School Reorganization Meeting Held August 23, 2010
By Chris Vrba, Editor, Pocahontas Record-Democrat
The Pocahontas Area and Pomeroy-Palmer School Board of Directors unanimously approved the
recommendations of the schools’ reorganization committee at a joint board meeting at the Pomeroy
school Aug. 23.
Rick Engel, reorganization attorney for both districts, explained the full reorganization process
and addressed two changes to the committee’s initial recommendation. The recommendation was
completed on Aug. 15.
The composition of the reorganized school’s board of directors would have to be altered slightly
to conform to Iowa code. The new board would be comprised of four director districts and three
members considered at-large. The committee’s recommendation had called for three director
districts and four at-large members.
The regional division of the director districts would stay similar, with North, Central, and
South divisions. The alteration would assign two director districts to the Central region. Engel
informed the group that although the director districts can be created geographically or
politically, they must have as approximately equal populations and conform to voting precinct
boundaries whenever possible.
ACCORDING TO 2000 CENSUS data, the total population of both districts was 6,044, with 4,272
residing in the PAC district and 1,772 in the P-P district. The ideal director district
population would be 1,511. The city of Pocahontas’ population was 1,970, which necessitates the
second director district in the Central region.
“Everyone’s vote must count the same as everyone else’s,” remarked Engel.
Board members representing a specific director district must reside within the bounds of the
director district; however, the voters for the entire school district cast votes in the election.
At-large candidates may reside anywhere within the entire school district and are also elected by
voters district wide. The boundaries of the director districts will not be available until after
the 2010 census data is available, approximately next summer.
The legal name of the school district is the other alteration to the committee’s recommendation.
Engel informed the group that according to the language contained in the Iowa Code, he does not
believe the “Communities” portion of Pocahontas Area Communities would be allowed. He noted that
with few exceptions, all school districts are known as “Community School Districts.” As a result,
he believes the legal name of the new district would have to be “Pocahontas Area.”
The change is semantic. It would not preclude the district from including the “Pocahontas Area
Communities” phrasing in non-legal functions. The school will also still be able to include all
of the district’s communities on its letterhead, banners, and other related situations.
THE OTHER TWO COMPONENTS of the reorganization petition are in place. The new district’s legal
description has been completed. It encompasses the entirety of the current PAC and P-P districts.
The cost of the new middle/high school will be distributed between both districts at a rate
approximately equal to population. PAC accounts for about 70 percent, P-P about 30 percent.
Property taxes for patrons of the former P-P district would reflect this payment four years after
the reorganization occurs, the 2016-2017 school year. If reorganization passes, the new district
would become official on July 1, 2012.
The approval keeps the schools on track for a February reorganization vote. The next step in the
process is to procure a sufficient number of signatures to allow the petition to be brought to a
vote. Valid signatures must come from “resident eligible electors,” people 18 years or older who
reside within the district. Signatories need not be registered voters. A minimum of 400 valid
signatures from PAC residents and 246 from P-P residents will need to be collected.
Dick Gruber eloquently summarized the committee’s opinion on the necessity of reorganization.
“We cannot go forward in each district singly,” he began. Gruber discussed the problematic
projected enrollment declines for both districts.
He noted that the best interest of current and future students was taken into consideration as
the committee made its recommendations. He pointed out that if the two districts do not combine
resources, the quality of education would markedly decline.
“For the benefit of the whole educational process, we need to go forward,” Gruber emphatically
concluded.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, BOTH boards approved student achievement stretch goals. The goals were
established as a way to assess and monitor academic progress in core subject areas throughout the
school year. Updates will be shared with the school boards on a quarterly basis.
Targeted goals for students range between 80 and 87 percent proficiency depending upon the grade
level and subject. Proficiency is defined as the student meeting or exceeding the 41st percentile
on standardized tests.
Superintendent Joe Kramer said that the goals were more stringent than state standards, but will
be achievable. The state standards have significant yearly performance increases. The districts’
goals were designed to outpace state standards.
“We’re hoping to be halfway to the next (state standard) jump already,” remarked Kramer. The
higher district goals puts “less pressure on everyone to meet state trajectories,” he explained.
To achieve the stretch goals, the school will implement differentiated instructional programs.
The schools will utilize individualized profiles that identify each student’s particular
strengths and weaknesses. From that information, the teachers can customize teaching techniques
and coordinate classroom instruction to maximize learning potential.
PAC elementary principal Jodee Jorgenson provided an example of differentiated instruction. An
elementary reading class may break into groups that contain students with a range of skills. Each
student would be assigned to read a book about the same subject, but written at various reading
levels. The student group would then discuss what they’ve read together. Additional strategies
may include alternative activities – such as reader’s theater. Of course, tried and true
repetition and instruction are an important component as well.
Kramer described the approach as a “paradigm shift” in education, liking it to a “Mayo Clinic
type style of education.”
School Reorganization Meeting Held August 15, 2010
By Chris Vrba, Editor, Pocahontas Record-Democrat
An offer is on the table. The Pocahontas Area and Pomeroy-Palmer
school district reorganization committee came to an agreement on
the final two components of petition proposal over a pair of
meetings Aug. 10 and Aug. 15. The committee unanimously recommended
that the proposed district would be named Pocahontas Area
Communities and that the full share of bonded indebtedness would be
shared by all residents of the new district four years following
the merger.
