School board approves hike to registration fees

The Red Oak School Board met in regular session to tackle several of business items.
The board discussed increasing the district’s registration fees for the 2023-24 school year. The new fees would be $40 for kindergarten through sixth grade and $60 for seventh grade through 12th grade.
“We are recommending the increase in fees, which comes out to $5 per student. We would keep the preschool fees at $30 per student. It’s something we try to be very judicious and careful about in terms of setting the fees, as it’s an issue for all families,” advised Lorenz. “However, while we want to be as economical as possible, we felt it was necessary given the rising costs of curriculum, supplies, and other things. We’d rather take gradual increases rather than hit people with a $15 or $20 increase.”
The board approved the increase in fees as presented.
Discussion then moved to the creation of a flexibility account and transfer of unexpended and unobligated professional development funds of $50,000, home school assistance program funds of $48,544, and before and after school program funds of $8,049. Superintendent Ron Lorenz said the account was in accordance with Iowa code.
“Iowa code was adjusted in 2018 for schools to transfer balances with carryover from eligible funds, as listed on the agenda, to the general fund. The funds can then be used for any general fund purpose, but they have to be approved through a board resolution and included in a budget certification process,” Lorenz said. “There also has to be a public hearing before the funds can actually be spent.”
The flex funds could be used for things such as retention bonuses, hiring incentives, and big-ticket curriculum purchases. The board approved the creation of the flexibility account and the transfer of funds.
The board then discussed a resolution to consider continued participation in the instructional support program. Lorenz said the district’s instructional support levy expired on June 30, 2024.
“This is an important revenue source for us. It allows districts to increase their general fund budget up to 10% of their total regular program costs. The funds can be used for any allowable general fund purchase, and it’s something the district relies on to make ends meet,” Lorenz stated.
Lorenz said the instructional support program could be established in one of two ways.
“The board can pass a resolution creating the program for up to five years, or we can hold a public vote creating the program and approving it for up to 10 years. Renewing it through board resolution takes two meetings. The resolution would have to be approved at the first meeting, and then a subsequent public hearing would need to be held before the next meeting to formally approve the resolution.”
If passed, Lorenz said the district would have to wait 28 days before it could move forward to allow time for a reverse referendum.
“We’re trying to get ahead of this and get it on the agenda so we don’t miss any deadlines. We felt summer was a better time to discuss it rather than to wait for August,” Lorenz said.
The board agreed to approve the resolution with a public hearing to take place at the next regular board meeting in July.
Discussion was also held regarding the purchase of Marzano Instructional Empowerment for the identification of critical content training at a cost of $5,500.
“As we continue our work with Marzano, we need to make sure our new teachers have the training to come in and speaking that language. We’ve had really good luck with one of their trainers, and we would like to purchase the training for the new staff as well as model our critical content. It’s a training package with a facilitator, and we’ve worked with the same person throughout,” Lorenz said.
Lorenz then discussed the purchase of Pikmykid Dismissal Management system at a cost of $6,650.
“This is kind of an innovative program. It’s a system that will streamline our student drop-off and pick-up procedures at Inman Elementary and the Red Oak Early Childhood Center. We’ll be able to enhance our efficiency and provide a more secure way to hand kids off to parents. Also, it will hopefully alleviate some of the frustrations people experience sitting in those long lines,” Lorenz explained.
The program places a geo fence around the campuses. Parents can download an app that will signal the school when the parents have arrived, and when the student is ready to be dismissed, while also allowing the parents to notify the school if someone else is picking up the child.
“This will provide various documentation features and time stamps so we can verify where kids have been and where kids are. There are numerous other features, like a panic button of sorts. If a child experiences a medical emergency, the instructor can activate that and the first responders will know exactly where the child is,” stated Lorenz.
The board approved the the Pikmykid system for $6,650.