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The Corning and Villisca School Boards met in joint session Jan. 11 to continue their efforts to work out the details of a Whole Grade Sharing (WGS) agreement for the 2013-14 school year, while considering other opportunities for sharing during 2012-13.
“I am really excited about what we will be able to offer all of our students in the future,” said Superintendant Willie Stone following the meeting, which addressed issues including payments, conflict resolution and severability.
After consulting with the two districts’ lawyers, Stone suggested basing payments on percentages, which is the current trend in sharing agreements and a fairer method for sharing costs. Based on current numbers, for example, Corning would have 97 students (58 percent) in the middle school while Villisca would provide 70 middle students (42 percent) to the mix, meaning that Corning would shoulder 58 percent of middle school costs. The same method would be utilized at the high school level, with billing taking place twice per year based on student counts each semester.
The boards agreed to seek consensus approval from both districts regarding expenses over $25 thousand as a spending check and balance.
Regarding cooperation, the boards agreed to share equipment where possible as a means of utilizing assets efficiently, as well as to meet in joint session no less than quarterly once WGS begins.
A conflict resolution committee was established, comprised of the shared superintendant, as well as the president and vice president of each school board. In the event that a conflict between the districts could not be resolved at this level, Stone noted that the AEA Chief Negotiator would be included to mediate between the districts.
The districts agreed to an amendment clause to address unforeseen issues in the future, as well as a severability clause, meaning that if a law changes after the agreement is put into place forbidding some portion of the accord, that piece would be struck from the agreement, while everything else remains intact.
A calendar committee consisting of three staff and one administrator from each district will be established and effort will be made to devise a common calendar for the two districts.
Issues of liability and insurance were discussed, with liability for any accident falling under the insurance of the district in which the accident occurred, meaning that if a Villisca student were injured while attending classes at Corning, the Corning insurance would cover the issue, and vice versa.
Student fees will be discussed at the spring joint meeting.
Following discussion of the WGS agreement, Corning board member Scott Akin brought up the importance of selecting new colors, mascots and a team name so that each district’s booster clubs might begin raising funds for new uniforms and other athletic and band necessities.
“Keep the adults out of it and it will be a lot smoother process,” noted Corning president Lori Harvey, as discussion settled in on charging the two districts’ student councils with the task of pulling together a list of ideas for later discussion.
With the basics of the WGS agreement intact, the next step is for Stone to take the information to the districts’ lawyers so that a draft of the agreement could be inked. Stone will bring that agreement to the next joint meeting between the two districts on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Villisca High School gymnasium. Also on the agenda for the February meeting will be settling in on shareable activities for the 2012-13 school year, with wrestling, tennis and cross country listed as potential candidates, according to Stone.
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