North Tama Needs Your Help - Please Advocate for Our School!

This blog post was submitted for publication in the Friday, January 1 edition of the Traer Star Clipper.

The 2016 Iowa Legislature will convene on January 11, 2016. The last legislative session was not good for education in Iowa, so our advocacy is more important now than ever before. Legislators often hear from school superintendents, administrators, teachers, and school board members. After a while, it seems that they get tired of hearing from those of us in the educational community. The legislature needs to hear from parents, community members, and local business owners that our schools are valued and a vital part of our communities! I was recently told by one former legislator that an advocacy phone call or letter from a parent or community member is more highly regarded than 10 advocacy calls from school superintendents.  

Perhaps in the news last summer you heard the story about a Waterloo teacher who was told by a legislator to “stop whining” when he advocated for a special legislative session to overturn the Governor's veto of one-time funding for schools. While I don’t appreciate this legislator’s response, it does make sense that some legislators will perceive advocacy from educators as self-serving rather than an effort to help our students. Because of this, and the fact that our efforts were not very successful  last year, it is evident that we need your help. If we can get parents and community members involved in our advocacy efforts, I think you can help make a huge difference for North Tama Schools. Here is what I believe are the highest priorities for this legislative session.

ADEQUATE SUPPLEMENTAL STATE AID (SSA): This is absolutely the highest-priority item. Supplemental state aid is the primary driver of funding for school districts’ general budgets. Last year, school districts received a 1.25% increase in SSA. Since this increase is on a PER-STUDENT basis, districts with declining enrollment like North Tama actually LOST money. Meanwhile, our costs have increased more than 1.25% even despite the cuts that were made. A situation like this will not be sustainable in the long term. Adequate SSA will be a key factor in keeping schools like North Tama viable in the long term.  

TIMELY SUPPLEMENTAL STATE AID (SSA): According to Iowa law, within the first 30 days of the legislative session each January the legislature is supposed to set the rate of school funding for the next TWO fiscal years. The Iowa legislature broke this law last year, and has done the same numerous times over the last several years. North Tama’s board was required by law to adopt a budget last spring, even though they didn’t know what the funding levels would be at the time. Schools need to be able to plan ahead in order to be fiscally responsible. Let’s ask our legislature to comply with the law and set the rate of school funding for the next TWO fiscal years.  

PER-STUDENT FUNDING EQUITY: Iowa’s school funding formula has built-in inequities that impact school districts and the students they serve. Since, the 1970’s when the current school funding formula was established, North Tama has received the LOWEST amount of per-student funding possible from the state of Iowa. While we do receive the exact same funding per-student as many districts in the state, just look at what some area districts have received, year after year, since the 1970’s:

Hudson: $175 more per student than North Tama

Union: $82 more per student than North Tama

BCL-UW: $81 more per student than North Tama

Cedar Falls: $7 more per student than North Tama

South Tama: $20 more per student than North Tama

Across the state, there is a $175 range in basic per-student funding that exists just because “it has always been that way.” This means North Tama and many other districts have less to invest in each student from day one. Please ask the legislature to end this inequity immediately, as ALL of Iowa’s students are important assets for our future!

TRANSPORTATION EQUITY: Districts that must spend more on transportation have less to spend on classroom instruction. There are districts in Iowa such as West Burlington (Total Land Area: 2 Square Miles) and Marion (Total Land Area: 3.6 Square Miles) that have very few students that even qualify daily for bussing because they live so close to the school. These districts spend virtually nothing on transportation compared to larger rural districts like North Tama (Total Land Area: 155 Square Miles). North Tama’s students deserve equal educational opportunities, yet districts like ours are forced to spend a higher percentage of our available funds on transportation leaving less money to provide these opportunities. Our legislature should be asked to provide an additional funding stream for transportation or use a formula based on population density when determining Supplemental State Aid.

If you would like to learn more about these or any other advocacy issues that are important to North Tama Schools, please feel free to contact me! Your help and advocacy will be critical during the upcoming legislative session. On my blog, I have posted contact information for our legislators and the Governor’s office so you can easily make contacts on our behalf. You are welcome to visit my blog at http://redhawksupt.blogspot.com/ where this column and all of the columns I have written for the Star Clipper are posted. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter (@DavidRobertHill) where I will occasionally post updates or other information not found on the blog. THANK YOU for your support of the North Tama County Community School District!