The committee had previously agreed to the governmental structure
of the new district at its previous meeting. The committee’s
recommendation will be presented to both districts’ board of
directors at a joint board meeting Aug. 23. The fourth petition
component, legal description, will be completed in time for the
joint school board meeting.
What will be the effect of the proposal? Taxes for districts will
go down. Joe Kramer, superintendent for both districts, presented
the committee with two tax estimates. The calculations were based
on budget numbers submitted for the 2010-2011 school year.
If the bonded debt is not shared between the schools the tax rate
for PAC is estimated to drop about 11 cents per $1,000 valuation.
P-P would see an estimated decrease of $1.80.
If the debt is shared among the entire district, PAC’s tax rate
goes down by an estimated $1.46. P-P’s would fall by about 42
cents.
IF REORGANIZATION PASSES, THE new Pocahontas Area Communities
district would become official for the 2012-13 school year. Under
the committee’s recommendation, the tax rate of residents in the
former P-P district would begin to reflect the remaining cost of
the new middle/high school building in the 2016-2017 school year.
In the proposed scenario, the tax rate would reflect the former
estimates from the 2012-13 year through the 2015-16 year and shift
to the latter in 2016-17.
The arrangement allows both districts to equitably distribute the
cost of the new school building, about $10.89 million. The
recommendation would allow the two schools’ residents to pay
proportionately for the building’s cost. PAC comprises about 70
percent of the combined population, and P-P is roughly 30 percent.
PAC patrons would pay approximately 70 percent of the building’s
cost, P-P patrons 30 percent. As a result, both districts’ taxes
decline at different rates during bond repayment. There are 18
years remaining on the new school’s bond.
Though P-P residents will not begin paying for the building through
property taxes until 2016-17, the district will contribute about
$400,000 during the first four years following reorganization. The
district would use funds generated by the statewide one-percent
sales tax, about $100,000 annually, to pay down the new building’s
debt. PAC currently uses their sales tax funds to do the same,
about $300,000 each year.
“You still have contributions (from P-P) even though you don’t have
contributions,” Kramer said of the sales tax use.
WHAT’S AT STAKE IF the schools do not consolidate? State incentive
funds play a large role in lowering the tax rate for both
districts. Currently, the state contributes about one dollar per
$1,000 valuation to each district. The incentive funds last for
three years of whole grade sharing and will continue for an
additional three years if the two schools merge within the initial
three year window. If the schools do not reorganize the funding
goes away. Tax rates for both districts will go up.
More importantly, the educational opportunities afforded to the
students of both districts will diminish. The students currently
attend a district that is ranked in the top five percent of schools
statewide. Students are offered nearly two dozen college-credit
courses; the majority of the classes have a teacher in the room.
Kramer said the school offers more dual-credit classes than any
school of comparable size. The school’s total is higher than
Cherokee, Humboldt, and Emmetsburg – all schools with larger
enrollments. It also offers a suite of Advanced Placement classes
accepted at colleges and universities nationwide over the Internet.
The school was the first district in the state to adopt a 1:1
computer initiative. The school’s vocational technology facility
has been ranked as the state’s best. The elementary was recognized
as a blue ribbon school – the nation’s top honor. The preschool
provides a fully integrated special education component and is
often used a case study for other districts as they open their own
preschools. The district provides a suite of special education
services and specially trained faculty to educate otherwise
challenging learners. The Regional Learning Center offers an
additional educational institution that draws students from several
surrounding districts.
“I’m not aware of any other school that offers the type of
educational opportunities for its students,” he concluded.
IF THE TWO SCHOOLS do not reorganize; the loss of educational
opportunities for all students is potentially steep. Declining
enrollment projections would likely force academic and staff cuts
at PAC and P-P would almost certainly face dissolution.
Kramer explained during the Aug. 10 meeting that if reorganization
does not go through, PAC would be forced to reduce the spectrum of
classes offered. Without the number of students from a combined
district, the school would likely need to cut back the number of
course offerings to resemble the state minimum. He indicated that
faculty reductions could occur and that the number of shared
instructors would increase. Currently, 11 faculty members and two
administrators are shared with other districts.
P-P faces increasing budget shortfalls. Kramer said that according
to projections the school will have a negative unspent balance for
the 2009-10 school year. The school will likely have to submit a
request for modified allowable growth to the School Board Review
Committee (SBRC) this spring. The request would allow P-P to levy
for enough funds to bring the balance to zero. Kramer said the SBRC
would be more receptive to the petition if a reorganization plan
were in place.
The state has indicated that it will begin to examine dissolving
districts that are in perpetual financial trouble. The Department
of Education is responsible for the redistribution of a disbanded
district. A disbanded P-P district would be split predominately
among PAC, Manson-Northwest Webster, and Rockwell City-Lytton.
If dissolution occurs, the tax rates for residents of the former
P-P district would likely increase. Kramer said his “gut feeling”
was that surrounding districts tax rates are greater than those of
a combined PAC and P-P district.
“You will likely see a tax increase,” he stated.
Property tax rates for surrounding districts were not available at
the meeting.
