Sigourney Elementary Infrastructure Project Going Well

SIGOURNEY – During the June 12 meeting of the Sigourney School Board, Rusty Wolfe from SitelogIQ gave an update on the infrastructure update at the elementary school. Wolfe explained that the project is going well, with all big ticket items expected to be in place by the end of the summer. Wolfe noted that asbestos had been discovered in the ceiling of some rooms during the demolition phase, but stated that it could be addressed without delay. He stated that, despite long lead times, everything should arrive this summer.

During the same meeting, Superintendent Kevin Hatfield listed off recent legislative changes, including making Vocational Ag classes count as a science credit, requiring districts to develop reading improvement plans for K-6 students not reading at grade level, requiring school resource officers at large schools, allowing school busses to pick up open-enrolled students within two miles of the district border, one-year only guaranteed funding support staff, reduced AEA funding, a new open enroll deadline, and a requirement for policies to deal with chronic absenteeism. Hatfield stated he did not know how to deal with chronic absenteeism. Board member and former police chief Alan Glandon and Secondary Principal Shannon Webb stated that they had had to go to students' houses and make them come to school in the past. Webb called chronic absenteeism a parent issue.

Hatfield discussed creating a list of guaranteed curriculum standards, tentatively called Savage Pledge, to be posted on the school website. Hatfield showed a new calendar and set of rates for facility use. Hatfield brought up the idea of spending a few thousand dollars to advertise Sigourney Schools on Ottumwa radio stations, noting that schools have to compete more now. Webb noted that she hears advertisements for schools on the radio all the time. Hatfield discussed spending more on strength, conditioning and wellness, to allow more sessions and get more kids involved.

Elementary Principal Deanna Spence showed the board FAST assessment results. She noted that there is a drop in Kindergarten literacy fluency from winter to spring and stated she would work to find the route cause. Spence noted that third-sixth graders are good in Math, but shakier in English Language Arts and Science, and speculated the science scores are lower due to a lack of comprehension. She stated the elementary would shift from focus towards reading comprehension next year. Webb stated test results were decent at the high school. She noted that science scores have gone up the past two years.

The board approved new nutritional fees including continuing free breakfast for students, $2.60 lunches for elementary students (up from $2.50), and $2.75 lunches for junior high/high school students (up from $2.60).