WACO School Board Meeting Agenda

By Theresa Rose · Monday, April 17th, 2023 at 6:10 am CDT

WACO Community School District
Regular Board of Education Meeting
Tentative Agenda
WACO Board Room
WACO Junior/Senior High
Wayland, Iowa
Monday April 17, 2023
5:30 pm
I. Call to Order—Roll Call
II. Approval of Agenda
III. Recognition of Visitors –
IV. Review WACO Mission Statement—The mission of the WACO Community School
District is to develop responsible, productive citizens who view learning as a life-long
process. WACO’s educational environment encourages continuous improvement,
problem-solving, measurable outcomes, and community involvement.
V. Consent Agenda
a. Approval of Minutes
b. Financial Reports
c. Bills for Payment
d. Open Enrollment-Khloe Looney (2), Gabriella Davis (3) MP to WACO, Gracie
Wood (9) Fairfield to WACO
e. Personnel- Resignations: Jenny Pasch, 2nd Grade; Julie Klett, HS SPED, Laurie
Miles, Student Council Sponsor, Schyler Sterna, Girl Wrestling Coach.
VI. Communications
a. Public Forum
VII. Old Business
a. Approval of Second Reading, 501.10R1 – 502.05
VIII. New Business
a. Approval of 2023-2025 WEA Agreement
b. First Reading, 502.06 – 502.10
c. Approval of 2021-2022 Audit Report
IX. Administrative Reports
a. Principals: Elementary and High School
b. Superintendent

X. Board Reports/Comments
XI. Adjourn

April 17th, 2023 – April 23rd, 2023

By Allison Jacobs · Sunday, April 16th, 2023 at 9:16 am CDT
04/17/23
Jerry Barker
04/17/23
Janis Rankin
04/17/23
Carson Ryon
04/18/23
Nicole Keaster
04/18/23
Bruce Hucker
04/18/23
Jennifer Bell
04/18/23
Wyatt Schroeder
04/18/23
Doug Harrison
04/18/23
Blake Stein - 18 (golden birthday)
04/19/23
Heather Cole
04/19/23
Jane Dotson
04/19/23
Ruth Hagist
04/19/23
Anders Horn
04/19/23
Kynlee White
04/19/23
Sue Kingery
04/20/23
Carson Bagles
04/20/23
Samantha Liechty
04/20/23
Haiden Duffy (12)
04/21/23
Alexander Achen
04/21/23
Kathy Alexander
04/21/23
Brent Broker
04/22/23
Sally Olson
04/22/23
Mitch Anderson
04/22/23
Sam Beatty (Golden Birthday)
04/22/23
Jane Briggs
04/23/23
Sharon Davis
04/23/23
Scott Augsburger
04/23/23
Mary Bixler
04/23/23
Lori Johnson-Vick
04/23/23
Judith Kinney
04/23/23
John Klopfenstein
04/23/23
Janis Roach
04/23/23
Mark Kimzey
04/23/23
Keith Lockard

The Dickey Dispatch by Senator Adrian Dickey

By Theresa Rose · Sunday, April 16th, 2023 at 8:11 am CDT

 

Hello Senate District 44,

After a relaxing Easter it was nice to get back in the office and work on wrapping up this session. With the end of session on April 28th, it is imperative we start tying up loose ends and getting ready to debate on the floor. This week the Senate focused on the budget and finding some common ground with the House. It has taken some time, but I believe we are finally getting closer to an agreed number.

In the Workforce Committee on Tuesday, we moved Governor Reynolds’s appointees out of committee and now they will go to the Senate floor for debate. For the most part, all nominees were passed without any opposition. We had only two nominees who will be debated individually in the Senate Chamber, but I have no doubt their appointments will be passed.

This week we saw the Iowa Supreme Court hear arguments to lift the injunction on the Heartbeat bill, which was passed in 2018. This bill would ban abortions after a baby’s heartbeat is heard, with the exceptions for the cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother. This bill was unfortunately held up by the courts and was unable to be enforced.

After this bill was initially passed, a liberal Iowa Supreme Court created a constitutional right to abortion in the state constitution. Following this, a district court judge placed a permanent injunction on the Heartbeat Bill due to the decision of the Supreme Court on the 72-hour bill, which implements a 72-hour waiting period before an abortion may proceed. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court relinquished the right to make decisions on this issue back to the states – where it should be. What works in California does not always work in Iowa, so giving states the power to make these decisions is crucial.

Following this decision, the Iowa Supreme Court also overturned the previous decision to make abortion a constitutional right. After this decision was flipped, Governor Reynolds asked the Iowa Supreme Court to lift the injunction and take another look at the constitutionality of the Heartbeat bill. I do not expect a decision to be made in the near future, but I hope that the injunction is lifted. If so, the lives of many unborn Iowans will be saved.

On a lighter note, I had the opportunity to sit down with Simon Conway and speak on traffic cams, my youth employment legislation, and property taxes. It was very fun to be able to have a lighthearted conversation on these topics. If you would like to listen to the talk show, you may follow the link below:

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/simon-conway-20710735/episode/simon-conway-property-taxes-gotcha-cams-112798069/

As a friendly reminder, Tax Day is coming up on April 18th! Now I know it is not everyone’s favorite day of the year, but due to the historic tax cuts Senate Republicans have passed, Tax Day will be less burdensome to Iowans. Starting in 2018 Senate Republicans passed the first historic tax relief plan, and just last year we passed the most recent tax relief package. This flattens Iowa’s income tax to 3.9 percent and eliminates the tax on retirement income and pensions. Income rates will continue to lower each year for the next couple of years until we reach that 3.9 percent flat rate. We Republican Senators are proud of passing this for Iowans and look forward to seeing Iowans keep more of their money.