KRAMER EXPLAINED THAT DISTRICT has a particularly high taxable
valuation. Tax rates for the current year are $15.07 for PAC and
$14.03 for P-P. By comparison, Kramer noted that many districts are
taxed at $21 to $23. He noted that following last year’s 10 percent
cuts, some districts had to increase their tax rate nearly two
dollars.
“We’re land rich. The region is wealthy in terms of assessed
dollars per student,” Kramer remarked.
High value farmland accounts for a large portion of the districts’
relative wealth. The county’s windmills also contribute a
substantial amount of valuation, especially to the P-P district.
Windmill assessments are phased in at five percent annual
increments, until a cap of 30 percent is reached. This is the first
year the windmills’ value has been included in the schools’ tax
rates.
The Pocahontas County Board of Supervisors has had discussions
about creating a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district that would
include the windmills. If a TIF district is adopted, the assessed
value of the windmills would be removed from the schools’ and other
taxing authorities’ rolls. The TIF district would likely cause tax
rates for both districts to increase.
The board has not made a decision in regard to the TIF district and
has not indicated when it may address the proposal in the future.
THE NEW DISTRICT’S NAME, Pocahontas Area Communities, is small, but
not insignificant change. The plural is recognition of the six
communities that comprise the district. The group recommended that
all of the towns be listed wherever possible, such as letterhead
and programs.
Committee members struggled to create a non-cumbersome name for the
new district that would both recognize the communities and provide
geographic recognition. The committee expressed a collective desire
to not become an alphabet soup school.
The new name will allow the schools to avoid a total replacement of
athletic and music uniforms and associated banners, mats, and
signs. At the Aug. 10 meeting, Kramer said South Central Calhoun
has spent between $100,000-$120,000 on new athletic uniforms.
The completion of the committee’s recommendation keeps the
districts on track for a February reorganization vote. Kramer
thanked the members for their participation, noting that their
decision will have a sizeable, positive impact on students for the
future.
“I appreciate the honesty between both groups. I think it’s the key
to making a decision going forward,” he ended.
Variety Show Performers Announced.
Don't miss Pomeroy's Variety Show to be held on the newly completed
Downtown Pomeroy Performing Arts Center. The show starts at 6 pm this
Wednesday, August 18th. The talented people scheduled to perform
are
Aaron Fitzgerald
Faith, Grace & Christopher Meyer
Krista Lenz & Courtney Anderson
Brooklyn & Ashlyn Weidauer
Hallie Ehn
Anna Pohling
Alexis Bettin
Elizabeth Ricke
Haylee Oswald
Randy Welander
Carol Schultz
This entertainment promises to be outstanding so bring your lawn
chair and join us for the fun.
First Event at Pomeroy Performing Arts Center Scheduled.
A Variety Show will be part of the fun at the Amvets'
Celebration this year. It is planned for Wednesday, August
18th, 2010 at 6:00 pm and will be held on the Performing Arts
Stage located between Meyer Electric and the Pomeroy
Historical Building in the 100 block of Main Street. Bring
your lawn chairs and enjoy the show. Interested performers can
contact: Steve or Shelley Brown at 468-2800, Kathy Lenz at
468-2238 or Marcia Ehn at 468-2679. A free will offering will
be accepted with monies going to finish landscaping in the new
park.
Informational meeting for Clover
Kids (pre 4-H after-school program for second and third graders) to be
held in Pomeroy
On Thursday,
8/19/20, from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Nicole Meyer from ISU Extension-Calhoun
County will be at the Pomeroy-Palmer Community School open house with
information for the Clover Kids after-school program for second and
third graders and their parents. Clover Kids is a pre 4-H
program. Nicole will also have information on Calhoun County 4-H
Program, which is for fourth graders and older.
For more information, contact:
Ellen
O'Loughlin, Office Assistant
Iowa State University Extension - Calhoun County
521 4th Street, Box 233
Rockwell City, Iowa 50579
Phone: 712-297-8611 Fax: 712-297-7011 E-mail:
elleno@iastate.edu www.extension.iastate.edu
4-H Serving 2nd Saturday Meal at the Community Building August 14.
The North Butler Blazers 4-H Club will be putting on the meal
for 2nd Saturday the month of August. They will be serving lunch
from 11-12:30 this Saturday, August 14th. They will be serving
maidrites, hot dogs, chips and bars plus ice tea, lemonade and
coffee. They will be taking a free will donation. The
4-Hers will
also have horse-drop tickets available. Proceeds from these two
events will go toward their yearly state 4-h dues.
The 4-hers will showcase their fair projects and resulting
trophies and ribbons. Krista Lenz and Grant Theesfeld will be
giving
their educational presentations at 11:30 and 12:10. Krista's
talk
will advance to the IA State Fair and Grant's will advance to the
Clay Co. Fair.
By Chris Vrba
Two down, two to go. The Pocahontas Area and Pomeroy-Palmer school reorganization committee continued to move in a swift, yet cohesive manner at its third meeting August 2. The committee established the preliminary composition of both a transition and regular board of directors in the event the two districts combine.
Board composition is one of four main components that must be included in the formal petition for reorganization. PAC and P-P superintendent Joe Kramer informed the committee that one other component, the legal definition of the new district, is near completion. The two other components, school name and distribution of assets and liabilities will be addressed at the next meeting.
