Get Outdoors!

Superintendent News & Views

Get Outdoors! 

By David Hill, North Tama Superintendent

I was raised on a family farm in Northern Tama County within close proximity of a beautiful county park. Growing up, my family also had access to a large timber area near our farm, along with a good number of wooded acres along Wolf Creek.  I spent countless hours hiking in the woods, mountain biking, enjoying the creek, identifying trees and collecting insects with my grandma, fishing with my grandpa, mushroom hunting with my mom, and more. It was a great way to bond with my family, enjoy nature, and get some physical activity. 

  We’re so fortunate here in the North Tama County Community School District to have access to some wonderful parks and other opportunities for outdoor recreation.  I want to issue a challenge to our North Tama students and their families to GET OUTDOORS AND ENJOY NATURE before the summer gets away from us.  There are numerous opportunities to enjoy the outdoors right here in our area.

T.F. Clark Park in rural Traer offers great sites for camping and picnicking, as well as trails for hiking and nature observation and access to Wolf Creek for fishing, kayaking, and other activities.  There’s a playground, a ball field, and an open-air shelter for picnicking.  

Otter Creek Park is a “hidden gem” in Tama County, offering a multi-use recreation area to accommodate camping, fishing, picnicking, hiking, playground activities, swimming, boating, and nature observation.  One unique feature of Otter Creek park is a two-acre native prairie that has never tilled by man.  Take a hike on the 3-mile scenic loop around the lake, enjoy the free-admission swimming beach, or take advantage of the numerous handicapped-accessible areas.  There’s even a modern shower house, a fish cleaning station, and two open-air shelters. 

Also at Otter Creek is the beautiful Tama County Nature Center, which is a popular facility for social events including weddings, receptions, family reunions, and workshops and in recent years has placed an emphasis on improving the educational component, with an awesome educational display room featuring  a wrap-around diorama showcasing riparian habitats in the county and the species of plants and animals that live there. I was honored to serve on the Exhibit Team which helped to plan the educational exhibits on display at the center. 

Hickory Hills County Park is unique, as it is located in Northern Tama County but operated by the Black Hawk County Conservation Board.  It includes many of the same features and amenities the previously mentioned parks, plus an archery range and a captive wildlife display. 

A little farther away but still within a short driving distance, you can find great opportunities for bicycling, walking/jogging and nature observation on some of our area nature trails.  Favorites of mine include the Wolf Creek Nature Trail/Comet Trail which connects the cities of Gladbrook, Beaman, and Conrad along with the Wolf Creek Recreation Area in rural Grundy County, the Old Creamery Trail which connects Dysart to Garrison and Vinton, and the Pioneer Trail which extends from Reinbeck through Morrison and the Wolfe Family Preserve on to Grundy Center and continuing to Holland. 

Our city councils also maintain very nice park facilities within our communities, offering multiple opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy nature along with some great physical activity.  The summer months are an ideal time to visit Traer’s Wilson Nature Preserve, as this unique park has numerous native prairie grasses and over 75 native flowers in various stages of bloom over the spring and summer.  Taylor Park in Traer is a great place to enjoy a special event, play basketball or horseshoes, or take a dip in the city pool. The parks in Traer and Clutier also have an assortment of playground equipment for children to enjoy.     

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources recently rolled out the “99 Counties, 99 Parks” initiative to highlight the wide array of recreational activities our state offers within its county parks and to expand awareness of the county park system.  The state of Iowa has more than 1,800 county parks encompassing nearly 200,000 acres. 

Governor Kim Reynolds introduced the “99 Counties, 99 Parks” by inviting Iowans and others to visit our parks, stating, “We have an abundance of natural beauty in this state, and we’re thrilled to issue an invitation for people to experience it firsthand. I know my family will be outside exploring all the county parks have to offer this summer, so I hope my fellow Iowans and visitors to our state will join us.”

Visit traveliowa.com/99parks to learn more about the campaign.  Families are encouraged to download the “99 Counties, 99 Parks” Family Fun Guide, which features a variety of activities including recipes, a scavenger hunt and art projects as well as information on geocaching and creating nature sculptures. Participants can track their visits to the featured parks on the “99 Counties, 99 Parks” checklist. Many of the parks also include “selfie stands” where visitors can take photos and share their experiences on social media using #ThisIsIowa or #99parks. 

To learn more about our local county parks, visit and www.mycountyparks.com/County/Tama.aspx. I want to commend the Tama County Conservation Board as well as the dedicated county conservation employees for the good work they do in providing high-quality outdoor experiences for area residents and visitors. 

