![[Le Mars Daily Sentinel]](http://www.lemarssentinel.com/images/nameplate-small.png){kind=small}
RSS
Print
Email link
Respond to editor
Read comments (17)
 Work on the new Le Mars Community Middle School gymnasium continues with flooring being put down this week. The gym is part of a construction project which also includes three new classrooms at the high school. [Click to enlarge] |
"There's been a lot going on this summer," said Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt as he gave a quick tour of the addition.
Holtze Construction of Sioux City is the contractor for the project, which was started in late September 2007. The total project cost was estimated at $2,916,349 and includes a 12,320 square foot middle school gymnasium and lobby at the southwest corner of the middle, a 4,375 square foot three-classroom addition on the west side between the middle school and high school, and a drive connecting the north parking lot to Stadium Drive.
 Le Mars Community High School geometry teacher Tracy Wingert demonstrates the Smart Board in his new classroom, using a computer. Items written on the board may be saved to a computer file. His is one of three new classrooms completed in a year-long construction project at the high school. [Click to enlarge] |
The regulation size gymnasium offers seating for 500 to watch volleyball and basketball games, and offers two courts for middle school students to practice.
"Before our middle school athletic practices had to be conducted in shifts," Wendt explained. "With the new facility, all practices can be held immediately after school and students can be done before 6 p.m."
At the middle school level, all students are able to go out for a sport. "There are no cuts in middle school sports," said Wendt. That means each grade could have 40 to 50 students out for basketball and 35 to 40 out for volleyball. "The new gym gives us more flexibility," Wendt said.
Wendt said freshman and junior varsity basketball games will be played in the new gym, allowing all games to be played on the school's campus. Previously, some freshman and junior varsity games had to be played at the YMCA. "We can also run two volleyball courts in the new gym and still have seating space," Wendt said.
High school instructors Tracy Wingert, Doug Martin and Nikki Addison will have new classrooms this fall on the west side the high school/middle school complex.
The three classrooms are equipped with Smart Boards which allow teachers and students to have interactive activities on the board while connected with the computer, and allows items written on the board itself to be saved as a computer file.
"We can take snapshots of what we've written on the board and save the files," said Wingert, who teaches high school geometry. He was getting his computer set up with the board Wednesday afternoon.
Martin said his space is a combination lecture and lab room, and about two times the size of his former classroom. He, too, is excited about the Smart Board technology available for his classes which include college electronics, college anatomy and phsyiology, traditional physics and traditional anatomy and physiology.
The laptop computers for his classroom will help his students better see "the big picture" during a lecture or lab, he said.
"We've moved away from the calculator to the computers," Martin said.
Two new computer labs have been added at the high school.
Space formerly occupied by the school's printing department (now located at the Education Center on Lincoln Street South) is home to a computer lab with 24 computers. A second computer lab is now located near the high school principal's office. Both labs allow teachers to bring their class to the lab for computer access when needed.
Students in the computer graphics class taught by Tom Smalley previously had only a few computers in the art classroom, which limited enrollment. This year, enrollment in the class jumped from 12 to 40 with the addition of the computer lab.
Last year the only computer lab was located in the library, according to assistant principal Mark Iverson.
"When teachers took a class to the computers in the library, no one else could use the computers," said Iverson. "These new labs free up the computers in the library for students to use during their study hall time."
The former board meeting room is now all classroom space for Erin Ohrlund. Wendt noted the larger classroom will be good for drama activities.
What was the superintendent's office space has been taken over by the high school guidance counselors.
"Their move allows a direct entrance more space for college recruiters," said Wendt, adding that it also allows a more private entrance for parents and students who may need other services of the guidance counselors.
The former guidance office space will be used by teachers and staff for workspace.
Paving of a new drive on the west side of the middle school, connects to the high school's north parking lot and will allow school buses to unload students on the west side of the high school. Stadium Drive on the south side of the middle school will be used for parking allows middle school parents to drop-off and pick-up students at the south entrance.
