School News

By Ranee Fladung
Despite assurances it would significantly lower transportation costs and be a “wise move” the Highland Board of Education Monday voted against buying an 84 capacity activity bus. Those opposed wanted more information about cost savings, indicating they would reconsider the issue.
Russell Fox, the district’s transportation/maintenance director,explained that the higher capacity bus would not only eliminate the need for a second bus, but also have storage space for equipment, noting it is just a highway bus.
Superintendent Chris Armstrong said it was a “wise move” to have a travel bus “so we don’t have to send out two (school) buses or an additional equipment van.” He added, “We should get a lot of life out of it.”
Board member Bruce Temple asked which account would pay for it, and was told SILO which for the last six months has averaged $400,000. Board Secretary Bev Colbert explained that event with the funds used to pay construction costs, it continued to maintain itself.
Board member Ed Ossman said that “the idea was to use that money for the building, not a bus.” He added the district needed to pay off debt, that “in tough times maybe we should not spend money on this (bus).”

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Kirkwood Community College has made scholarship awards to students enrolled for the upcoming academic year. These awards are made possible through donations from college benefactors and are administered through the Kirkwood Foundation.
The college will award more than $1.75 million in scholarships to more than 1,300 students in the 2009-10 academic year.
Scholarship recipients from this area include: Lee Pfeifer of Riverside received the Van Meter Industrial Scholarship in the amount of $1500 and also the Shive-Hattery Engineering Scholarship in the amount of $1000. Lee graduated from Williamsburg North High School in 1989 and is now enrolled in the Pre-Engineering program at Kirkwood. He is the son of Regina Lea Utz of Kalona.

Highland Board of Education members Monday expressed concerns about delays in the $3.5 million school improvement project, to the point they were reluctant to approve further payments to the contractor.
However, Superintendent Chris Armstrong stressed that the payment is for work that was done.
After further discussion, noting that only 10 percent of the project is done, the board approved payments, but emphasized it wants the contractor to know it is not happy with the lack of progress. The board also wanted to know where the construction manager has been and why Saturdays were not used to make up delays.
Amounts approved were $129,257 to Bi-State Contracting; $31,061 to Mohrfeld Electric and $74,021 to S. G. Construction.
The board also approved the $39,779 bid for kitchen equipment for which the district received a Washington County Riverboat Foundation (WCRF) grant.
On the positive side, the remodeling of the gym stage into classroom space at Ainsworth Elementary will be finished before classes resume, the board was told.
In other business, the board:

• approved the purchase of a new 65 passenger school bus for $67,695 from School Bus Sales;
• learned that the General Fund is down by $180,000 because of state cuts, non-budgeted textbooks and other items and were told by Board Secretary Bev Colbert, “We will have to really watch this year”;
• accepted the fuel bid from Consumers Cooperative for gasohol at $1.85 per gallon, diesel for $1.94 and winter blend for $1.98. Prices are guaranteed for a year;
• approved the Special Education delivery plan; and
• set its next meeting for September 14.

By Mary Zielinski
The Highland School District’s luck kept rolling Thursday, July 16, when bids for the furnishings for the new additions at the high/middle school came in 25 percent lower than estimated. The low bid for everything from wrestling mats to library lounge chairs totaled $170,145, which is $54,855 less than the $225,00 estimate. The bids follow the pattern established in April when bids for the improvements and additions at the middle/high school also were about 25 percent less: $2,803,871 instead of the estimated $3,520,477. Although the bid for improvements at Ainsworth Elementary School came in at $102,000 (estimate was $75,105) is was more than offset by the electrical work coming in at $88,030 rather than the estimated $167,250. The board Thursday unanimously approved accepting the furnishings bid.
The board also accepted the low bid of $1,271.92 per month (which works out to just about $295 per week) from N & N Sanitation for sanitation and recycling services in the district for 2009-10. The second bid from K & K Sanitation, who currently provides the services at $180 per week, was $500 per week for 2009-10. The contract ends July 31.