Kramer presented the committee with the potential options for new board composition. According to state mandate, the board must be comprised of either five or seven members. Though the total tally of board members is fixed, the manner in which the members are elected is customizable.
There are three basic schemes to board composition: at large, director districts, or a combination of the two. At large members may reside anywhere within the district and would be elected by all of the voters. In a director district, candidates, who reside in particular geographic subdivisions of the school district. The entire district would elect the candidates. The third scenario would combine at large and director district members. Both PAC and P-P operate under the third scenario.
Kramer informed the members that, though not necessary, a mix of members from both boards is “most common” for transition boards. The transition board would be created after both PAC and P-P voters approve a merger. The board would serve while the two schools would still be considered separate legal entities, through the formal reorganization, and until each member’s term is up for reelection, typically two to four years.
The reorganization committee recommended a seven member transition board. The board would be comprised of five members appointed by the PAC board and two members appointed by the P-P board. The committee chose the composition, because it is most representative of the two school districts’ population. According to 2000 Census data, PAC has nearly 4,300 residents (about 70 percent) and P-P has slightly less than 1,800 residents (about 30 percent).
Having quickly reached a consensus on the transition board, the committee proceeded to address the composition of the regular board. Again, the group recommended a seven-member board. However, the division of the regular board will be different from that of the transition board.
The group represented by John Rosenboom proposed a mixed board, with three regional director districts and four at large members. The director districts would divide the district approximately into thirds, with members being elected from a North, Central, and South, respectively.
The group reasoned that this configuration would ease potential tensions about under representation in parts of the two districts. The committee’s other two groups proposed similar scenarios, but all groups quickly concluded that the regional proposal was most palatable.
“It’s equitable. No one’s taking an unreasonable position,” concluded Kramer.
Kramer informed the group that according to his best understanding of the Iowa Code, he believed the regional proposal was tenable. Iowa Code states that director districts may be divided geographically or politically. The County Auditor would ultimately draw the director district boundary lines.
Kramer laid out a potential timeline for the reorganization process and sought the committee’s input on the expediency of the process. He presented three potential dates for a 2011 election: Feb. 1, April 5, and June 28. Dates for special school elections are set by the state.
If the committee chose to work towards a Feb. 1 election date, Kramer said the group would have to work on an “aggressive timeline.” In order to accommodate required notification windows, a petition would need to be completed by mid-September. The committee determined that it would be best to proceed towards a Feb. 1 election date, but noted it wanted to ensure that the process was handled correctly.
The committee addressed a potential new district name and asset and liability distribution at its Aug. 10 meeting. Information about the reorganization process, minutes from meetings, and a question and answer forum can be found online at
http://pacppsharing.wikispaces.com.
Wings and Apron
for Downtown Pomeroy Performing Arts Center now under construction.
More wood arrived today and we've spent the last of the grant money
for the Downtown Pomeroy Performing Arts Center. Next on the
construction will be an arched apron or forestage in front of the
proscenium. 6 foot wings will be created to the sides.
Donations are still encouraged so we can landscape the area. Stop in at The Kaleidoscope Factory if you'd like to help out.
Twin Lakes
Triathalon Attracts Competitors from 3 Continents
The
Twin Lakes 4th Annual Half-Olympic Distance Triathlon at Manson, Iowa
will be Saturday, August 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
.The event is sanctioned by the USAT and chip timing will be used..Participants will swim .47 miles across North Twin Lake with a
two-wave start. They will bike twice around the lake on the roadway
(12.4 miles) and then run 3.1 miles on the Twin Lakes Recreation
Trail. Check-in is at 6 a.m. at East Twin Lakes State Park with the
race beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Twin Lakes Christian Center on the
west side of North Twin Lake.
There
are 85 individuals and 15 teams registered, for a total of 130
participantsEntries are
from four countries (USA, Belgium, Switzerland, Australia), eight
states (CA, IA, MN, NE, MO, IL, TX, WI ) and 37 Iowa towns.There are 21 from Fort Dodge, and 18 from surrounding
communities of Manson, Pomeroy, and Rockwell City.
The
proceeds from this event will support the ongoing work of youth camp
at Twin Lakes Bible Camp.
July 21, 2010
4th Annual Twin Lakes Triathlon Scheduled
The
Twin Lakes 4th Annual Half-Olympic Distance Triathlon at Manson,
Iowa will be Saturday, August 7 .The event is sanctioned by the USAT.Swim .47 miles across North Twin Lake with a one-wave
start.Bike 12.4
miles flat course with a few rolling
hills, quiet blacktop roads, road markings, road personnel
assisting, with a double loop of the lake that includes one out
and back.Run 3.1
miles – a one way run on the beautiful Twin Lakes Recreation
Trail and blacktop roads.
Check-in
is at 6 a.m. at East Twin Lakes State Park with the race beginning
at 7:30 a.m. at the Twin Lakes Christian Center on the west side
of North Twin Lake. Chip timing will be used.
The
overall female and male winner will each win a free pair of Asics
shoes from Brown's Shoe Fit, $20 gift certificate from Twin Lakes
Marina, and pottery from local artist. Overall team
winners will win $30 gift certificate from Twin Lakes Marina and
each member will receive pottery from local artist.Age winners from each division will receive medal and $10
gift certificate from Twin Lakes Marina.