To all,
The school district measures 265 square miles, one of Iowa's top ten in area. State law prohibits students riding more than an hour. 19 bus routes that add up to 1,000 miles a day of travel.
Riding on a bus to school is the safest way, including parents cars, to transport children to school.
ClearThinker - Maybe you should "think clearly" about what you are saying. Getting rid of Rural Bus Routes? Why don't we just get rid of heat in schools? Farmers may be able to start up their cars, but many of them work 2 jobs anymore, have odd hours, and I'm sorry but the option of riding a moped, a bike or walking is not plausible when you live 15 miles out in the country versus, a mile in town! Then there's the whole fact that we have one of the largest land districts in the state, many of those people don't come to Le Mars to work, they go to Sioux City, Sioux Center, Orange City etc. I could almost guarantee you would see a big drop in enrollment and a bigger increase in open enrollment to other schools if you took away bus routes.
Also as parent whose child rides the bus from daycare to school, I must tell you how invaluable this service is. I'm willing to pay the extra money for it because if I took her when I went to work she would be waiting outside of school 45 minutes and after school for two hours...
Why some rethinking and looking does need to be made, bus routes are not one of them - besides they have cut the activity bus routes and that's about as much as can be cut from them
To "Clear Thinker",
I completely agree with you that "throwing" money at problems doesn't solve them, but to use that argument here is to oversimplify the situation. There is a fine line between underfunding and overfunding anything, and that is what our community is struggling with during the ISL issue. Personally, I believe the ISL would get us closer to that "line".
My point about LCS's 339th ranking in per pupil spending is that it does illustrate how much we are spending for each student compared to the rest of the state. While not every district can be compared fairly, it does give a big picture for us to consider. Maybe "embarrassing" was too strong of a word, but it certainly doesn't raise my confidence that some in our community are complaining that the schools spend too much already, when the true track record of tax levies reveal a district that is quite low compared to most. I am certainly glad that the Board has been fiscally conservative and hope they continue to do so. At the same time, I also hope that they (and the community) make sure that the true needs of the students in their pursuit of academic excellence receive the utmost of support.
As for your comment about "With the loss of 80 students last year as you lament..shouldn't our cost go down as well?
…No, not necessarily in a school system our size. If you average the 80 students out over K-12 classes, that would only be about 6 kids per grade. That doesn't even equal a change of one student per classroom. The money disappears, but the same classrooms are needed.
As for your personal attack on me…I guess that since you believe everyone who votes "yes" is connected to Le Mars Community schools, I should assume you work for Gehlen and have one of those oversized "vote no" signs sitting in your yard? No, I don't think that way. I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion and respect them regardless. I thought these comment boards were for respectful discourse in the open marketplace of ideas. I'm glad that most people here adhere to the value of respect.
ClearThinker,
I think we have to provide transportation to students outside a 2 or 3 mile radius of the city limits.
Mr. Smith,
Let me preface by saying I do think you are an asset to the board.
Every family in the country can use more money, why would a homeschool family be any different? (ie: lower taxes)
As far as Teacher to Student ratio in the Homeschool enviroment, I believe it has more to do with love and teaching the core subjects while leaving out the fluff. I know of some very large Homeschooled families.
No, I don't blame teachers for the fluff either.
Your next question of me is going to be "Well what do I call fluff"? So far it looks like the board is doing very well at cutting the fluff.
Those who try to say more money equals a better educated student will be proven wrong every time.
I do believe in the interest of Teacher to Student ratio that Teachers should be the last to be cut.
In another article it was stated that the downward spiral began with All Day Kindergarten, and Mr. Murphy stating he saw the possibility of dramatic drops in enrollment. So this was not the complete surprise that you make it sound.
Why isn't all day kindergarten on the chopping block? Half day kindergarten served everyone very well for a long time.
Why do we still fund Rural Bus Routes?
Farmers can fire up the car and drive them to school on their way to work just like town people.
Make the cuts, everything will be fine, the sky is not falling..
Vote No for your kids, they have enough of a tax burden to inherit!
Parents this is the perfect opportunity to show your kids that sometimes the "fun" stuff needs to be cut out of the budget for a while.