For information on how to contact Senator Steve Sodders, who represents the entire North Tama district in the Iowa Senate, click here. (Includes email, postal address, and telephone.)  

For information on how to contact Representative Dean Fisher, who represents the entire North Tama district in the Iowa House of Representatives, click here.  (Includes email, postal address, and telephone.)  

For information on how to contact the office of Governor Terry Branstad, click here. (Includes postal address, telephone, and a way to register your opinion online.)  

Keep Your School & Community Strong - Do Business Locally!!!

This blog post was submitted for publication in the Friday, December 11 edition of the Traer Star Clipper.

Several of my recent columns have focused on issues related to school finance and the challenges we are facing at North Tama because of declining enrollment, decreased flexibility in funds available, and lack of adequate funding.  I have asked for the community’s support by contacting your legislators and the governor’s office to request adequate general fund resources for schools. In today’s column, I’ll discuss something else that every one of us can do to help keep our school and our community strong.

A community that has a variety of thriving businesses is a more attractive place to live. Many people prefer to live in a community where they have easy access to various entertainment options, access to the services they need, and the opportunity to purchase necessary items such as groceries, clothing, and hardware without having to drive a long distance. When you choose to do business locally rather than spending your dollars outside of the school district, you help to make your community stronger by keeping your dollars local and by helping to keep those businesses open. A thriving business community results in greater job opportunities and makes the community a more attractive one in which to live, which could result in increased population and greater enrollment in the local schools.  

The Christmas shopping season is now in full swing. This is a great time to think about doing more of your business right here in the communities of the North Tama school district. Shopping locally doesn’t need to be confined to a particular “season” though -- your community can benefit from your support year-round, and you will personally benefit, too.  

The North Tama County Community School District is so fortunate to have a multitude of options for doing business locally! Right here in the communities of the North Tama school district there are great businesses where you can purchase hardware, groceries, apparel, furniture, agricultural supplies, lawn mowers, pharmaceuticals and personal care items, tires and auto parts, specialty items such as floral arrangements and quilting supplies, and much more.

There are numerous great local options for banking, lodging, insurance, medical and dental services, accountants, photographers, realtors, legal services, auctioneering, agricultural services, plumbing and electrical contractors, veterinary services, beautician/barber services, construction services, and automotive services. Other local services in Traer and Clutier include an amazing small-town theater, great local libraries, three museums, a country club, swimming pool, fitness center, and more. There are also some wonderful dining options in Traer and Clutier, so consider spending your next night “out-on-the-town” in your own community rather than driving to Waterloo or Cedar Falls.

Here are some reasons why you should consider doing business locally whenever possible:

1. Better customer service. When you run into a problem, you’re more likely to receive a satisfactory resolution from a local business owner than from a big-box chain. That’s because you probably know the people in charge at a local store.
2. Stimulation of the local economy. When you shop at locally owned stores, the money you spend stays in the community. And local businesses are more likely to purchase from other local businesses, so the local tax base grows and so do local businesses. A stronger tax base means improved schools, better roads and greater support for local police and fire departments.
3. Job creation. Small businesses are big employers. With jobs being created where you live, your friends, neighbors and family can find jobs closer to home. That has a huge impact on family, community and the environment because it keeps money in the community (see No. 1) and cuts back on commutes. It may also result in increased enrollment for your local school district.
4. Better consumer choices. The more choices you have, the better the deals you can find. Small businesses encourage competition in the marketplace in a way that mega-corporations just can’t. Many people don’t shop locally because they think they can’t buy the things they need in a local store. Not true! Small business owners are more than willing to carry and stock special items.
5. Greater non-profit support. Local businesses tend to donate more to local schools and non-profit organizations. This directly benefits your friends, family and neighbors.
6. Your bottom line. Because local businesses help grow the economic base of the community, the dollars you spend have the ripple effect. That money will eventually find its way back to you.

You don’t have to shop locally every time to make an impact. Just getting in the mindset of doing business locally first is all it takes to start improving your community and your school.