Before the summer ends, I hope each of our students and their families will take advantage of these resources and enjoy some quality family time in the process.  Whether it's boating, swimming, hunting, fishing, kayaking, geocaching, bicycling, orienteering, or just taking a nature walk – getting outdoors and enjoying our natural resources is a great way to exercise your body and rejuvenate your spirit as you prepare for the new school year that approaches! 

I encourage your feedback on this column, along with any questions you may have. You are welcome to visit my blog at http://redhawksupt.blogspot.com/ where you can read all of my columns and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is @DavidRobertHill. 

Get “On Board”

Superintendent News & Views

Get “On Board”

School Board Election is November 5

By David Hill, North Tama Superintendent

The Iowa Association of School Boards urges Iowans passionate about education to consider running in the upcoming school board election. Public schools need strong leadership and governance to ensure a bright future for all children and communities across the state.

Strong leadership is critical to moving education forward in our state. School board members play significant roles in their communities – they must have leadership, vision and dedication. They are charged with accountability for student learning, determining educational goals, setting policy, overseeing school finances and more.

School board members are elected to serve four-year terms, with elections taking place in odd-numbered years. Those elected receive no pay. Experienced school board members say the rewards of service lie in meeting the needs of children and communities.

Under a new law which took effect on July 1, 2019, the date of regular school elections will be shifted from September to November. Specifically, school elections will be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd-numbered years. The stated goals for this change include increased voter turnout, managing election costs through sharing among participating governmental entities and maintaining the predominantly non-partisan nature of school and city elections.

The North Tama County Community School District Board of Directors has four seats up for election on November 5. Nominations for open seats can be filed between August 26 and September 19. Other key dates and deadlines related to this upcoming election are as follows:

Aug. 26:   First day to file nomination papers with the board secretary.

Sept. 19:   Last day to file nomination papers with the board secretary. Deadline is 5 p.m.

Sept. 24:   Last day candidates may withdraw. Last day written objections to nomination papers or eligibility of candidates may be filed. Deadline is 5 p.m.

Nov. 5:      School election day. Polls are open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Watch your local newspapers for your polling location, as polling locations may not be the same as in previous school elections. 

Nov. 18:     Organizational meeting of the North Tama board. Newly elected or re-elected board members must be administered the oath of office at this meeting or before.   According to the law, the organizational meeting must take place during the first regular school board meeting following the canvas of votes. North Tama’s organizational meeting has been set for Monday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the ICN Room at North Tama Schools. 

Nomination papers for school board seats are available from the board secretary, Terrill Karr at the district office.  School board candidates must obtain the signatures of at least 1% of the qualified electors of the district or 50 electors, whichever is less, but at least 10 signatures. For information on rewards of board service, campaign finance disclosure law, conflict of interest, key dates and candidate education, visit www.ia-sb.org/getonboard.

I encourage your feedback on this column, along with any questions you may have. You are welcome to visit my blog at http://redhawksupt.blogspot.com/ where you can read all of my columns and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is @DavidRobertHill. 

North Tama Announces Make-Up Days: Final Day of School Will Be May 31

Superintendent News & Views

North Tama Announces Makeup Days: Final Day of School Will Be May 31

By David Hill, North Tama Superintendent

This has been an unprecedented year of extreme weather, with twelve canceled days of school and a total of 93.65 hours of school missed as of my submission of this column to the newspapers on February 27. 

Most adults that grew up in Iowa can probably remember one or two especially bad years from when they were kids.  I don’t recall the year, but I do remember attending school on a Saturday when I was in elementary school in order to make up missed days.  I also recall missing thirteen days of school due to weather during my early years as a principal.  But all of those memories were under the “old” system when instructional days were counted differently. 

A few years back, Governor Branstad signed a new law that allowed schools to count instructional HOURS (instead of days) with a minimum of 1080 hours required for students in first grade through eleventh grade.  Ever since that time, North Tama’s calendars have included approximately 1200 hours of instruction, allowing for about 120 hours of “cushion” to account for hours missed due to late starts, early dismissals, and for other reasons. 

We understand that people want to know when the last day of school will be.  Families have travel plans, students have summer jobs and summer activities, and even teachers and staff need to be able to make plans for the conclusion of the year.  Because this has been such an extreme year, the date of the last day of school has been a moving target – a lingering uncertainty.  At a special meeting of the North Tama School Board held the morning of February 27, the board approved a plan to remove that uncertainty. 

The last day of school for the 2018-2019 school year will be Friday, June 7.  As is customary, we will end the year with an early dismissal on the last day of school.  The elementary will dismiss at 1:25 p.m. that day while the secondary students will be dismissed at 1:30 p.m.