(In his/her first post "LetsThinkAboutThat" is embarrassed that L.C.S. has kept costs down and has for many years?? I think we should put that on a billboard as people enter Le Mars.)
ClearThinker,
Home schoolers' children in fact do well. I wonder though, if it has anything to do with the teacher to student ratio rather than what the teacher is paid. Have you ever asked a home school family if they could use more financial support than they get now? It isn't the number of students that we lost it is the rapid loss that caused the problem. Do you think this would be an issue if we had lost the 80 students over say 10 years? Or even 5? We lost 30 two years ago and were still OK.
In regards to "LetsThinkAboutThat"s comments..yes lets think about that..
If spending per pupil equaled a well educated student homeschooled children would not rank at the top of any subject or academic competition..
With the loss of 80 students last year as you lament..shouldn't our cost go down as well? It will when we cut a teacher or two that isn't needed.
Your argument is weak..
What is your position in the school system?
well stated
To preface my response, I think it is great that our comments have displayed civility while disagreeing. That is not always the case in on this website, so it is good to see respectful exchanges as we discuss differing opinions.
To #3noway:
Until the 2006-2007 school year, Le Mars Community Schools had recently seen either stable or growing enrollment. That year LCS lost 30 students. This past year saw the loss of 80 students. If I understand the information from the public meetings held this past spring, those 110 students represents at least $500,000 from local, state, and federal sources, and I am probably too low with that amount. The other $150,000 or so has been coming from the reserve fund, which is now as low as it can be to be fiscally sound.
To britt408:
It is true that it will require some General fund monies to heat and care for the new areas. That is one trade-off that we will get for needed classroom space. The gym will finally allow practices to be completed at a reasonable time so our children can go home and do their homework/be with families compared with having to be practicing in the evening. It also lessens the concerns about liability that the school was dealing with by kids travelling back and forth to the Y for practices and games.
As for the decisions about certain cuts versus others, I disagreed with some of the Board's decisions. I am an avid supporter of the arts, more so than sports. But I recognize the reality of the numbers too. The part-time music position with benefits was $30,000. A newly hired assistant coach is around $2,000. Basic math. While it might have been good PR to cut a coach or two, the numbers don't work.
No one is ever going to agree with the Board or administration on every decision they must make. I don't. I have spoken to them about certain issues when I deemed it important to do so. I also go to the ballot box and show my support or displeasure by voting for the candidate of my choice.
However, it seems that some in our community pledge to vote "no" on the ISL in order to "punish" the Board or administration for one infraction or another. The truth is that it is not going to come out of their own pockets. A "no" vote will affect the funds that educate our children. It will lessen the resources the teachers are able to use in the classroom with our children. Other programs may be cut. Who do you want to punish?
A YES vote does not mean you always agree with the Board or administration. They are not perfect, but last time I checked, neither was I. A YES vote means you recognize our schools are in need and are willing to be part of the solution. We can argue about countless little issues, but the big picture illustrates the current need.
Everyone should vote your conscience. Just make sure it is supported by solid information and priorities. I'll be voting a firm YES.
Monday Aug. 11, the Le Mars Community board will discuss potential impact on school district finances should the ISL be passed or rejected by district voters Sept. 9.
I invite you to attend.
britt408, that was perfect!
Sure, the money used to build the addition could not have been given to the programs being cut due to the ISL. But what about the costs of heating/cooling and maintaining the new addition? You can have all the construction money in the world to build a ton of really nice additions, but the district also needs the money to maintain those additions, which I'm assuming cannot come out of "construction" funds.
Many voted no on ISL on principle. Sure, it's just $40 or whatever this time, but then the next time the district runs out of money they'll just ask for more. Let's wisely use the tax dollars we have now, then maybe I'd be more apt to vote for a little extra here and there. The emphasis on sports at this school is disgusting...if you're going to cut a part-time music teacher, cut an assistant football coach too. Stop cutting from programs (i.e. T&I) that benefit students who wish to pursue that route as a career and aren't interested in sports.
