Interim School Board approves reciprocal tuition sharing agreement with Mabel-Canton Schools for North Winneshiek students

Some board members argued for the five year agreement because it was a logical cut-off point, allowing junior high age students to be able to complete high school at Mabel-Canton if desired. It also allows the board to reconsider all the implications of the agreement in five years. The agreement leaves in question what the board (and parents) will decide in five years, if an elementary student is enrolled at Mabel-Canton and wishes to continue beyond that time.

What is best for families and students is always stated to be in the forefront, but at issue is the loss of approximately $200,000 per year paid to Mabel-Canton for the estimated 30 enrollees (next year).  That amount of state funding, about $6,000 per student, however, has not yet been realized by the newly merged district, as noted by board member Lange.

Beyond what happens in five years when the board might be faced with the issue again is the question of what the Iowa Legislature will do by 2020, when the broader agreement of reciprocity that allows open enrollment between Minnesota and Iowa expires. It is not expected that there will major changes, but whatever the legislature does would take precedent over any agreements made between Decorah and Mabel-Canton.