I hope you have enjoyed the columns that I have submitted to the Star Clipper over the past several months. These columns as well as my blog and Twitter postings are part of my plan for open communication with the community. As a part-time superintendent that also has duties in another school district, I believe that open and clear communication is more important than ever before. If you’ve missed any of my columns or would like to re-read or share them with your friends and family, you are welcome to visit my blog at http://redhawksupt.blogspot.com/ where they are all posted. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter (@DavidRobertHill) where I will occasionally post updates or other information not found on the blog. Have a Merry Christmas!

North Tama in the News

North Tama is producing some great results, within and beyond our classrooms! The accomplishments of several Redhawk alumni, faculty, and family members have been featured in the news media recently. In today's blog post, I'll share links to the recent media coverage showing off the talents and accomplishments of several members of the North Tama educational family.

NT alumnus Nikki (Wagner) Hynek

North Tama alumnus Nikki (Wagner) Hynek was recently featured in this article in The Gazette focusing on her entrepreneurial spirit and the cosmetics company she recently founded: Dollup Beauty Looking Good

Alumnus Jeff Morrison with Bruce Morrison

  
The Gazette also featured an article focusing on Bruce Morrison (husband of teacher Judy Morrison) and his retirement from farming, as well as a look at the changes in the farming industry Bruce has witnessed over the years. The article was written by North Tama alum Jeff Morrison: Dramatic change on the family farm in a single generation


   
North Tama's High School Agricultural Education Teacher and FFA Advisor, Mr. Matt Cibula, is also a successful purebred Gelbvieh cattle producer along with his wife Tina. They were recently featured in this article in the Iowa Farmer Today magazine: Producer preps by adding windbreaks, watching feed.  It's great to have a leader in the cattle industry serving as the leader of our North Tama Agricultural Education program!

You may have heard that North Tama was recently selected by the Governor's STEM Advisory Council as a recipient of the Iowa STEM Redesigned Learning Environment (RLE) grant, which will allow our elementary to redesign one of our classrooms into a learning space that is custom-tailored for integrated STEM and Literacy instruction. As a classroom that will focus on early childhood STEM and Literacy Integration, this will be a first-of-its-kind classroom in the state of Iowa. We've received media coverage in a number of places as a recipient of this grant, and more media attention is sure to follow.  Check out the links below:

L to R: Jeff Beneke, NE Iowa Regional STEM Hub Manager, Lisa Chizek, 
NT 5th & 6th Grade Teacher & STEM Coordinator, Dr. Beth Van Meeteren, 
UNI Regents Center for Early Ed, Vonna Watson, NT 1st Grade Teacher,
David Hill, NT Superintendent, and Josh Youel, NT Elementary Principal.

• The Governor's STEM Advisory Council Website named North Tama as a grant recipient in this article: 12 business-education partnerships set to innovate

• While this story from KCRG-TV9 features the proposed grant project in the Charles City district, the North Tama project is mentioned: Four-district partnership, 11 others awarded state STEM grants. KCRG has expressed an interest in coming to North Tama this spring to do a feature story on our new STEM classroom. 

• This article, currently posted on the North Tama Website and soon to be featured in other area publications, tells the full story of our plans: Grant Will Result in Exciting Changes for North Tama Elementary Students

The effort to apply for this grant was led by Lisa Chizek and Vonna Watson. Congrats to Lisa, Vonna, and all of the North Tama Elementary staff!

We're proud of the staff, students, and alumni at North Tama. Watch the news in the weeks, months, and years to come...we're bound to see more great results coming from our classrooms, our programs, our graduates, and our faculty!

Governor Backs Down on Previous School Funding Proposal

North Tama District Patrons, 

I wanted to share this article from yesterday's Des Moines Register with you. The article gives us a "sneak peek" into what the governor is thinking with regard to Supplemental State Aid (SSA) for the coming budget year. Governor Branstad said yesterday that he is required by law to look at December’s revenue estimates before he can recommend any funding levels. It's funny how our state government intends to follow THAT law, but not the one requiring them to approve the level of funding a year in advance, allowing districts to plan ahead. The governor had previously said that he'd like to see SSA set at about 2.45% for this coming year, but now he's saying that he can't commit to that right now.    