There are nine school districts that collect taxes in Plymouth County. Here are how they rank as far as taxes rates collected.
Akron-Westfield 17.02
Hinton 12.78
Kingsley-Pierson 16.48
Lawton-Bronson 16.94
Le Mars Community 12.70
Marcus M-C 10.50
Remsen-Union 11.46
Sioux City 17.76
West Sioux 17.95
We could have been taxing at a higher rate all this time but chose not to.
If the ISL had passed last time taxes on a $200,000.00 house would have gone up $44.00 ($22.00 per $100,000.00 valuation).
If the ISL had passed last time taxes on 100 acres of farm ground would have gone up $36.00 ($.36 an acre).
If the ISL had passed last time taxes on $100,000.00 worth of commercial property would have gone up $50.00.
If the ISL had passed last time and you paid $1000.00 in Iowa State income taxes you would have paid an additional $25.00 in State income tax (2%-3%, I used 2.5%).
in regards to lets thik about that:
you totally correct the loss of 80 students last year was unable to be planned for but let me think here 80 students lets go wild with this and say tuition cost 500 per child which it dont that equals 40,000 a year hmm alot less then they had to cut on programs so yes trying to convince us that this caused by loss of 80 students instead of waisting money on things not needed the numbers dont add up so try again maybe youll come up with something that does work out to show the amount of cuts they made and if you do and none of it was not needed then im sorry ill vote in your way and say yes but if one dollar of that money on the cuts that they had to make isnt accounted for or wasnt really needed then ill stick with my vote NO!
My children are too young to currently benefit from the new classrooms and gymnasium but they will someday so I am glad this is being done. The Middle School gym before was a joke and could barely hold cheerleading tryouts let alone sporting events.
I was out of the area for a few years so I am not sure what the ISL thing includes but if programs are being cut because of lack of funds, then something needs to be done. We are not just paying more in taxes, we are paying for our children's futures.
I think this is great "yea for LCHS"
I am going to step out on a limb and predict…that this comment section will soon be filled with people howling about LCS spending money on these new facilities while asking for people to vote for the ISL in September???
You can agree or disagree about the ISL vote coming up, but to keep everyone honest here: THERE WAS NOT ONE DIME OF THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON THE PROGRAMS CONCERNING THE ISL. The funds spent on the new construction could only be used for such projects. That is it. If you have a problem with the way the schools in our state have to allocate funds, talk to the state and federal governments.
Our school district has a fund that must be used to update/build facilities to keep our students in safe buildings. It only seems wise to gradually, over time, maintain and update our facilities so that we don't incur huge costs at one time because we waited until buildings were crumbling. (just look at the Sioux City Schools situation the last few years)
Yes, these are nice new facilities. Nicer than when most of us were in school? Probably. Are they overly extravagant? Not even close. I am glad that our students will have some advantages I did not have.
I can understand why so many in our community connect the ISL to building a new gym and classrooms. It seems logical. "Hey, you just built a new gym. You don't need more money!"
However, we need to look at the reality of the situation.
Fact #1: Our fund for keeping our schools updated by building/updating is in the black. We need to be wise stewards of that money. A gradual and steady plan should be implemented to use this money wisely. It can be used for nothing else.
Fact #2: The General Fund is not doing well. The loss of 80 students last year could not be projected, regardless of what some think. Cuts were made last year that resulted in programs being cut or eliminated. Teachers were lost. Fourth and fifth grade classes will be larger this year and some of those students had to move buildings.
The Board cut costs in the range of $700,000 for this school year due to the loss in enrollment. The public will now make the next decision. We will either tell the board to cut more for next year or we can contribute a few more dollars to maintain our children's education at its current level.
The embarrassing fact is that Le Mars Community Schools already ranks near the bottom of Iowa schools in spending per pupil, and has for many years. How about putting that fact up on a billboard as people enter Le Mars? The ISL would at least be a step in the right direction as we educate the children of our community, so I will be voting YES.
Priorities have always dictated where money is spent. What are the priorities of our community? I hope they start with our children.