Registration
is limited to the first 150 individuals/teams.On-line registration atwww.twinlakestri.com
ends on Friday, July 23rd at noon or when the 150 person limit has
been reached. Cost is $65 for individuals or $99 for teams plus
USAT membership and registration fee.There IS same-day registration for a tax deductible
donation (at least $100 individuals/$250 for teams) to Twin Lakes
Christian Center plus a $10 USAT one-day fee (if applicable).Same-day registration participants will not receive a
shirt.
The
proceeds from this event will support the ongoing work of youth
camp at Twin Lakes Bible Camp- giving kids an opportunity to
experience nature, solid teaching, mentoring, and fun activities
that they won't get anywhere but camp.Love the course, love the cause!
Pomeroy Care Center received notice
today that there is currently a drinking water advisory for the
community. The recommendation is for water to be boiled before
drinking it or cooking with it. The city is replacing some
fire hydrants, and, according to the DNR, there is potential for
contamination of the water when the system is repressurized.
The city will collect water samples and have them tested for
bacteria, and we will be notified when the samples are clear and the
ban is lifted.
In the meantime, we have contacted
Culligan Water Conditioning in Storm Lake to bring us coolers we can
use for drinking water. We can use Pomeroy's water for washing
clothes, bathing residents, and for general cleaning. We will
use the Culligan water for drinking, for coffee, juice and lemonade,
and for any cooking that does require boiling.
We are required to contact the Iowa
Department of Inspections and Appeals when we have a water supply
disruption, and I have done this. I want to let the community
know that we are keeping the residents of this facility from
potential harm.
July 15, 2010 Structure for Downtown Performing Arts Center
to Be Completed Soon
After several delays in acquiring the necessary timbers, the
structure of the brise soleil downtown is nearing completion.
The volunteer group is scheduled to work on it Friday night.
Notice: Pomeroy's City Wide Garage Sales will be held on Saturday
July 17th, 2010 from 8a.m.- Noon
School
Reorganization by Chris Vrba
(This
is the second in a series of articles by Pocahontas Record-Democrat
Editor Chris Vrba
The
Pocahontas Area and Pomeroy-Palmer school reorganization committee
held its second meeting at the PAC High School library June 28. The
superintendents of both districts reviewed information from the past
meeting and addressed preliminary questions prior to allowing the
committee the opportunity to discuss the positive and negative
elements of reorganization in a small group setting.
P-P
superintendent Richard Caldwell acknowledged various questions about
the requirements and timetable for reorganization.
“It
is a vote by both districts,” he noted, and added, “It’s going
to take a while to work through this.”
Though
the formal process of reorganization, contracting two separate legal
entities into one new legal entity, is not necessarily a swift
process, there are financial incentives to expedite the procedure.
Currently,
the state provides extra money for school districts with enrollments
of less than 600 students to enter into whole grade sharing
agreements, and continued money if those districts merge. Both
districts’ enrollments are below the 600-student threshold.
The
state financial incentives for whole grade sharing are effective for
three years. The 2010-11 school year will mark the second year of
whole grade sharing between the schools.
“IT
ALLOWS BOTH SCHOOLS
to get additional funding for students,” said PAC superintendent Joe
Kramer. He added that the incentive money allows the schools to
maintain the current offering of high quality academic programs.
If
the districts elect to reorganize within the three-year window, the
state will provide an additional three years of financial incentives.
However, if reorganization is not complete within three years of the
start of whole grade sharing, the incentives disappear. Even if the
districts were to complete reorganization in four or five years, the
state funding would not be available.
“People
need to be aware of the financial incentive of doing it in three
years,” remarked Kramer.
The
total amount of state provided funding incentives was not available.
However, using data from the 2010-11 budget, tax rates would drop for
a combined district. The estimated rate for a combined district would
be $12.9385 per $1,000 valuation. It would be $14.004 for PAC and
$13.3618 for P-P.
There
are four opportunities for special elections yearly. The earliest date
a reorganization vote could be held would be February 2011.
Though
both districts have reorganized in the past, February may be too soon
to have a public vote.
There
are a series of specific requirements that would need to be met prior
to a vote. Some of these include a formal legal description of the new
district, its new name, the configuration of the board of directors,
and how to account for each district’s taxes, assessments, and
bonded debt.
QUESTIONS
ABOUT EACH DISTRICT’S
long-term survival were raised. Between 1997 and 2007, both districts
saw enrollment drops around 30 percent. PAC’s enrollment went from
887 students to 618, while P-P’s changed from 369 to 232.
The
projections for the next decade do not appear much better. Though the
percentage changes are between 13 and 16 percent, the numbers continue
to dwindle. PAC projects 492 students in the 2016-17 school year and
P-P projects 162.
Said
Kramer of the projections, “We’re just revisiting it, because the
situation warrants it.”
Following
a lengthy question and answer period the committee, befitting its
educational setting, broke into small groups comprised of members from
each district to discuss the pros and cons of various reorganization
considerations.
