North Winneshiek approves whole grade sharing contract with Decorah

The North Winneshiek School Board has approved the renewal of the whole grade sharing agreement with Decorah.  Details of the agreement are listed below:
 
•        The 9-12 Grade Whole Grade Sharing Agreement will continue for 5 more years starting with the 2012-2013 School year and ending with the 2016-2017 school year.
•        North Winneshiek will pay the general fund per pupil cost to Decorah at the rate of 82%.  This amount will remain at 82% for duration of the agreement.  The balance of the cost per pupil will be used to pay for the North Winneshiek 9-12 transportation costs.  
•        North Winneshiek will pay Decorah the state average of the school infrastructure sales tax money per the number of regular education North Winneshiek students who are a part of the whole grade sharing agreement.
•        North Winneshiek will pay the actual cost for 9-12 students who receive special education at the Decorah High School.  The district will also pay the sales tax money for special education students who are classified as whole grade sharing or tuitioned out.
•        The state of Iowa provides 2 additional sources of revenue, which are the teacher salary supplement and the professional development funds, to help Iowa school districts boost teacher pay and to pay for additional teacher professional development time.  The Teacher Salary Supplement and Professional Development funds are based on a per pupil amount.  For example, this year's TSS amount is $472.34 per student and the PD is $41.65 per student.  In the agreement, North Winneshiek will pay Decorah the TSS and PD amount for students who are a part of the whole grade sharing agreement.  This will be paid on an indexed manner over the next 5 years.  Teacher Salary Supplement and Professional Development will be incremental increases:  2012-2013 20%, 2013-2014 40%, 2014-2015 60%, 2015-2016 80% and 2016-2017 100% .  The Teacher Salary Supplement and Professional Development per pupil cost will change slightly on the Aid and Levy each fiscal year.     
•        The non financial language of the agreement stayed the same as the current one.