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by Ranee Fladung

This was the best group of students, they spoke Spanish all the time and wanted to learn and experience new things

“It was so cool.”
“We didn’t want to leave.”
“This was the best group of students, they spoke Spanish all the time and wanted to learn and experience new things.”
Those were just a few comments made by Highland students and their teacher Margaret Guetzko Monday to Highland board members, thanking the board for allowing the student excursion to Mexico, specifically Merida, Yucatan. Lee Finke, Cassie Kasdorf, Brittany Steward, and Mollie Kloepfer talked about staying with host families and the bonds they made. The group visited museums, malls, the beach, a cinote, and Chichen Itza (Mayan ruins).
Russell Fox, maintenance director, presented the board with a summer projects list with a cost estimate of $41,000. Projects at Ainsworth include fixing the south sidewalk and replacing the steps, replacing four windows in the gym, adding railings to the bleachers, and replacing approximately 48 desks.

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By Mary Zielinski
“We are very happy,” Mike Roberts, Highland School Board president said Thursday, April 16, of bids for the district’s major school improvements project and the bond sale to finance it.
The project bids, opened at 2 p.m. Tuesday, came in well below estimate with the low bid for middle/high school additions at $2,803,871 from Bi-State Construction of Burlington, $716,606 below the $3,520,477 estimate. The bid includes the alternate for the middle school lockers rooms, estimated at $230,000.
Low bid for the remodeling of the stage in the Ainsworth Elementary School gym into classrooms was $102,000 from SG Construction, also of Burlington. Original estimate for that project was $75,105. However, it is more than off set by the electric utility upgrade low bid of $88,030 from Mohrfeld of Fort Madison, just slightly more than half of the $167,250 estimate.
The district’s roll continued Thursday when bids were taken for the sale of revenue bonds at noon. Low bid was Northland Securities of Minneapolis, Minnesota with a 5.17 rate. Just a week prior low rate was 5.75.

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submitted by Kristi Bean

Ainsworth ESO met Tuesday, February 10.  A representative from The Chip Shoppe was in attendance to share products for the fall fundraiser.  Several other fundraising companies have sent information for consideration.  A decision will be made in the coming months as to which company will be used in the fall.  Robin Craig and Kristi Bean are serving as co-chairs for the fall 2009 fundraiser.
The treasurer’s report was given.  There were no bills presented for payment.  At this time there are no requests for consideration.
The Cricut machine that ESO purchased earlier in the year has been put to good use, so much that the pads are in need of being replaced.  Brenda was given permission to purchase replacement pads as needed.
ESO had voted in the fall to purchase a sound system for the school.  Mrs. Goodwin would like to use the money she was awarded from Walmart toward a sound system as well.  ESO will contribute funds up to $1,000 for a new sound system.  We will work with Mrs. Goodwin to find the best equipment for the school.

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Parents or guardians considering the use of the open enrollment option to enroll their children in another public school district in the state of Iowa should be aware the last date for regular open enrollment requests for the 2009-2010 school year is March 1, 2009. The last date for open enrollment requests for entering kindergarten students and those students falling under the “good cause” definition for the 2009-2010 school year is September 1, 2009.
Parents/guardians of open enrolled students whose income falls below 160 percent of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for transportation assistance.
Parents should be aware that open enrollment may result in the loss of athletic eligibility.
For further details, contact your school office.

by Ranee Fladung
Highland board members voted 6-1 Monday to proceed with the design development stage for an estimated $3.5 million building project at the Highland Middle and Senior High School. Board member Bruce Temple was the sole opposition.
The improvements would add a new wrestling room, media center, administrative offices and five classrooms.
Board Secretary Bev Colbert said it was decided Monday “That this is the best time to go ahead with the project especially now with the economy.”

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Bid letting for the approximate $3.5 million addition to the Highland Middle and Senior High School building is early February with a possible contract award in early March. Completion would be in the fall.
The timetable, as well as details about improvements that would add a new wrestling room, library, administrative offices and classrooms, was discussed at a special Highland Board meeting Monday, November 3.
The meeting deal only with the plan with input given by board members and Highland faculty and staff.
Besides the wrestling room, which received a $200,000 grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation and $50,000 from the fund raising efforts of the district’s athletic boosters, the plan calls classrooms and offices, with additional funds from the one cent statewide sales tax. The tax, enacted this year, replaced the previous local option sales tax for school infrastructure.

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By Sandra French
The Highland Board of Education met Monday, September 15, and  relected incumbents, Ed Ossman and Bruce Temple, were sworn in. Mike Roberts and Cindy Michel were reelected President and Vice President, respectively.
Jane O’Leary presented the Annual Progress Report with “No Child Left Behind” proficiency goals for academic year 2007-2008. The goals for 2006-2007 were accomplished, except for 6th-8th grade and 9th-11th grade math.

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