ARMSTRONG - The Armstrong-Ringsted School Board decided to pursue sharing options with North Kossuth and Sentral school districts Tuesday, the day when the district had indicated to its neighbors to the east and south what direction it would go.
Two options may have figured into the board's decision. One was a survey the board just received Tuesday from parents who now have students at A-R. The survey was distributed to parents who picked up student registration packets.
With 86 of 180 packets distributed, more parents favored whole-grade sharing or reorganizing with North Kossuth and Sentral than partnering with Estherville Lincoln Central. The largest number, 41 out of 79, said maintaining A-R as it is currently was their "most desire" option.
Another figure weighing heavily on the board was information members recently received that projected a property tax rate of 17.31 in an A-R/ELC consolidation compared to a tax rate of 12.13 by consolidating with North Kossuth and Sentral. With the North Kossuth/Sentral option, A-R's total property tax rate would actually fall dramatically from 16.85.
The joint A-R and ELC boards had met a week before, with Dick Magnuson, ELC superintendent, proposing a whole-grade sharing arrangement in which ELC would take A-R's high-school students. Magnuson said ELC could do so without hiring additional staff.
Board member Jim Boyer offered a number of questions - and concerns. He asked how many students were represented by those parents responding to the survey. He also pointed to a 4.71 reduction in the mil levy if A-R joined North Sentral and Kossuth. "A lot of it is going to depend on if we as a school district manage our own debt," Boyer said. That is an option available to districts that reorganize.
Board member Jen Von Bank pointed to another key factor - tax rates.
"I don't think you can raise taxes in a recession," Von Bank said. She favored the North Kossuth/Sentral option and that A-R adhere to the recommendations of an independent consultant the three districts are considering hiring.
Rod Foster, board president, favored North Kossuth and Sentral because those schools had a similar culture to A-R. Foster also was concerned about losing high-school staff. "We would be losing some very, very good quality teachers," Foster said.
Superintendent Randy Collins observed that if A-R joined North Kossuth and Sentral, teachers could be cut through attrition rather than a reduction in force with ELC.
While test scores and tax rates had some serious discussion, the parental survey results seemed to hold water as well.
"I think we owe it to the kids if that's the direction (North Kossuth and Sentral) they want to go," Foster said.
Foster also said an A-R/NSK merger would be viable.
"We should be able to maintain an enrollment over an extended period of time," Foster said, adding that he would like to hear proposals from one or two more independent consultants before choosing one.
Collins reminded the board that Magnuson had indicated that ELC would always be open to sharing with A-R.
Von Bank moved that the district explore the consolidation proces with North Kossuth and Sentral, adding that she wanted to follow whatever recommendation is made by the consultant once one is chosen. The board unanimously agreed.
"I am 100 percent behind the decision we made today to go with NSK," Boyer said.
North Kossuth and Sentral are entering the third year of a five-year whole-grade sharing agreement. State Department of Education consultants in a report earlier this spring had recommended an A-R/ELC consolidation as having the most long-term viability.
In other business, the board approved hiring Kathy Pierce as preschool aide and Erica McDougall as family and consumer science instructor.
Sharon Work, previous FCS instructor, is transferring to the A-R counseling department.