The West Liberty Community School District Board of Education met on Monday, March 4. Board members present included Kira Achen, Jacob Burroughs, Ed Moreno, and Audra Daufeldt.
Others present included secretary Abby Ortiz, superintendent Shaun Kruger, Ag instructor Zach Morris, middle school principal Vicky Vernon, and others.
High school Ag instructor and FFA advisor Zach Morris shared his students’ solutions to common problems in the industry.
The Ag issues presentation looked at immigration and the necessity of immigrants in farm work.
His students have come up with solutions that help immigrants become legally documented quickly and easily so that the farmers can make use of willing laborers.
Students are looking closely at the economic aspects of agriculture within the broader cultural context of labor and immigration.
“In the Ag industry,” Morris said, “People don’t understand, it’s like the most pivotal thing for our country. I’ve been really proud of them because it’s really hard. It’s really hard to navigate a topic like that when it’s very polarizing.”
Morris feels like his students have done well with understanding the polarizing political questions while maintaining the middle ground.
“I’ve enjoyed it,” Morris said. “They’re a smart group.”
The school calendar for the 2024-2025 school year was discussed. There is currently legislation in progress that might impact how early school can begin, so multiple calendars needed to be examined in order to start school at the earliest possible date.
Currently, Iowa schools are not allowed to start before Aug. 23, but that may change to include the Monday of the week that includes Aug. 23.
If the legislation passes, school may begin as early as Aug. 19. The good news is that school could end next year before the end of May.
The board reviewed the 28E Agreement with Mid Prairie Community School District. Mid Prairie is an organized homeschool system and a few of those students join West Liberty to participate in athletics.
The board also looked at the AEA 28E Purchasing Agreement for Food Service.
Board member Moreno had questions about how the AEA will be impacted by recent legislation and whether this purchasing agreement will be invalidated. The board had no answers.
“Down the line, we’ll have to reevaluate that,” said Secretary Abby Ortiz.
Board President Burroughs explained why this agreement is so useful to the district.
“It allows us the ability to leverage bulk pricing,” Burroughs said.
Energy purchasing pool
The board looked at the agreement with the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Commission, Secretary Ortiz explained.
“So, this is the second year we would be participating in the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Commission,” Ortiz said. “So basically, we pay a lump sum fee at the beginning of the year out of our management fund to cover our natural gas expense for the year.”
This will cost just under $64,000 for the year, and a spike in natural gas prices during the winter will not impact payment.
Boards need to speak up
The agenda included a discussion on current Iowa legislation in progress that may significantly impact the schools.
Board member Moreno had concerns about how our town may be impacted by legislation concerning immigration policies, the exact topic the FFA Ag Issues team was working to resolve.
Moreno reminded the board of the struggles the district faced in the implementation of the dual language program.
Moreno remembered the message of former Governor Tom Vilsack in the year 2000 when he invited West Liberty’s dual language first graders to the State of the State Address.
At that time, the state population was stagnating, and Vilsack wanted Iowa to grow in population.
“Iowa needs to grow in population. Iowa has the potential to accept the diversity that exists within our state,” Moreno said. “And that’s why he had that class up there, to show the possibility of diversity in a community that takes it on in a positive way.”
Moreno also looked at previous school boards during times of change and found that other boards have chosen to be vocal advocates or proponents of many pieces of potential legislation.
The board recently questioned the appropriateness of taking a stance on political questions and what precedent it may set. According to Moreno’s research, that precedent was set long ago.
Moreno would like the board to take an official stance against legislation that may create difficulties for our local immigrant community.
“I think we have reached the point where boards and districts need to speak up,” Board member Audra Daufeldt said. Kira Achen agreed and would like to look more closely at the proposed bills.
The board intends to form an ad hoc committee to draft a letter to send to news outlets and our political leaders. President Burroughs will organize a system for handling political statements.
The next meeting will be held on Monday, March 18 at 6 p.m. in the boardroom. The agenda will include an E-Sports Update and the On-Track Report.