The Governor said, “I have to wait until we have the December revenue estimate to base my budget...It’s my hope that we can do (2.45 percent), but it’s going to be a little more difficult that the October revenue estimate was reduced by $125 million.”

My best guess...the governor will end up recommending somewhere between 1.25 and 1.75% SSA, and after a great deal of politcal wrangling, we'll end up with somewhere in between 1.25 and 2%. This is simply not enough to keep up with the rising costs that school districts are facing, especially considering the fact that schools have been "shorted" for several years. Schools are very likely to end up with 1.25 to 2% unless MANY, MANY Iowans contact their legislators to express how upset they are that schools have been shortchanged repeatedly over the past five years. I strongly urge you to get involved and to advocate for Iowa schools! 

The full Des Moines Register article can be viewed here: 

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2015/11/16/branstad-must-revisit-previous-education-funding-proposal/75894318/

Strings Attached - Categorical Funding in Schools

This blog post was submitted for publication in the Friday, November 13 edition of the Traer Star Clipper.

In my column two weeks ago, I explained that North Tama’s certified enrollment is down by 39 students this fall compared to a year ago, and that our enrollment has decreased by about 100 students over the past six years. While our school district’s current financial position is still good, I am very concerned about the long-term implications for North Tama if the trends of declining enrollment and inadequate state funding don’t change.

In this week’s column, I’d like to explain why a school district like North Tama is able to pay for a major facility renovation project -- such as the recent new restroom building at the softball/baseball complex or the remodeling of our secondary office -- while being forced to reduce staff, share administrators, or take other cost-saving measures. It comes down to the way schools are funded in the state of Iowa. A large percentage of the money schools receive is considered categorical funding.

Categorical funding is financial support that is targeted for particular categories of students, certain special programs, or other very specific purposes. North Tama receives categorical funds in areas such as capital projects, dropout prevention, at-risk programs, special

education, core curriculum implementation, talented and gifted programs, professional development, teacher quality, and early literacy to name a few. School districts accept this money with STRINGS ATTACHED, meaning we are obligated to spend the funds exclusively as directed by the state or federal government, or the agency granting the funds. The funds that were recently spent on the new construction at the athletic complex and the remodeling at the high school came from the capital projects fund which can ONLY be spent on projects like this. Spending this money on salaries, supplies, utility bills, or other general expenses would be illegal.

While it is great to have a source of funding for construction and for other special programs and projects, the allowable uses of these funds is quite restrictive, and these funds do nothing to help us pay the general bills such as utilities and salaries. More than 80% of most school district’s budgets is taken up with these types of general expenses. Adequate funding or lack of adequate funding to pay these general expenses is the main factor in whether a school is able to maintain its long-term viability. The problem is for many schools is that the state continues to trend toward providing more categorical funding streams while providing fewer general fund dollars. To keep the school’s doors open, adequate support for our general fund is a necessity.

In a press conference on August 3, Governor Branstad spoke about his desire to continue the practice of earmarking funds for specific programs. Specifically, he stated, “It’s not like the old days -- you don’t just ‘throw money’ at schools...We want to become best in America again and I think that’s going to take specific and strategic investments in education that focus on things that really make a difference.” His strategy is to shift from providing general fund dollars to providing more categorical funding that is focused on specific programs that he believes will improve student achievement.

While I agree that many of these programs are great and will truly make a difference for our students, I think we also need to understand that when categorical funding is provided at the expense of general funding many of our smaller rural school districts will be forced to cut teachers and support staff, and may eventually need to close their school buildings or merge with another district. Is this really what is best for students?  

The North Tama School Board’s number one goal is to maintain the financial stability of the district and retain existing programs so that North Tama will remain a viable K-12 school. Declining enrollment and decreased flexibility in funding due to the shift from general funding to categorical funding will make it even more difficult for us to achieve this goal. To make this goal a reality, we will need to be intelligent and intentional with our resources and will need to take further measures to cut costs during the coming months and years.

