Board to approve coach, vocal director resignations

District to consider action on cost reductions

Staff report

The Charles City School District will review resignations from two well-known high school faculty members on Monday, after approving cost reductions totaling roughly $500,000 across the district.

Head boys’ basketball coach Todd Forsyth and vocal director Brad Beale have both submitted resignations to the Charles City Community School District, according to the initial agenda released Thursday. Forsyth will remain the high school athletic director, he told the Press on Thursday. Forsyth has been the head coach at the high school since 1993.

“There’s a lot of talent on this team, and it’s going to be a great opportunity for whoever is going to be the new coach,” said Forsyth, whose young team finished with an 8-13 record in 2015-16.

Vocal director Brad Beale joined the high school in August 2014 after graduating Luther College in Decorah. He is known for starting the department’s first A Capella choir, Chamber Choir and Comet Chorus. The rebuilt vocal department made full debuts in the fall 2015 department concert. Under Beale, students also began closing concerts by singing the high school’s alma mater, inviting alumni to join the stage and take part.

“This is the best first job that I could have asked for,” Beale said. “I told the kids, without them there is no choir program. I certainly pushed them, but they ran right along with me.”

Reductions

The list of proposed cost reductions that Superintendent Dr. Dan Cox presented at the March 28 meeting totaled $573,887. School Board members have until April 30 to make a decision concerning the reductions, however, it was recommended they take action at the 6:30 Monday, April 25 meeting to be held in the Charles City High School library.

Before making a decision, the School Board will allow for a 20 minute public hearing concerning the reductions. Previously public hearings pertaining to budget reductions have been held at the March 21, March 28 and the April 11 meetings. Reductions are necessary yet again this year due to a decline in enrollment.

Evaluation

According to Iowa Code 284A.7 superintendents must be annually evaluated. Evaluations are based on competence in meeting the Iowa Standards for School Leaders as well as performance and progress toward the superintendent’s Individual Administrator Development Plant.

School Board members will provide Cox with mid-year feedback regarding progress on his Iowa Individual Administrator Professional Development Plan.