Updates on North Winneshiek merger issues

Posted: Mon, May 13, 2019 8:58 PM

The Decorah Interim School Board discussed several ongoing issues related to the merger of North Winneshiek and Decorah Community Schools at their meeting Monday night.

• Currently the plan for the North Winneshiek building will include its use by the Home School Assistance Program for once or twice a week meetings. That program provides guidance and support for home school families on curriculum issues and monitors academic progress.

• Other building use, such as the gym for various activities, continues to be a possibility.

• Bids are currently out for a new septic system which, with drainage of the current lagoon, could cost $175,000 or more. The project became more lengthy, complicated and expensive than originally thought, due to bad perk tests on the property. It was assumed that contract would be all completed by the existing North Winneshiek School Board, but that will no longer be the case.

• One teacher from the North Winneshiek School will not be issued a contract for next year. The school boards had hoped that no teachers from either district would lose their jobs. The teacher has been notified. The decision about staffing followed the specifics of reduction in force procedures outlined in the teacher master contracts.