I still have GREAT hope that we will be able to pass legislation to provide additional property tax relief! While the proposed plans between the House and the Senate are different, I remain optimistic that before the session ends, we will find an agreement.

As always, thank you all for your tremendous support. Your emails of support mean a great deal to me and I appreciate each of them. Please reach out with any questions on legislation you may have. Enjoy your weekend Senate District 44!

Sincerely,

Steven V. Burke

By Theresa Rose · Sunday, April 16th, 2023 at 8:07 am CDT

Steven V. Burke, 74 of Denmark, Iowa, passed away Friday, April 14, 2023, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington, Iowa.

He was born on February 14, 1949, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Fort Madison, Iowa, the son of Edmund and Shirley (Lingenfelter) Burke. On June 21, 1968, he married Monica Pollpeter at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in West Point, Iowa.

He is survived by his wife: Monica; brother: William (Deanna) Burke; sisters-in-law: Jane Bell, Alice (Gary) McCannon and Dorothy Pollpeter. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son: Chad; nephew: Joe Burke and two brothers-in-law: Carl Bell and Mark Pollpeter.

Steve was a graduate of Fort Madison High School. He worked as a superintendent at Raid Quarries then worked at First Miss, Excide and Lee County Secondary Roads as a motor grader. He was a member of Holy Family Parish in Fort Madison. His greatest joy was his John Deere lawn tractor. Steve was a die hard St. Louis Cardinals fan and also enjoyed spending time outside tending to his yard and helping others.

His body has been entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation.

Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Ss. Mary  & Joseph Catholic Church, Holy Family Parish in Fort Madison.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Ss. Mary & Joseph Catholic Church, Holy Family Parish in Fort Madison with Father Joseph Phung as celebrant.

Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in West Point, Iowa.

Memorials have been established in his memory for Denmark Ball Association or Denmark Fire and Rescue.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com. Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements.

Linda J. Parker

By Theresa Rose · Sunday, April 16th, 2023 at 7:59 am CDT

Linda J. Parker, 72, of Rome, Iowa died Friday, April 14, 2023 at Bickford Cottage, Burlington.  Arrangements are pending at Elliott Chapel, New London

New ISU Extension VP Visits Region

By Theresa Rose · Saturday, April 15th, 2023 at 8:11 am CDT

Just 10 days into the job, Iowa State University Vice President of Extension and Outreach, Jason Henderson, was in Mount Pleasant to listen to the Extension professionals in an effort to gather information for a new strategic plan. Friday afternoon the Henry County Extension office hosted Henderson who asked those gathered to share what ISU Extension is doing that is good and what they see as opportunities and barriers. He said he is excited about making Iowa even stronger thru Extension and Outreach’s mission and programs. Henderson grew up in Northeast Iowa and his wife, Angie, is originally from What Cheer. The family has a Mount Pleasant connection. Angie Henderson is the sister of Jennifer Striegel. KILJ Radio will celebrate Extension Week April 17-21. Tune in for interviews with those involved in the various aspects of ISU Extension and Outreach and for a message from VP Jason Henderson

DP Retires

By Theresa Rose · Saturday, April 15th, 2023 at 7:54 am CDT

Iowa Wesleyan University honored one of its’ own Friday night. Dr. Delores Graf Poulter Wilson came to the Mount Pleasant University as a student and stayed to share her knowledge for 60 years. Her retirement party was planned before the University announced it would close May 31. But she wanted to gather anyway to celebrate the community that welcomed her all those years ago.  The Howe Student Activity Center Social Hall was filled with former students, faculty and staff, community members and friends. DP, as she is so fondly called, greeted all her guests sharing many stories of the years she taught all things science at Iowa Wesleyan. A lot of those stories were about the legendary field trips with DP including one that lasted ten weeks. That went one included Hawaii. Former student and science teacher Alan Peck spoke sharing his mentor’s trick for staying awake while driving on those field trips….holding an unlit pipe in her mouth.  If she started to doze off the pipe would drop bringing her attention back to the road! Peck said he told students  that if they couldn’t eat it, wear it or sleep in it then don’t bring it on the trip. DP is known for 20 hour work days. She said in retirement she will do what she wants, when she wants.  But she does plan to stay busy on her family farm including renovating the farm house.  Her dream is to turn it into a retreat that will take visitors back in time to a simpler way of living and let them experience her favorite classroom…the great outdoors.

Evans to be Prairie High School Principal

By Theresa Rose · Saturday, April 15th, 2023 at 7:37 am CDT

Mount Pleasant native, Spence Evans, has been selected as principal for Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids pending Board approval. Evans previously worked for Amos Hiatt Middle School in Des Moines, Ames High School and Tipton High School. During his 17-year career in school administration Evans has received the Bandmasters Administrator of the Year award, Distinguished Service Award for the Iowa Business Educator Association, Iowa Cheerleading Coaches Association Administrator of the Year award and was also recognized as the MetLife Principal of the Year.