News : Vinton Shellsburg Administrator/Director Reports

The Vinton-Shellsburg administrators reported on a variety of academic, extracurricular, and operational updates. At the high school, ACT testing faced technical difficulties but was successfully completed in small groups, 24 new members were inducted into NHS, and spring activities, including track, speech, and FFA competitions, are underway. Parent-teacher conference attendance was low, especially among upperclassmen, and student scheduling for 2025-26 is in progress. At the middle school, students participated in a Rock, Paper, Scissors event to celebrate the end of the quarter, ISASP goal-setting meetings were held, and track season has begun with strong participation. Attendance interventions included postcards, letters, and parent meetings. Tilford Elementary had an impressive 98% conference attendance rate, hosted instructional rounds, and is in the hiring process for next year. Shellsburg Elementary also had high conference attendance (96%) and has been actively hiring for key positions, including a new head secretary. The school's Jump Rope for Heart initiative engaged students in learning about heart health and will conclude with an assembly featuring fun competitions and student recognition. 

Updated LED lightening in the offices and cafeteria space at Shellsburg Elementary.

• New Aerator Purchased - A new aerator has been acquired to improve turf maintenance across our fields and yard spaces.
• Grass Seed & Fertilizer - Ordered and applied for spring field preparation to maintain healthy playing surfaces.
• Tree Removal at Shellsburg Elementary - The project has been successfully completed, improving safety and aesthetics around the school.
• Prairie Grass Burn at Karr Athletic Complex - Conducted with the assistance of the Vinton Fire Department-a big thank-you to them for their support! This burn will help restore and maintain the natural grass area.
• Bus Purchasing Plans - Evaluating options for upcoming bus purchases. New tariffs will impact pricing, requiring careful budget planning.
• Replacement Needed - Route Bus #5 - This bus is due for replacement. We are exploring cost-effective options while ensuring we maintain a reliable fleet for student transportation.

6. Superintendent Report6. NUTRITION BIDDING
Last week, we held an informational meeting for companies interested in bidding on our nutrition request for proposal (RFP). I provided background information and an overview of the district before leading a tour of each school's kitchen. I received positive feedback on the cleanliness of our kitchens.

The following companies attended: Opa, Chartwells, SFE, Lunchtime, and Taher. Bids are due on April 10th, and we will review and score submissions accordingly.

CURRENT SCHOOL CALENDAR UPDATE:
4 days of School Days Missed (2/6, 2/12, 3/5, 3/17)
5  days of Late Starts (12/16, 1/21, 2/5, 2/13, 2/18)
Make Up Day Was Monday, February 17th
29.5 Total Hours Missed, still well above 1,080
Certified Staff Had a Conference Prep Work Day on Friday, March 7th. June 2nd will now be a day for all staff. June 3rd certified staff work day.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:

We still have no word on any type of compromise or even discussion about setting SSA for the new budget year.

 General Business of the Board Contracts Approvedc. School Information System

• Approved the switch to Alma SIS- Alma SIS is a comprehensive school data and operations platform designed to bring modern software tools to facilitate efficient staff workflows and provide actionable data to the right people at the right time. Alma will replace our current PowerSchool SIS.

Educational

• Inter-Agency Contract for Special Education Instructional Program for the 2024-2025 School Year with Clayton Ridge Community School District.
• University of Northern Iowa's contract for teaching field experience for the next three years: 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028.
• GWAEA Induction Coach Agreement for New Teachers
• Morningside University Agreement for placement of student teachers.
• Upper Iowa University School District Clinical Placement Agreement 

Benefits

• ISEBA Voluntary Dental for the Administrators Dental

Business Operations

• Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Commission Program Participation Agreement
• Marco Egold Fax contract. This will replace our existing fax service and will be a cost-savings for the district.
• Frontline: Time Clock/Sub Module

Shellsburg Elementary

• H&H Fun Rides- Contract with Shellsburg Elementary for an obstacle course for Spirit Day

 Personnel Approvedd. 2024 -2025 Personnel

Coaches:

• Becky Lutgen - MS Girls Track Coach
• Bridgitte Duffy - MS Boys Track Coach
• Tammi Griffith - MS Boys Track Coach

Contract Modifications:

• Dan Thomsen - add Certification Differential Pay 

Substitutes:

• Emily Grimm - Teacher
• Emma Hearn - Associate
• Emma Townsley - Associate

Resignations:

• Taylor Elliot - Substitute Bus Attendant 
• Mackenzie Ibrahimovic - 1st Grade Teacher Tilford Elementary
• Krystal Geiger - Part-Time Food Service
• Koal Marshall- Basketball and Track end of 2024-2025 season
• Aaron Zuspann - Freshmen Boys Basketball Coach
• Tasha Channel - Food Service Tilford Elementary

2025-2026 Personnel Approved

Transfers:

• Lauren Wittmer - transfer from Special Education Associate to Head Secretary at Shellsburg Elementary
• Shelley Haisman - transfer from 3rd Grade Teacher to Interventionist at Tilford Elementary

Certified Staff:

• Carley Beck - Tilford Elementary Special Education Teacher

Coaches:

• Whitney Bowen - Varsity Girls Swim Coach

Approved to Hire Summer help to scan historical documents from paper to digital records

 Approved Open Enrollments for next school yeare. 
 Bids Approvedf. Transportation Approved a bid to purchase a replacement bus for #5 at a cost of $155,150
Technology - Approved a bid to move from a cellular communication plan for the school busesto a WiFi system for the buses. This is erate eligible (80% off) and will save money compared to the cellular plan.
 Disposals Approvedg. 

• Gateway PRI (for old phone system not currently being used)- Asset Tag #24001519
• Staff Laptop (beyond repair) to be used for parts- Asset Tag #24000867
• An old charging cart that is no longer being used- Asset Tag #24001553
• Two old projectors that are no longer usable- Asset Tags #24000034 and #24000031

 Travel - Approved 2026 Music Trip to Florida Fundraiser - Approved Soccer Cookie Dough + treatsi. 

FFA Student Presentation on Greenhouse Project Planning9. 
 Approved Softball Batting Cage Project10

10. The board approved the construction of the softball batting cage and publicly thank the Booster Club, Vinton-Shellsburg Youth Softball Program, and Grimm Construction for their donations for the project.

 Approved the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar (Attached PDF) 12.  Approved Final FY2024 Audit13. 
 Public Hearing for Flexibility Account Transfer14 Approved Senior Laptop Sale Approval15. 
 Policy Review - The board reviewed various policies.

 The Board Moved into Exempt Session to Discuss Contract Strategies as Allowed by Iowa Code 21.918.  Next Board Meeting - Monday, April 21, 202519. The next meeting date will be the second hearing for the certified budget. It again will be a double agenda with a 5:00 p.m. hearing start.

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