School will now be in session on May 3 (which was designated as a built-in make-up day), March 11, April 8, and May 13 (which were originally scheduled to be teacher professional development days), and on May 28-31.

Seniors will attend school on the announced make-up days prior to their graduation, but the last day of school for the seniors will not change.

The adjusted calendar will restore a cushion of additional hours above the state-required minimum that will enable the district to conclude the school year without going into the second full week of June. In other words, if we have another snow day between now and then, we will NOT plan to make it up unless the cushion is completely exhausted again.

You should note that under this plan, we will not be making up every day that has been missed to this point. As explained above, additional days that may be canceled after this writing will also not be made up unless the cushion of hours is completely exhausted.  Teachers will report to work June 3, 4 and 5 (or an agreement may be reached for an alternate work schedule for the teachers) and may work additional hours on any upcoming canceled days if additional cancellations occur. Our adjusted calendar will meet the instructional hours required by law and the number of work days in the teacher contract.

As always, I encourage your feedback on this column, along with any questions you may have. You are welcome to visit my blog at http://redhawksupt.blogspot.com/ where you can read all of my columns and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is @DavidRobertHill. 

Act NOW to SAVE Iowa’s schools & taxpayers

Superintendent News & Views

Act NOW to SAVE Iowa’s schools & taxpayers

By David Hill, North Tama Superintendent

To many people, the year 2029 seems like a date in the distant future.   To school boards, superintendents, and others responsible for long-term planning in local school districts like North Tama, 2029 is approaching quickly.

North Tama has used Iowa's statewide one-cent  sales tax (which
expires in 2029) to maintain & improve aging facilities, to provide
a safe & modern transportation system, and to  become a
leader in technology.

Why focus on the year 2029?  That’s when the current law giving schools a share of the state's sales tax revenues is set to expire. The "Secure an Advanced Vision for Education" Fund (often referred to as SAVE or the “statewide penny”) is funded by a statewide one-cent sales tax.  This revenue is distributed to schools as a categorical funding stream that can be used for infrastructure needs, technology upgrades, and for the purchase of large equipment such as school buses.

Even though the SAVE expiration is between 10 and 11 years away, this is a major concern NOW for many schools.  In previous years, districts facing major infrastructure needs (examples: a roof replacement, a new school building, or a major addition to a building) have been able to borrow against future SAVE revenues to meet these needs. Borrowing against future SAVE revenues is no longer an option for most schools because of the pending expiration.  Extending SAVE now would bring this option back for schools immediately.

Without the SAVE extension, the cost of facility maintenance and improvements will shift to local property taxes.  You may have noticed an increase in the number of school bond referendum votes in recent years; these bonds are financed by higher property taxes.  During the 2017 fiscal year alone, thirty-three Iowa school districts held such an election. The impending 2029 SAVE expiration is the primary reason we’ve seen so many of these votes. 

There has been a statewide effort to extend SAVE beyond 2029. During the most recent legislative session, the Iowa House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the extension of SAVE by a margin of 95-3; however, the Iowa Senate did not take up the measure. I’m confident the SAVE extension will be proposed again in the next legislative session, as there is bipartisan support for SAVE as a key component of maintaining low property taxes while meeting the educational needs of Iowa’s future workforce.

For North Tama, the "statewide penny" has become a vital source of funds that have been used to maintain and improve our aging facilities; furthermore, SAVE funds have allowed the district to provide a safe, modern transportation system and to become a leading district in technology.  We’ve been able to accomplish this while maintaining one of the lowest property tax rates in the state and the region.  88% of Iowa’s school districts had a higher property tax rate than North Tama in the current fiscal year, and North Tama’s property tax rate is the lowest of the 48 districts that have a presence in the 9-county region that includes and surrounds Tama County.

With portions of North Tama’s buildings being over 100 years old, it is reasonable to expect that additional improvements and maintenance expenses will be warranted well beyond 2029.  In the coming years, North Tama Schools will have needs such as roof and boiler replacements, major repairs to the heating and HVAC systems, concrete replacement, improved handicapped accessibility, new school buses, and technology upgrades. The SAVE extension will likely be critical in meeting these needs in the years ahead. 

With legislative elections approaching next month, I hope our readers will consider asking the candidates where they stand on the extension of the SAVE statewide penny.  Once the dust has settled following the November election, I encourage North Tama patrons to contact your legislators to encourage the extension of SAVE during the 2019 legislative session. 

I encourage your feedback on this column, along with any questions you may have. These SUPERINTENDENT NEWS & VIEWS columns, in addition to my blog and Twitter postings, are part of my plan for open communication with the community as a part-time superintendent with duties in another area school district. 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.

