoln Elementary school needs a lift to assist individuals in wheelchairs getting to different portions of the building. The lift will be paid for with ESSER III funding.

In other business Monday, the board:
• Approved the signing of the amended 2022-2023 Cedar Valley Career for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) agreement between the Cedar Falls School District and the Charles City Community School District. The finances for the agreement have been reduced to the equivalent of one year of services.
• Approved the signing of the NIACC Regional Career Center Educational Service Agreement between North Iowa Area Community College and the school district.
• Heard an update from CCHS Principal Bryan Jurrens regarding recent changes passed by the state Legislature regarding open enrollment.
• Set the annual mileage reimbursement rate at 62.5 cents (the IRS rate) as of July 1. This is a 6.5 cent increase from last year.
• Approved the resignations of Sue Hoefer, middle school track; Rob Pittman, assistant wrestling; Ben Klapperich, middle school boys track; Thomas Harskamp, executive director of student engagement and leadership; and Lisa Nelson, Washington Elementary teacher.
• Approved the appointment of Rob Pittman, head coach girls varsity wrestling, at a salary of $7,003, for the 2022-23 school year.
• Approved the appointment of Andrea Fuoss, head girls varsity basketball, at a salary of $5,149, for the 2022-23 school year.
• Approved the appointments of Melanie Van Soelen, 8th grade volleyball coach and Sue Hoefer, 8th grade basketball coach, both at salaries of $3,735, for the 2022-23 school year.
• Approved the appointment of Jennifer Seehusen, 7th grade volleyball and basketball, each position at a salary of $2,966, for the 2022-23 school year.
• Approved the appointment of Alexis Clough, 2nd grade teacher, at a salary of $40,959, for the 2022-23 school year.
• Approved the personnel transfer of Paige Elsbrand from administrative support food service program director at a wage of $26.26 per hour.
• Approved the personnel transfer of Sarah VanderWerf from administrative support to special education program director at a wage of $26.26 per hour.
• Corrected the annual salary of Lincoln Elementary School Principal Marcia DeVore. DeVore was previously approved for $105,054.30. That should have been approved for $108,492.00 based on duties performed. This is no increase or decrease from the 2021-2022 salary.