The
majority of small groups expressed the economy of scale a major
benefit of merger. At the first reorganization meeting, this point was
driven home, as both superintendents stressed the two schools are
complimentary. P-P brings a high district valuation, while PAC has a
large spending authority. The combination of those elements can allow
the schools to offer or even expand upon their current offering of
upper level courses; a positive cited by almost every group.
The
most frequent concern voiced by committee members was the status of
the county’s windmills. The Pocahontas County Board of Supervisors
has proposed the establishment of a Tax Increment Finance (TIF)
district to capture the revenue of the windmills as property tax
increases are phased in.
PRIOR
TO THE MEETING,
Caldwell had sent a letter to all P-P district patrons informing them
how, if enacted, the TIF district may affect the district. According
to figures provided in the letter, the P-P district would lose
approximately $19 million in taxable valuation annual for the next
five years, for a total $76 million over the span.
The
figures come from the phased in assessment increases. The taxable
valuation of the windmills increases five percent each year to a
maximum of 30 percent of the windmills’ actual value.
In
the letter, Caldwell described the impact of the TIF to P-P’s tax
rate. If the county elects not to proceed with the TIF, P-P’s tax
rate would decrease about $1 per $1,000 valuation each year over the
five-year period. That would translate into an estimated $9.14 rate
for the 2014-15 school year. However, if the TIF were utilized, the
tax rate would remain around the 2010-11 rate of $14.14.
“I
don’t know if you should factor it into the decision, but you should
be aware of it,” Kramer to committee members. He continued, “It
would raise taxes, without a doubt.”
P-P’s
tax rate for the current school year increased for several reasons.
The school has levied for a total of about $550,000. The amount allows
the district to replenish the unspent balance, which was over $60,000
negative at year’s end, make up for state budget cutbacks, the
elimination of Phase I funding, and allow for a two month cash reverse
cushion.
The
board of supervisors has not made a decision on the proposed TIF
district. No timetable for a decision has been set.
The
two districts are currently in discussions with the Newell-Fonda
district about how to proceed in the event of the TIF moving forward.
The schools had attempted to hold a joint school board meeting on May
24 with the supervisors in attendance to further discuss the issue,
but the supervisors were not able to attend. No future date for a
combined meeting has been established.
“ALL
THREE BOARDS ARE strongly
against the idea of TIFing the windmills,” remarked Kramer.
Another
frequently voiced reorganization concern was travels distance and time
for students. A combined district would be the state’s sixth
largest, totaling 387 square miles. Travel for students in the
district’s peripheries could approach an hour, the highest duration
allowed under law.
Both
superintendents encouraged transparency throughout the process.
Meeting minutes as well as additional information are available on
each districts’ websites. Additionally, a question and answer forum
has been established at http://pacppsharing.wikispaces.com. The site
allows interested individuals to ask questions about the
reorganization process. Kramer will provide answers to the queries.
The
reorganization committee will continue to hold regular meetings. The
next is scheduled for Monday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Pomeroy
school cafeteria.
School
Reorganization by Chris Vrba
(This
is the first in a series of articles by Pocahontas Record-Democrat
Editor Chris Vrba
Pocahontas
Area and Pomeroy-Palmer school districts held their first
reorganization meeting June 10. The meeting was primarily
informational in nature and the reorganization committee heard a
procedural overview from PAC superintendent Joe Kramer, P-P
superintendent Richard Caldwell, school attorney Rick Engel, and
former Prairie Lakes AEA director Kay Forsythe.
The
superintendents highlighted the benefits of reorganization and
stressed that the two districts compliment each other well.
Caldwell
emphasized P-P’s large district tax evaluation, which is resultant
largely from the windmill field. The net property value in the P-P
district is over $133 million, a figure that will likely increase as
tax evaluations of the existing windfield increase over the next five
years. Construction on an additional 40 windmills southeast of Palmer
is slated to begin later this year.
PAC
offers a large unspent balance. The district’s unspent balance for
FY09 is nearly $2.7 million, with projections for the next three years
between $2.3 and $2.6 million.
Conversely,
P-P’s unspent balance for FY09 was minus $12,762. Three-year
projections for the district range between minus $20,000 and minus
$60,000.
CALDWELL
SAID THAT THE primary concern he has heard from the public is a need
to maintain quality academic programs. He said that because of P-P’s
large evaluation and PAC’s significant spending authority, “We can
do everything you’re asking.”
Although
the maintenance and improvement of educational quality is of paramount
importance in the reorganization process, pocketbook incentives exist.
Reorganization would drop the total property tax rate for both
districts. The Iowa School Finance Information Services estimates a FY
2011 rate of $12.9385 per $1,000 valuation for a combined district.
PAC’s rate would be $14.4004 and P-P’s would be $13.3618.
Engel
reviewed the major steps in the reorganization process. He said that
the current procedures in place should allow for relatively smooth
transition. “Whole grade sharing is a way to move towards
reorganization,” he added.
Engel,
who primarily works with school reorganizations, explained the major
portions of a formal reorganization petition. He explained that some
of the major hurdles to reorganization, such as staffing, building
use, and transportation, have already been decided with the whole
grade sharing plan currently in place.
He
informed the committee that a district name, boundaries, governance,
and distribution of assets and liabilities would need to be in place
at the time of petition submittal.