The 2016 legislative session is just 8 weeks away. Please consider contacting your legislators and the governor's office to let them know that it is critical for them to provide adequate GENERAL FUND support for our schools. Our legislators need to realize that many smaller schools are struggling to keep the doors open due to declining enrollment and unreliable, inadequate funding. By providing adequate supplemental state aid WITHOUT STRINGS ATTACHED, local school boards can have the flexibility to set priorities and continue providing a quality education for our students. The students in our smaller schools deserve the same opportunity as students in larger urban and suburban schools. These students represent the future of our state, and they deserve nothing less.  

You are welcome to visit my blog at http://redhawksupt.blogspot.com/ where you can read all of my Star Clipper columns and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is @DavidRobertHill.

Lost Schools

This blog post was submitted for publication in the Friday, October 30 edition of the Traer Star Clipper.

Have you seen the new Lost Schools documentary on Iowa Public Television? We happened to catch part of this program on IPTV over the weekend, and I encourage you to try to find an opportunity to catch this outstanding documentary during one of the many rebroadcasts that are planned in the upcoming month. The program provides a sobering look at how an entire community is affected when its school is closed. 

The former Geneseo Consolidated School.

Nearly every day I drive past the former Geneseo Consolidated School building as well as the former Buckingham school on my way to or from Traer. As I pass by, I think about the dedicated parents, community members, and teachers that worked hard to provide an outstanding education for their children. Perhaps many of you experience similar thoughts as you drive past these schools, or the former school buildings in other area towns such as Dinsdale or Clutier. 

The former Clutier School.

Over 4,000 schools have been closed in the state of Iowa since 1950. The “first wave” of school closings took place because of Iowans’ desire to merge rural one-room school districts that were only able to offer schooling through the 8th grade, with the goal of offering a comprehensive high school education for all students. In the ensuing years as rural populations declined, further consolidations took place throughout Iowa, leading to more school closures. In some cases, the main reason for a consolidation was not financial but a desire to offer greater opportunities through cooperation with neighboring districts. However, the primary reason for many of these mergers and school closings was declining student numbers and the subsequent loss of funding. To put it simply, they didn’t have enough money to keep the doors open. 

The former Dinsdale school. 

Is Iowa about to experience another “wave” of school closures?  I believe there are some that would like to see that happen, and they are creating conditions that will make it very challenging for smaller schools to remain open. Most school districts in Iowa - with the exception of a few urban and suburban districts - are experiencing declining enrollment. Funding is tied to enrollment. In times of declining enrollment, schools need to be able to plan ahead in order to be fiscally responsible. 

According to Iowa law, within the first 30 days of the legislative session each January the legislature is supposed to set the rate of school funding for the next TWO fiscal years. The Iowa legislature has broken that law numerous times over the last several years, leaving Iowa districts unsure about funding levels and providing inadequate time to make adjustments. As a result, many Iowa districts are losing spending authority and each year coming closer to the point at which they are forced to have discussions about closing their schools.

At North Tama, our current financial position is healthy but we are very concerned about the long-term financial health of our district given our declining enrollment as well as the inadequate funding we have received. Our inability to plan ahead due to the legislature’s failure to follow the law has only made the problem worse. Our certified enrollment is down by 39 students this fall compared to a year ago, and down by about 100 students over the past six years. Predicting enrollment changes is more difficult than ever before due to today’s highly mobile society with families moving more often and having the ability to easily switch from district to another through open enrollment, online schooling, home-schooling and other options. When a district also can’t predict funding levels because the legislature fails to follow the law, these two unknowns (enrollment and funding) factored together make it even more difficult for schools to plan and adjust. North Tama’s board was required by law to adopt a budget last spring, even though they didn’t know what the funding levels would be at the time. As a result, we will lose a significant amount of our spending authority. While this won’t force North Tama to become another one of Iowa’s “Lost Schools,” we are very concerned about the long-term implications for North Tama if these trends don’t reverse. 

The 2016 legislative session is just a little over 9 weeks away. Our legislators need to recognize that students in small schools deserve the same opportunities as the students in urban and suburban districts, and to recognize that small town schools are a vital part of the economy of our local communities. The legislature can show us that they understand the value of small schools by placing a priority on setting reasonable state funding levels in a timely manner. Furthermore, they can make a huge difference for smaller schools by not earmarking funds for specific programs but allowing local school boards to set the priorities. I urge our Lawmakers to hold off on discussing any other legislation — such as trivial matters like the legalization of fireworks — until education funding for the next TWO years is settled as is required by law. It’s time for our legislature to follow the law and treat Iowa’s students as their top priority.

