M-P Board creates new position at KES, adds another at ALC

By Mary Zielinski
With substantial increases in students needing Individual Education Plans (IEP) at Kalona Elementary, and the highest enrollment ever at the Alternative Learning Center, the Mid-Prairie Board of Education approved two additional staff positions at its meeting Monday.
Kalona Elemetnary School will have another special educaiton associate to help with a total of 33 IEP students. Of those, 15 currently have Intensive Plans, said Superintendent Mark Schneider.
The new position, which will be advertised, is an Elementary Special Education Associate, and will be paid for with Special Education funds.
The second full-time position is for the At-Risk Program whose staff has staffed the district’s Alternative Learning Center, as well as conducted programs in all five district schools.
As of October 1, said Schneider, the ALC had 26 students, “the highest enrollment we have ever had.”
Of those students, four are parents and often attend classes with their children; 11 have IEPs, one has a 504 plan, two were dropouts last year, but have returned to finish their diplomas; two are open enrolled into the district and eight are considered “homeless.” In the latter case, two live with friends and six with family members not their parents.
The board approved the new full-time position which will be paid for with At-Risk Funds.
Schneider said both positions will be advertised immediately.
In other business, the board:

• granted Wendy Allen, middle school 8th grade Language Arts teacher, a one-year leave of absence to complete her Ph.D in Language, Literacy and Culture at the University of Iowa. Allen, a published author, will be gone during the 2009-10 academic year
• set a public hearing for 8 p.m. November 10 for publci comments on bus specifications. The district plans to purchase two new buses during the current academic year
• hired Jenna Grout as elementary and middle school nurse, at a salary of $27,988. She replaces Fae Streb who received $36,000
• set a public hearing for 8:10 p.m. October 20 about an Innovative Calendar and early start date for the 2009-10 academic year. Schneider said there may not be any change, but the move would allow if it became necessary
• held first readings of board policies involving employee travel compensation; substitute teacher standards and licensed employees early separation. The latter sets a minimum age of 55 on or before June 30 of the year in which the employees wishes to retire and has 20 years of total experience.