He
emphasized there is great pliability in the terms of the petition. The
districts can stipulate how to pay for bonded debt. Subtaxing
districts could be formed within the new school district. Such a
district could be created to pay for the remainder of the cost for the
new PAC school. It would allow the two districts to merge, but
stipulate only PAC patrons pay for the new school.
FORSYTHE
EXPLAINED THE AEA’S role in reorganization. She informed the
committee that the AEA works with the districts throughout the process
and is tasked with review and approval of the reorganization petition.
Forsythe
said normal AEA policy is not to deviate dramatically from the
proposal the districts had agreed upon. The organization reviews the
feasibility of the petition, presides over a public meeting, and is
the arbiter of property objections.
“Legal
description sometimes becomes the hardest part,” Forsythe said of
reorganization.
The
AEA has the authority to redraw the proposed district boundaries.
Forsythe said such a scenario arises when a block of property owners
on the district’s periphery file objections on the grounds of
distance. She added the new district must be geographically contiguous
and cannot have “doughnuts” of land drawn out of the district. The
new district would be the state’s sixth-largest geographically.
The
district “can lose land in reorganization, but can’t gain land,”
Engel added.
Forsythe
also said the AEA has the option to change the petition, but that in
her experience it is “not inclined to do so.”
“REORGANIZATION
COMES ABOUT THROUGH citizen action,” Engel remarked.
Citizen
action, in the form of signatures, is required for reorganization to
move forward. Signatures of eligible voters are required to bring
reorganization to a vote. A minimum of 400 signatures are required for
PAC, while P-P would need about 250.
Caldwell
stressed thatsigning a
petition is not equivalent to taking a position for or against
reorganization. He said citizens “can be opposed to it or can be
supportive of it, but we need signatures.”
If
the petition is approved a special election would be held.
Reorganization requires a simple majority in each district to pass.
Both
superintendents noted that there is no set timetable on when or if the
districts should reorganize. However, both said that as educational
leaders they are supportive of reorganization.
“WE’VE
ACCOMPLISHED 90 TO 95 percent of the work to move to
reorganization,” said Caldwell. He added that the districts are
“not in a hurry to move.”
There
is a financial incentive for the districts to reorganize in the
relatively near future. The state offers supplemental funding
incentives for districts with enrollments of less than 600 students to
combine. The incentives are contingent on the districts reorganizing
within the first three years of whole grade sharing. PAC’s
enrollment was 495 and P-P’s was 221. The schools will enter their
second year of whole grade sharing this fall.
The
reorganization committee will continue to meet as it works towards a
final proposal. The committee will then present a proposal to each
district’s board of directors.
The
superintendents felt it was imperative to maintain transparency
through the process. The meeting was filmed and video and updates will
be available on the schools’ websites.
The
committee’s next meeting will be Monday, June 28 at 7:00 p.m. in the
PAC high school library.
The
reorganization process must have a “complete focus on the education
of our students,” said Caldwell in conclusion.
July 2, 2010 More fill Dirt Added to Performing Arts Center
Here's your chance to participate in the discussions.
June 18, 2010 The Floor is In.
Start sending us recommendations for mime troupes, "Shakespeare in the Streets" groups and any others who may wish to share their talents in the Downtown Pomeroy Performing Arts Center.
June 5, 2010 The Poles for the Brise Soleil Are Set
Friday night and most of Saturday the volunteer group worked hard
to complete the main pole setting for the new Pomeroy Performing Arts
Center. To learn more about what a brise soleil is, click
here.
Thanks to everyone who spiffed up their own properties and to those
who helped others to spiff theirs up for Memorial Day. There
were lots of positive comments on how nice Pomeroy looked.
May 27, 2010 Thank You City of Pomeroy!
Today five loads of dirt were moved into area for the Downtown
Pomeroy Performing Arts Center. After first filling the
sinkholes, the volunteer group will soon begin leveling and packing
the dirt.
May 24, 2010 Memorial Day Cleanup Begins
We're looking for volunteers to help spruce up the town before
Memorial Day. Suggestions are being taken for areas which need
work. Currently we have the following neglected properties
slated to be mowed by volunteers:
Roger Feldhans will be offering a free course at the College of
Leonard, 106 S Main, Downtown Pomeroy.
I quote, " I am going to offer a beginners digital slr camera
class, starting at 10am, no cost, just bring your camera, and
owner's manual if you have one. Going to go over the basics of
camera operation, do some actual picture taking and discussions of
shots. This will be very casual. No pressure, just fun."