Click Here to visit a web page created by the Des Moines Register featuring the Iowa's Lost Schools series of articles and web features.

Click Here to visit Iowa Public Television's website with information on the Lost Schools Documentary program.

Click Here to learn more about a book called For All the Small Schools written by Dave and Barb Else of Cedar Falls, Iowa.  The book is a photographic pursuit designed to rekindle memories of Iowa's great rural schools and the students, parents, and communities they served.

Make Every Day Count

This blog post was submitted for publication in the Friday, October 2 edition of the Traer Star Clipper.

On the first day of school in August, I challenged our students to make the most of every day this school year by being an active participant in their learning.  Perhaps you’ve heard the saying “You can’t win if you don’t play.”  You may have seen on the news that about a month ago that a man from Jesup won $1 million when he bought a Powerball ticket at a gas station in Washburn, about 25 miles from here. I’m not sharing this information to promote gambling -- I’m illustrating a point about participation. While your odds of winning a lottery jackpot are very slim, I guarantee you that there is a 100% chance that this man wouldn't have won anything if he hadn’t bought that lottery ticket. You can’t win if you don’t play.  

The same thing is true of our learning...You can’t win if you don’t play. What does that mean?  To me, it means two things: 1) ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT. Students need to be at school - every day, on time, so they won’t miss out on important opportunities for learning; and, 2) PARTICIPATE!  At North Tama, we have so many wonderful ways for students to extend their learning beyond the classroom.  I challenge every student to take advantage of North Tama’s unique “Plus One” days. This is an opportunity that students in most school districts simply don’t have. I also challenge every 7-12 student to participate in in at least one sport, at least one club or organization, and at least one fine arts activity. Students that participate in activities are more likely to have higher academic achievement, less likely to drop out of school, and more likely to become involved members of their communities as adults.

Parents can make a big difference in a child’s education by doing their part to encourage good attendance and participation. They can encourage their children to participate in opportunities like “Plus One” days and extracurriculars, and provide the necessary transportation, resources, and support. While all students may need to be absent from school on occasion, parents can also play a critical role in ensuring good attendance. Here are some tips for good attendance provided by the National Association of Elementary School Principals:

1. Plan ahead when scheduling vacations. Take a look at North Tama’s school calendar – there are several three-day weekends and even longer breaks during the year that will allow family fun without having to miss school. Also, plan ahead when it comes to parents and siblings’ appointments – does every child in the family need to go if the appointment is just for one family member?
2. Prioritize your schedule. Many times, doctor appointments can be scheduled to take place in the hours immediately following school or on Saturdays. At minimum, appointments can usually be made so that a student misses a half-day of school rather than a full day.
3. Have a regular bedtime. Establish an evening routine that includes time for reading and other activities that help your child to become calm and relaxed before bed.
4. Teach organizational skills so your child can get out the door with the proper materials, homework, etc.
5. Encourage healthy habits. Make sure your child has breakfast and nutritious snacks. Emphasize hand washing and cleanliness each and every day.

I hope you find these tips to be helpful. Do you have another tip to share, or a comment about this article? You are welcome to visit my blog at http://redhawksupt.blogspot.com/ where you can read all of my Star Clipper columns and leave comments if you wish. I also occasionally post pictures and other content that is not submitted to the paper or additional information that expands upon what was submitted to the paper. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is @DavidRobertHill.  We at North Tama truly appreciate parents’ efforts in teaching their children the importance of good attendance and participation. Let’s make every day count!  

Beware of False Redhawks

New website has no connection with North Tama Schools

Recently, the Star Clipper printed a front-page article announcing the launch of a new website run by a private company called DigitalTown, Inc. According to the article, this new website has been launched “Just in time for back to school…” The article also claims that the new website is “...for the Red Hawks community.” (Note the use of “Red Hawks” rather than “Redhawks.”)

I want to make it very clear that this web site is NOT affiliated with the North Tama County Community School District or any booster organization that supports our school. I have not mentioned the web address here, as I don’t want to give this “False Redhawk” website any publicity or increase the website’s traffic.  

