SW tax rate to dip slightly

Becky Walz
Editor

Thanks to the Iowa Legislature approving 2 percent allowable growth, South Winn school board members received news Monday that the tax rate will drop slightly from $12.68 to $12.63.

“It isn’t much, but at least it isn’t an increase,” said Superintendent Chris Hoover.

Hoover explained that the total district cost for operating during the 2013-14 school is $5,027,266. South Winn will receive $1,159,331 from the Uniform Levy, which is money received by every district in Iowa. State aid contributes nearly $3 million, leaving the local tax levy to provide $867,976.

In an update on the track and football field, Hoover informed the board that the irrigation system was installed in one day, and the sidewalk, which will encompass the track and field, is nearly all poured. 

“We are hoping to get the football field and side hills seeded with grass this week and the rest of the concrete poured,” said Hoover.

Once those items are complete, the asphalt for the track can be laid down and the 30-day wait for the curing of the track can begin.

“How are we doing on the fundraising for this project?” asked board member Wendy Mihm-Herold.

Hoover noted that of the $100,000 goal, $35,000 has been raised within a two-month effort with money coming in weekly.

In a Spotlight on Education segment of the meeting, teachers Scott Conway and Jason Drucker showed a presentation of flipped classrooms, an education model in which lecture and homework elements are reversed.

“Short video lectures (three to seven minutes) are viewed by students outside the classroom, leaving in-class time for individualized help and activities,” noted Conway.

In sharing the benefits of flipped classrooms, the two teachers said that the responsibility for learning is put on the shoulders of the students, allowing them to watch, rewind, or fast-forward as needed.

“It also allows the teacher more one-on-one time with the students in the classroom and allows the students to utilize the technology we have on a regular basis,” said Conway.

The two teachers plan to work to flip their classrooms for the upcoming school year.

Appointments approved included the following: Connie McKee (color guard); Glenna Mumuswamy (freshman volleyball coach), Steve Hoffert (JV/assistant girls’ basketball coach), Jacob Everts (JH head wrestling coach), and Wendy Huinker (kindergarten).

In other business, the board approved the first reading of policy 414.1 giving noncertified staff one extra personal day.

The next regular board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, July 1, in the Calmar board room.