Conversations continue to be positive with Aurelia; contract for football sharing must be finalized Dec. 1

Conversations between the Alta and Aurelia School Boards, athletic directors and administrators are in full swing as the districts consider all options for sharing.

Decisions on sharing football need to be finalized by Dec. 1 and information turned in to the Iowa Athletic Association for scheduling to take place for the next season.

Alta Superintendent Fred Maharry said following last week's school board meeting that the conversations between the two districts are "going good" and remaining positive.

Other sports being considered for sharing for the next seasons at this time are baseball and cross country.

Maharry said Principals Tom Ryherd and Ann Sandine have met to discuss course offerings as information is gathered on whole grade sharing possibilities. Talks in the future will include music, speech, drama and other activities each of the districts now has.

The Alta board was presented information on steps Maple Valley and Anthon-Oto took when they started two-way whole grade sharing, which can be used as a guide for the districts as they continue their talks.

Both districts have also indicated that they would like to involve their school attorneys to help in the sharing agreements.

Full board meetings of both districts and community meetings are being planned.

With the recent state funding reductions, the Alta teachers and staff are helping to cut costs wherever possible. Supt. Maharry said, "We need to be smart and careful. My priority is to review all lines in the budget and reduce spending whenever possible while minimizing the effect on student achievement."

Copying costs will be reduced, instructional supplies will be reduced, board and staff travel will be limited and some recreational field trips will be cut. One field trip that will remain is the annual Reading Counts trip. The "mystery trip" is a reward for students who take the time to read 35 books and take and pass tests to prove they have read and understood the book. While the trip is not until the end of the school year, many students have already reached this goal. The teachers and administrators should be proud of these students for finding the love of reading.

Supt. Maharry added that the staff is doing a good job of helping cut costs however they can.

The board was informed that the certified enrollment sent to the state in October was 507.5, down five from last year. He shared, "The format for certifying enrollment to the state has changed and I am pleased with the smaller decline. Most area districts are still seeing lower enrollments."

Locks at the elementary will be addressed. Problems in this area could have contributed to a break-in in September that resulted in the loss of a lap tap computer from the kindergarten room and a laptop from a fourth grade room. The incidence was turned in to the Alta Police Department and the investigation is continuing. The two laptops will be replaced by insurance.

In other business, the board:

* approved a contract for Rory Payne to serve as assistant girls' basketball coach

* approved the hiring of Angela Gonzalez for an elementary food service position.