The fact that the site is selling shirts
promoting North Tama's non-existent
Water Polo team makes it obvious that
the site owners have no connection with
North Tama Schools. 

The web site claims to feature “...a team store with latest gear and apparel.” When clicking on the team store link, it’s obvious that this site is not affiliated with the school because customers can purchase T-shirts and jackets for North Tama’s non-existent tennis team, the water polo squad, and even the rowing team, along with athletic programs that we do actually have like football and volleyball.

The web site encourages local businesses to purchase advertising on the site, and promotes the purchase of “Red Hawk Bucks” which can be used to purchase apparel and other gear.  For a website that claims to have such a strong connection to the North Tama Redhawks and the community, it is noted that in the fine print on the website it reads, “DIGITALTOWN.COM and its network are not affiliated with North Tama Red Hawks...”

Further investigation reveals that this same company has produced similar websites to capitalize on the name and mascot of many other area schools, including the BCLUW Comets, the GMG Wolverines, the Union Knights, and the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebels.  In fact, the company has registered thousands of domain names that are similar to school names across the country. While I’m a big supporter of free enterprise and what this company is doing may be technically legal, I personally think it is despicable that this company is deceiving people and businesses that simply want to support their local schools. Please don’t fall into this trap. There are much better ways to show your support of our school. These include membership in our local booster clubs. donations to the boosters or directly to the school, volunteering at the school, and purchasing Redhawks apparel and gear from reputable local businesses or the boosters.

Redhawks Yoga Squad? Really?

Again, BEWARE OF FALSE REDHAWKS. Please understand that if you were to purchase items from this website or purchase an advertisement on this website, your purchase will not benefit North Tama in any way.  At North Tama, we truly appreciate the strong, ongoing support that the school has received over the years from businesses and individuals that believe in this school and want our students to succeed. We hope that none of our supporters are deceived by this private business that is trying to hijack the school’s name and mascot for profit. Thanks to all of our loyal fans, parents, alumni, and community members for your support of authentic North Tama programs.  We appreciate your support!  

Academic & Athletic Excellence

This blog post was submitted for publication in the Friday, September 4 edition of the Traer Star Clipper.

North Tama’s student-athletes are continuing to achieve excellence, on the playing field/court well as in the classroom. The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) has a recognition program for academic achievement by athletic teams and cheerleading squads. IHSAA recognizes those teams that collectively excel in the classroom.

North Tama recently received some great news from the IHSAA regarding the academic excellence of our student athletes. I am proud to announce that based on grade point averages from the recently completed school year, a total of NINE athletic teams from North Tama High School have achieved one of the two academic distinctions recognized by IHSAA. The recognized teams are as follows (in no particular order):

Girls Cross Country (Excellence)

Volleyball (Distinguished Achievement)

Football Cheerleaders (Excellence)

Boys Basketball (Excellence)     

Girls Basketball (Distinguished Achievement)

Basketball Cheerleaders (Excellence)

Girls Track (Distinguished Achievement)

Girls Golf (Distinguished Achievement)

Softball (Distinguished Achievement)

The two academic awards are defined as follows: (1) Excellence in Academic Achievement is presented to teams that achieve a combined grade point average of 3.00-3.24. (2) The Distinguished Academic Achievement award is given to the teams that achieve a combined grade point average of 3.25-4.00. The team average is calculated by taking a mathematical average of all high school team members in grades 9-12, regardless of whether they play on a freshman, sophomore, junior varsity, or varsity team.  Managers are included as team members.  Grade grade point averages for this award are figured on a standard 4.00 system: A = 4.00; B = 3.00; C = 2.00; D = 1.00.

These students and their dedicated coaches deserve to be commended for their hard work and achievement. The ability to maintain a solid grade point average while also being busy with practices, workouts, and a busy schedule of games is a real accomplishment! These students are learning valuable lessons in self-discipline and time management that will serve them well regardless of their post-high school plans. If you see members of these teams or their coaches, be sure to give them a pat on the back and let them know that you are proud of them. They represent our school well and set a great example for our younger students. Great work, Redhawks!