Mount Vernon middle school auditorium getting new sound system
The Mount Vernon District Auditorium in Mount Vernon Middle School will be purchasing a new sound system for the auditorium space.
The accepted bid for the project was $57,98039 from CTI. Superintendent Matt Leeman noted that the bid was not the lowest bid on the project, but was accepted due to the experience of staff working with them in the past. Board member Tim Keegan asked the last time the sound system had been upgraded at the middle school, and middle school principal Bob Haugse said it was in either 2005 or 2009.
Board member Lance Schoff, who uses the auditorium with Mount Vernon football players for reviewing film and team meetings, said that the sound system is no longer working in the auditorium.
“We have to bring our own speakers in,” Schoff said. Leeman said this investment will allow the auditorium’s sound system to work for another 10 years.
The Mount Vernon Fine Arts Association has said they are willing to help contribute to the project, and will determine at the December meeting how much they are planning to contribute for the new sound system. The remaining funding will come from physical plant and equipment levy funds.
Mount Vernon security upgrades approved
The Mount Vernon Community School District approved of security upgrades to the district’s buildings.
The district had received $150,000 for reimbursement for school improvements to the three buildings from the Governor’s School Safety Initiative.
The improvements for Mount Vernon Schools were on upgrades to the existing camera system.
The proposed upgrades come at a cost of $235,605 from RC Systems. The district negotiated a lower price in a previous work session to not impact the integrity of the improvements. The extra $85,605 for the project will come from Physical Plant and Equipment Levy funding.
Mount Vernon district roundtable first meeting set for December
The newly formed district roundtable meeting will be held Wednesday, Dec. 4.
The district roundtable is composed of stakeholders from the community, school board, student body and school employees. The roundtable will learn more about the district through agendas they create, as well as make recommendations and provide feedback for upcoming district decisions.
“The goal is to engage more stakeholders and increase participation from our community even more than we already are,” said superintendent Matt Leeman.
The meetings are hosted and led by the Superintendent and others will join to present when topics arise that are their expertise.
Deadline to apply for being a member of the district roundtable was Monday, Nov. 18, with participants notified Friday, Nov. 22.
The plan is for the district roundtable to hold three meetings during the 2024-25 school year.
MV School board establishes goals for coming year
The Mount Vernon School Board has established it’s three main goals and areas of focus for the year.
Those goals are:
1) Being a fiscally responsible district
2) Preparing well-prepared graduates
3) Continuing to be a district of choice
The district also outlined how they would measure success in each goal.
Fiscally Sound
• Financially Sustainable
• Financially Stable to allow us to grow with the best staff.
• Fiscally run net-zero yearly, or slightly positive
Well-Prepared Graduates
• Meets the needs and advances learning of all students
every year.
• All kids show improvement at all levels.
• Excellence in academics, the arts, and athletics.
• Engaged learners – invested in their learning.
• Known as a district that offers diverse opportunities for
kids to succeed in
the future.
• College or career-ready students.
District of Choice
• The area’s district of choice due to programs & culture.
• High expectation from top, down
Destination District
• High expectations.
• Care for all
District of choice for both educators and students/families.
The district will also be establishing goals for each building at coming work sessions.
Waverly Shell Rock, Decorah not joining WaMaC
Waverly-Shell Rock and Decorah will not be joining the WaMaC.
Waverly-Shell Rock’s request to join WaMaC was denied by the Department of Education. Waverly-Shell Rock will now have to wait to appeal the decision. Waverly-Shell Rock, Decorah and Charles City were all part of the Northeast Iowa Conference, which is slated to disband in 2025.
Those same three schools were denied entry into the Upper Iowa Conference, stating they were larger than other member schools in the conference.
Decorah’s superintendent has said he doesn’t want his district to join the WaMaC, citing the distance of Decorah from other member schools, contributing to long bus rides for students to conferences.