CL School District removed from ‘No Child Left Behind’ watch list

School Board gets enrollment report
    The Clear Lake School Board celebrated word from the Iowa Department of Education Monday that none of the buildings in the district are on any “No Child Left Behind” watch list.
    “This is good news for the District,” said Interim Superintendent Dwight Pierson.  Last year the District was notified that one subgroup in both the elementary and middle schools did not reach adequate yearly progress.  “As a result of interventions, test scores in all subgroups met expectations.”
    District officials explained there are over 70 ways in which a district can be put on the No Child Left Behind watch list.  They include testing data of students in special education, limited English language learners, those on free and reduced lunches, attendance and drop-out rates, to name a few.
    At its regular meeting Monday, administrative team members stressed that staff in all buildings continue to look at district data to improve services.
    Sandy Christ encouraged fellow Board members to continue to communicate with legislators regarding the demands of the No Child Left Behind legislation.  While district educators generally agree the initiative has yielded positive results, they say some requirements of the program are unnecessary and unrealistic for smaller school districts.
    At its Monday meeting, the Board also received a report concerning its certified enrollment numbers. 
    Board Secretary/Business Manager Lorna Leerar told the Board the district’s enrollment has dropped 17 students, or 8 percent this school year. 
    “The good news is that our open enrollment out numbers are down 1.6 and open enrollment in numbers are up 5.1,”
said Leerar.
    Pierson emphasized declining enrollment is an issue facing all school districts.  At a recent meeting, he said very few area superintendents reported enrollment increases.  Mason City Schools are down 78 students and Humboldt, a member of the North Central Conference with Clear Lake, is down 41 students.
    Board members noted that school staffing has also been reduced by five positions, in line with student numbers.
    In other business Monday, the board approved a Civility Policy which specifies the responsibilities of students, parents and guardians and practitioners and the consequences for unacceptable behavior at any school function.
    Pierson said Civility policies were discussed at a recent conference meeting and it is the intent of the league to enforce such policies.  Under the policy a person may be removed from an activity, and depending on the severity of misbehavior, may be banned from conference events.
    The Board also approved a policy requiring board approval for those students eligible for a Special Minors License.  The policy will require students to list their school activities and driving route on an application signed by the student and parent.  That application will be reviewed by the superintendent and recommended to the board for approval.
    First readings of policies concerning life threatening allergies and distribution of solicitation materials were also approved on the first reading.  Subsequent readings will be placed on the agenda in November.
    Next month the board will also hear a request concerning a proposed plan for a foreign language trip during 2009; reports and recommendations from the Good Conduct Study Committee and School Improvement Committee; strategic planning update and early retirement policy.