Benton to look for K-12 curriculum director
By JIM MAGDEFRAU, Star Press Union editor
VAN HORNE – With the departure of two principals, Benton Community’s Board of Directors indicated they’d like to realign the school’s administration to provide for a full-time curriculum director.
Resigning this year have been Eric Huinker, Norway principal and K-6 curriculum director, and Tim Sanderson, Van Horne/Keystone principal and special education coordinator. A replacement has been hired for Huinker. The school is advertising for Sanderson’s position.
At a work session June 17 at the middle/senior high school media center in Van Horne, Superintendent Gary Zittergruen offered five different options. Most of the board favored going with the option that has a director for curriculum and professional development. This can be done with existing staff with some adjustments, plus the hiring of Sanderson’s replacement. There would be no K-6 curriculum director. The Norway position would include reading recovery with Title I. The Van Horne/Keystone position would include special education.
Zittergruen said the average pay for a curriculum director in Iowa is $71,000. About one-third of the schools in Iowa have such a position.
School board member Terry Harrington pointed out this is something the communications team has wanted to see. This option would give a “little different leadership where we feel it is needed,” he said.
Board president Brenda Schanbacher agreed that having the director would alleviate some pressure on current principals, giving them more time to do what they need to do as principals.
Zittergruen stressed with the late date, it is also important to maintain some continuity while bringing in two new administrators.
As for realignment, Deb Drahos, Blairstown, said from the audience that the elementary is doing a good job. The focus needs to be on the upper levels, according to recent assessments. This could give other administrators more time to do what the dean of students was doing.
Zittergruen said this will hinge on the pool of applicants now being considered, and will mean someone not doing elementary work now becoming an elementary principal.
Business manager Doug Embray looked at the budget, and warned while Benton is doing well now with enrollment and funding, no one knows what will happen later or what will happen at the statehouse. Zittergruen added that when budgets are cut, this is often the position that is eliminated.
No action was taken. Zittergruen said the board might meet prior to its next regular meeting to deal with this.
Other business
In other business at the board meeting June 17 in Van Horne:
- The board discussed renewing its voted Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL), and decided to not put it up for a vote in the 2010 election, since the school has since generated money from the local option sales and service tax.
- Activities Director Kal Goodchild summarized changes in the activities handbook, with inclusion of the definition of what is considered extra-curricular and what is graded.
- Student fees were approved. Book rental increased $2 at the elementary level and $3 at the 7-12 level. Fees are as follows:
K-6 Registration: $32
7-8 Registration: $40
9-12 Registration: $65
9-11 Class dues: $10
Senior class dues: $30
K-8 activity: $25
- Hot lunch prices will be $1.80 per day for K-6, $1.90 for 7-12, $2.75 for adults, and $1.25 for K-12 breakfast.
- The board approved bread bids from Interstate Brands and milk bids from Anderson Erickson.
- The driver education fee was increased from $300 to $320.
- A cooperative student teacher agreement was approved with the University of Iowa.
- Board policies were reviewed and approved on substitute teachers, student teachers and classified employee political leave.
- The board approved legislative priorities on allowable growth, professional development, transportation, instructional support levy and Iowa Model Core Curriculum. The goals will be forwarded to the Iowa Association of School Boards.
- Pro Build was the lowest bidder for the Keystone Center project at $578,982. With the alternate, the total bid is $603,788. This is well below the architect’s estimate of $770,000, because of revisions to the design, plus a competitive bidding market.
Staff action
In staff action at the board meeting June 17:
- Resignations were accepted from Tim Sanderson, elementary principal and director special education; Laura Kane, special education associate at the Van Horne Center; and Ryan Moody, middle school special education.
- Recommendations approved were Brandi Viter, assistant seventh grade girls’ basketball coach; Deidre Carney, assistant seventh grade volleyball coach; and Heather Hartle, food service and middle/senior high school; Kara Mitchell, Title I and 3-year-old preschool at Norway; Ashlea Housman, 3-year-old preschool at Atkins; and various associates and drivers for the summer arts program.
UPDATED June 22, 2009 2:28 PM