1,080 Hours to Make a Difference

Superintendent News & Views

1,080 Hours to Make a Difference

By David Hill, North Tama Superintendent

The school year is about to begin. The excitement and enthusiasm has been evident among our students as they’ve been in our school buildings for registration, athletic camps, and practices. Our teachers are ready to get started, and along with the tried-and-true methods that they have implemented for many years, they will also be using some new strategies to engage our students and maximize learning in the coming school year.  I’m expecting GREAT things to happen in the 2018-2019 school year, and I hope you are, too!  

Back when most of us were in school, Iowa’s school districts offered 180 days of instruction each year. A few years ago, Iowa law was changed to allow schools to base their calendar year on either 180 days or a minimum of 1,080 hours of instruction per year.  Given that option, North Tama (and over 90 percent of Iowa’s school districts) switched to hours-based calendars to allow for greater flexibility.  North Tama’s planned calendar for the coming year exceeds the required minimum, offering just over 1,204 hours of instruction – of course, this will likely be reduced due to a few weather-related late starts and early dismissals. 

Regardless of the type of unit used to count instructional time, the new school year provides each student with a “fresh start,” and a new opportunity to use this time to their advantage to further increase his or her skills, and to grow and develop as an individual and as a member of our community.  It is my sincere hope that the 1,080+ hours that will be invested in each student this year will truly make a positive difference in each of their lives. 

I want to challenge all North Tama students to make the most of every one of the 1,080+ hours this school year.  By being an active participant in your own learning, you can get the most out of the time that you invest in school.  Perhaps you’ve heard the saying “You can’t win if you don’t play.”  Often this phrase is used in advertisements for the lottery.  While I don’t want to promote gambling, I do think this phrase makes a good point about participation. While your odds of winning a jackpot are very slim, I guarantee you that there is a 100% chance that those people who DON’T buy a lottery ticket WON’T win a jackpot. It’s true that 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 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 extracurricular activities, 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 the school calendar (you can find it on the school website). 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 will 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 https://redhawksupt.blogspot.com/ where you can read all of my columns from the Star Clipper 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. The school year is upon us…Let’s make each and every hour of the 2018-2019 school year count!  

Save $10 if you ACT NOW

Superintendent News & Views

Save $10 if you ACT NOW

By David Hill, North Tama Superintendent

Did the headline of this column get your attention?  Did it sound more like a television infomercial than the headline of the superintendent’s newspaper column?   Well, the truth is, I was trying to get your attention and if you’ve read this much of the column, I guess it worked! 

Yes, the headline was designed to get your attention – but, if you are the parent of a North Tama student, it’s absolutely TRUE – North Tama’s back-to-school student registration process is taking place right NOW, and parents who take care of their fees online no later than July 31 will automatically receive a discount of $10 per child!  July 31 is approaching quickly – it’s this coming Tuesday – so don’t delay. 

From August 1 to August 6, registration fees will be automatically discounted by $5 per student.  Those who register late (after August 6) will miss out on the discounted rates. 

Once again this year, our registration process is streamlined through an online option.  Parents can visit http://www.n-tama.k12.ia.us/registration anytime day or night to take care of their child’s back-to-school registration.  The online registration process worked quite well in 2017 and it is back by popular demand.  It’s a great way to avoid waiting in line and to take care of student registration on your own terms and your own timeline. 

The Traer Public Library has computers available for those who do not have access to a computer at home. Another option is to come to the main office at school during our regular daily business hours of 8 to 4. We have a computer set up for parents to use for online registration.

We will hold a single in-person registration day once again this year on August 6, from 3:00 to 7:00pm in the Main Office. We are not able to take walk-in registrations prior to this date.

If you have questions or need to fill out an application for free or reduced-price lunches and a possible partial waiver of registration fees, please visit http://www.n-tama.k12.ia.us/registration for more information.  We’re looking forward to a great school year! 

I encourage your feedback on this column, along with any questions you may have. These SUPERINTENDENT NEWS & VIEWS columns, in addition to my blog and Twitter postings, are part of my plan for open communication with the community as a part-time superintendent with duties in another area school district. 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.

North Tama Board Agenda for Monday, July 16, 2018

Monday's school board meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the ICN room.  The agenda is posted at the link below:

https://tinyurl.com/y9r6h76b

North Tama is a PK-12 school district located in Traer, Iowa. Our district strives to empower every student to become a life-long learner who is a productive, responsible, and engaged citizen of our society.  We envision a school where all students achieve a degree of academic success which will equip them to adapt to our rapidly changing society.