H-D and CAL meet for join session

The Hampton-Dumont School District held a joint meeting with the CAL School Board on Monday, February 15.

The joint session was relatively short, with Superintendent Todd Lettow updating both boards on happenings in the different buildings and explaining a recent change in the per-pupil funding split.

When H-D and CAL began their whole grade sharing, it was determined that per-pupil funds would be split between the two districts for those students. Though CAL students would be going to Hampton for class, 28.5% of their funding has been kept at CAL, which was determined to be the proportionate cost that CAL needed to upkeep their side of the student costs. As procedures have increased efficiencies, that percentage has been recalculated, determining that CAL now only needs 18.85% of the per-pupil funds to maintain those costs.

Moving into the regular meeting, the board heard from student council rep Katelyn Proctor, who encouraged the district to maintain the flexibility that off-site learning on Wednesdays has provided students. Governor Kim Reynolds' recent rule that mandates five days a week of in-person classes has put an end to that policy.

Prom was also discussed as the students looked for guidance on if or how they should prepare an event. With it unknown what COVID-19 related precautions will still be in place, Principal Steve Madson suggested that the students hedge their bets by planning on something that can be held outdoors, but possibly moved inside if allowed.

"My advice to the prom committee is to plan for using that money for the kids. If they want something formal, do something formal, but it can't be used for a dance right now," said Madson. "If, by the time prom rolls around, a dance could happen, they could use a DJ for that."

Highlighting another way COVID has changed the way the school does things, transportation director Dan Schipper recommended to the board that the district purchase one or two new vans. As finding licensed drivers willing to drive busses to away events was already difficult before COVID, having vans that can be driven by coaches without a CDL has become a useful alternative, particularly for spring sports where there are fewer participants such as tennis, golf, and track.

"We're looking at using vans to get us through spring sports," said Schipper. "They've been used very heavily."

And on the topic of student activities, Middle School Principal Tony Spradlin updated the board on the developing e-sports program.

"We were looking at it last year and then when COVID hit we tabled everything," said Spradlin.

The district will be looking to build 12 gaming computers for the e-sports program, with a more detailed presentation prepared for next month's meeting.

For more immediate matters, the board discussed how the district should approach COVID-related safety measures now that the governor has rolled back many of the public health mandates. It was generally agreed that the school should continue to maintain the status quo at least until the entire staff has had their second round of vaccinations.

"We realize that the younger kids aren't getting the virus as much and maybe it's not as severe for them, but still they can be carriers and affect those others in the building," said Lettow.

In related matters, Lettow discussed using some of the federal COVID funds to support an already planned ventilation upgrade for South Side elementary building. The school was already looking to do work on the building as the current system was creating condensation programs. By adjusting the project to meet federal guidelines, the school will be able to use federal funds to cover some of the expense.

"Let's use COVID dollars and let's have the air flow where it's supposed to be," said Lettow.

Finally, transportation director Dan Schipper also discussed the school's policy on "no call, no ride" students as there has been an issue with parents not informing the school when their child won't be at their pick-up location. After the third time that a student is not at their pick-up location, the bus will no longer stop at that location until the parent contacts the school to re-apply.

"I've kind of put the ball back in their court again," said Schipper, emphasizing the importance of letting the school know if their child is or isn't going to be picked up on the route.

Finally, outside of the board meeting, Superintendent Lettow confirmed that a teacher in the district has been placed on administrative leave. The district cannot comment further due to the ongoing investigation.