On Sunday, Mother's Day, the Fonda Art Center will be open. I quote
again, "A very special Mother’s Day “Music/Art Drop-in
Sunday” takes place on Sunday, May 9, from 2:00 till 4:00 pm, when
Keys to Success Music Studio of Lytton, Iowa, presents its Spring
Recital at the Fonda Arts Center. The recital will feature a variety
of music from jazz to classical and performers from age 6 to a
grandma playing a duet with her grandson. Many of these pianists,
students of Deb Ausborn, NCTM, have received honors at both district
and state IMTA piano auditions. Students playing in the recital come
from The second hour of music will feature Rebecca Nickles of
Palmer, . Rebecca has been awarded the “Outstanding Performance
Award” for her piano solo at IHSMA piano festival in Humboldt,
Iowa, two years in a row, as well as placing third this year in both
the Terrace Hill Piano Competition in Des Moines and the Turin Piano
Competition in Vermillion, SD. Rebecca is the daughter of Mark and
Annette Nickles and will be attending Wartburg College, Waverly,
Iowa, in the fall. Also featured during the second hour are
vocalists Jessica and Renče Ausborn. A junior at Southern Cal High
School, Jessica received a perfect score on her vocal solo at
Solo/Ensemble Contest at Rockwell City on April 9th. An All-State
Vocalist and NATS finalist, Renče is a junior theatre major at
Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. Renče and Jessica are
daughters of Ron and Deb Ausborn of Lytton. Complementing the
afternoon will be the artistry of Bobbie Maez of Pocahontas, owner
of Bobbie’s Beads and designer of exquisite Swarovski crystal
jewelry. These precision cut crystals have been produced for more
than a century in the Swarovski crystal cutting factory in Austria,
and are the elements of Bobbie’s finished products.All this takes
place at the Fonda Arts Center, on the northwest corner of Fourth
& Main in Fonda.As always, free admission, free
refreshments!"
Finally Byron has a return of The Mighty Short Bus from Madison
Wisconsin. Tickets are $10 at the door and the show starts at
5:00 on Sunday the 9th.
April 30, 2010. The Friday Night Volunteer group began work on the
Gazebo Park Downtown.
The Calhoun County Foundation has given us a grant to refurbish the
North Main Street park. Phase I - remove everything and restore the sinkholes back to ground level.
Renovation will eventually result in a stage for musical and other
performances.
April 29, 2010 A group from Krysilis Inc visited the
Kaleidoscope Factory today. After a fun morning of making
kaleidoscopes they went out to the Pomeroy Cafe for lunch.
Everyone stopped in to have their pictures taken in the Giant
Kaleidoscope.
Tour buses in Pomeroy? Yes, several times a year! This
time it was the last leg of a mystery tour sponsored by Northland
Travel. A completely full tour bus led by hostess Alberta
Kennedy of Northland Tours stopped in Pomeroy today for a make &
take kaleidoscope adventure which was part of their "March
Mystery Tour". Each participant learned how kaleidoscopes
are made and each put together their own teleidoscope/kaleidoscope to
take home with them. Treats were served by the Pomeroy
Cafe. For more information on upcoming tours with Northland
Travel, click on the link below:
March 23, 2010 by Sue Juilfs, Pomeroy Care Center Administrator <pcc7@ncn.net>
:
Pomeroy Care Center is hosting an Easter celebration on Saturday,
March 27 at 12:30 p.m. Children of the community and those visiting are
invited to decorate Easter eggs. We will be using non-toxic
water color markers, and all children will receive a candy treat.
This event will be held prior to the community Easter egg hunt which
is scheduled for 2:00 P.M.
For anyone interested in "old-time" cowboy music, Pomeroy
Care Center will have Cowboy Jim entertaining Tuesday, March 30 at
6:00 P.M. Cowboy Jim is from Minnesota, and he entertains at
many nursing facilities. Please know you are welcome to join us.
New Sign and Decor at the Pomeroy Cafe
March 17, 2010 by Leonard Olson, publisher.
Last Thursday the Twitter feed from The Pomeroy Cafe stated:
"POMEROY CAFE SIGN UP!! :) COME
CHECK IT OUT!"
ALL CAPS with two exclamation points!
They have every right to be excited.
Head Chef Aaron Essing is the driving
force behind all the improvements in both menu and decor. Here are
some pictures of the new sign and new decor
The sign was created by R. K Welander of R Signs which is located in
the west end of the Pomeroy Arts Entertainment and Historical District.
I asked R. K., "How'd you get started with sign
making?"
RK: "I started the business in the fall of 2009. The
reason I got into this business began clear back in my high school
years. When I was in high school I loved art, when I got out
of high school I did some pin striping of vehicles and motorcycles
because I liked it. Since I have had the auction business,
which I started in 1986, I have always had to market my auctions and
use signage as a medium. I always enjoyed the area sign makers
when they did my work and enjoyed watching them. I noticed
that they were always busy and sometimes I would help myself and the
sign makers by having those sign makers make my letters and then I
would go home and install those letters myself. I thought the
sign business would be a good addition to my auction business and
provide a service to the area as another sign business to work
with. I have been learning the computer programs and the sign
cutting machine this past fall and now I am ready to begin work for
a business. The sign that I did for the Pomeroy Cafe was a 4
ft. x 10 ft sign. It was installed by D&K Imp. Friday evening
and the rest, at they say, is history. I have done signs for
several businesses in town already, the Tea Room, City Hall, Shear
Excitement, Uptown Cuts, Jenny's as well as other small projects for
private use. I love the artistic challenge of creating designs
and then letting the businesses and public enjoy them. I look
forward to working with anyone who needs any type of artwork,
vinyl lettering or custom signs or other ideas with
their business or home use. Call me anytime at
515-290-7400 or stop in at the old Herald Office in Pomeroy at 104
West 1st St."
If you go to the Pomeroy Cafe Page on this site you'll
automatically see the Twitter feeds of daily specials and other
news. For direct feeds of their news go to:
