The West Delaware school board held a regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 13 in the District Conference Center.

The main topic of discussion during the regularly scheduled meeting was the second phase of construction at West Delaware.

The summary of the campus improvements is as follows: A) Annex Demolition and Gymnasium Addition estimated at $4,589,565; B) Lambert Elementary Additions estimated at $1,611,981; and C) Kindergarten Remodel estimated at $211,336 for a total project cost of $6,412,882.

The new gymnasium would be located just to the south of the new commons area that is currently under construction. It would have a seating capacity of 1,800 and feature two full court practice basketball courts as well as the competition court.

As well it would accommodate two full volleyball courts and have enough room to put three 42’ x 42’ wrestling mats end to end.

Also included would be new lockerroom facilities connected with the gymnasium for both home and visiting teams.

There are also approximately 135 new parking spaces included in the project which will take the total parking spaces available to nearly 200 on the high school campus site.

The Lambert Elementary Additions would consist of eight new classrooms and a 3,000 square foot commons area which would be used as a lunch facility. That new facility would allow 200 students to eat at the same time.

The eight classrooms are estimated to cost just over $1,000,000 while the commons area carries an estimated cost of just under $400,000.

The remodel of the kindergarten building would be for the purpose of moving the Central Office to that site.

The approach to this phase of construction would have some similarities to the current construction taking place at West Delaware.

That similarity would be that the public would need to raise $750,000 to go towards the gymnasium portion of the construction costs, much like what was done with the new performing arts auditorium.

There are some hurdles to cross before such a construction project can become a reality, namely the passing of the extension of the SILO (School Infrastructure Local Option) sales and services tax.

Voters within Delaware County approved the implementation of a one-cent sales tax for school in May 2003.

That tax began to be collected in January of 2004 and will expire on December 31, 2013.

Currently the SILO tax provides nearly $775,000 per year to the school district.

“The board clearly understands the scope of this proposed new construction,” stated school board president, Gary Johnson.

“We will, as we have done in the past, live within our means on this project. That is why we are making it very clear that the community will have to come up with $750,000 to complete the gymnasium portion of this project.”

This was the approach taken when the performing arts auditorium and current construction project was being put into place. The board made it clear that they would be able to put up a shell for the auditorium but that there would have to be a million-dollars raised locally in order to complete the project.

That goal was met and the auditorium will be completed as envisioned.

The passage on September 25 of the extension of the SILO tax will ensure that this proposed project can take place without any effect on property taxes.

The extension period would be for a period of nine years to December 31, 2022.

The balance of the project, in the neighborhood of $5,700,000, would be financed by General Obligation School Bonds in a bond issue that would have to be approved by a vote of the public of 60 percent plus one vote.

It should be noted that the $6,412,882 total cost of the project is just an estimate and there may be several alternates that could be bid with the project to keep the total bond issue in the area of $5,400,000.

Initial drawings of the new project will be on display at the annual West Delaware Silver Bowl on Friday night, August 24.

In other business Director of School Improvement, Sue Daker went over the West Delaware Annual Progress Report for 2006-2007.

The demographics portion of the report contained some interesting information on how students at West Delaware compare to students across the state.

* Percent of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch - West Delaware 23.7 percent, Iowa 38.5 percent.
* Percent of high school seniors who intend to pursue post-secondary education or training - West Delaware 114 of 158 or 72.15 percent.
* Percent of public school classrooms with internet access - West Delaware 100 percent, United States 98 percent.
* Student:computer ration (public schools) - West Delaware 2.5:1, United States 5.0:1.
* Dropout rate for grades 7-12 (2005-06) - West Delaware .15 percent; Iowa 2.14 percent, United States (grades 9-12) 11.0%.

Graduation rate - West Delaware Class of 2005, 96.18 percent, Iowa 90.70 percent; West Delaware Class of 2006, 100 percent, Iowa 90.8 percent.

On the No Child Left Behind percentages the West Delaware School System did very well.
In reading, grade 8 (ITBS data) the percentage of advanced and proficient students was 75.73 percent om 2005-06 and increased to 76.5 percent for 2006-07.

Grade 4 math showed even a better increase from 75.4 percent in 2005-06 to 83.6 percent in 2006-07.
The results for 11th grade science were just short of the goals that had been set out. The percentage of advanced and proficient students for 2005-06 was 78.7 percent and in 2006-07 the percentage dipped ot 77.5 percent.

All in all the progress that the West Delaware school district is making is very good according to testing indicators.

Daker also shared with the board the 2007-08 Curriculum Coordinating Council Members which include the following persons.

Dave Gaskill, Gail Prinsen, Marcia Powell, Tom King, Ried Boom, Mike Ryan, Jon Nordaas, Carol Tjaden, Lori Roberts, Lisa Senne, Seth Harms, Diane Egemo, Becky Kimmerle-Berry, Elwyn Curtis, Bob Murphy, Sue Daker, Marc Snavely, Jean Storms, Natalie Felton, Susan Rieken, Jean Fisher, Rick Hilbert, and Randy Stanek.

In other action the board approved the following new hires - Dan Durocher varsity girls cross country coach and assistant high school speech; Shea Putz, head 7th grade volleyball coach; Natalie Felton and Stephanie Maury as .5 FTE Special Olympics Coordinators and .5 FTE Special Olympics Coaches; Tom King and Doug Winkowitsch as .5FTE head varsity boys track coaches and assistant varsity boys track coaches; Don Finn and Kevin Kleitsch as .5 FTE assistant boys basketball coaches; Joyce Francois, Elementary Special Ed. Tutorial Associate.

They also approved the resignations of Krystie Manson as high school Special Education Associate and Alicia Hansel as Early Childhood Special Education Associate.