Board Meeting Change of Time!
Due to a conflict, the Special Board Meeting between the Decorah and North Winneshiek School Boards will be moved back 2 hours . Originally the board meeting was planned for 5:30 PM at Decorah Middle School. It will now be at 7:30 PM at Decorah Middle School.
Why take a stand to strengthen investments in Iowa public schools?
Iowa’s future leaders, innovators and citizens are its children. They are the Promise of Iowa, and their future is created every day by Iowa public schools in each community. A strong system of community-based public schools is the best investment Iowans can make to strengthen our economy, create thriving communities and improve the quality of life for every Iowan.
Iowans have an enduring commitment of support for public education, and our public schools today have many strengths. But we can’t rest on our laurels. State policy makers, locally elected school board members, educators and the business community all made a shared commitment in 2013 landmark legislation to ensure the next gene ration of Iowa students receives a world-class education.
But in this era of competing priorities and limited resources, state funding has sometimes fallen short in meeting the real needs of our students. Also, the regulations and structures of how schools are funded are hampering efforts to innovate and maximize resources. The case must be made to the Legislature that Iowa taxpayers and voters support strengthening investments in our public schools. Iowa school boards believe funding for our schools must be based on five guiding principles.
Invest strategically at the state and local levels. Improving public education takes strategic investment, at both the state and local levels, targeting funding toward changes that improve results. State initiatives must be adequately funded and supported, as unfunded mandates don’t lead to improvement. Beyond statewide initiatives, local schools need sufficient funding to meet student needs. Every school district faces its own unique challenges and each community must set priorities and invest in areas that ensure a strong, efficient and effective public school for every Iowa student.
Allow greater local flexibility to maximize resources. Local schools need greater flexibility from burdensome restrictions, allowing better efficiency in managing budgets.
Support equity and fairness in funding. Resolve long-standing inequities in school funding.
Ensure sustainability of funding. Prevent cuts or eliminations of important funding streams.
Make state funding decisions on time. State decisions on school funding must be made within the timelines set by law.
It’s up to us to fulfill our promise for the next generation of Iowans.
Sign and return the Promise of Iowa pledge form to show your support for strengthening investments in Iowa public schools.
www.promiseiowa.org
Campaign sponsored by: Iowa Association of School Boards, 6000 Grand Ste. A, Des Moines, Iowa 50312
Like the campaign on Facebook: www.facebook.com/promiseiowa
Follow the campaign on Twitter: www.twitter.com/promiseiowa
Follow the campaign on Instagram: www.instagram.com/promiseiowa
Lunch Price Increase Beginning October 3
As per the ruling of the Iowa Department of Education, Decorah Community School District is required to raise our lunch prices by 5 cents beginning Monday, October 3. This does not affect breakfast or milk prices.
Prices will be as such:
- Elementary (Early childhood - 4th grade) lunch price - $2.25
- Middle School lunch price - $2.35
- High School lunch price - $2.50
Click here to download the directive from the Iowa Department of Education and how this calculation was arrived at.
Also, please remember the new guidelines in place for negative lunch accounts. If your account is negative $30.00 your child(ren) will not be able to charge on that account. Please see board policy 707.4 and 707.4R1 for complete guidelines. Please click on the board policy numbers above to review these new board policies.
Wednesday One (1) Hour Late Starts
Each Wednesday, beginning Wednesday, August 31st, will begin with a one(1) hour late start for Professional Learning for the Decorah Community School District staff.
SchoolMessenger Opt-In Form
Due to the delays and non-delivered text messages on September 6, SchoolMessenger has moved us to the new number of 67587.
This is still SchoolMessenger and there is no need to do anything if you are currently receiving our messages. There should also be no need to do anything if you missed the message on Tuesday, September 6.
ONLY use this form if you DO NOT have PowerSchool Parent Portal access.
Please follow the link for the Opt-In Form for school notifications from DCSD.
If you are NOT receiving text messages from DCSD, please send a new text message to 67587 with the message of Yes
Early Dismissal and School Calendar
We’ve had the question arise on our early outs and whether or not they affect our required days of attendance. The simple answer is ,“No.” As per a rewrite of the legislation, all late starts or earlyouts due to weather are treated in the same fashion they always have been; they count as a full day of school. In other words, early releases due to weather have no effect on our school calendar.
Local radio and TV stations for school related closings:
KVIK - 104.7
KDEC/DC - 100.5 FM & 1240 AM
KWWL-TV, KCRG-TV
decorahnews.com
Lunch Accounts
Click here to log in to your Lunch Account. Please note, there is a 3.49% fee for all on-line payments! This is a fee the credit card and on-line service providers charge and not Decorah Community School District. Payments via e-checks are not available at this time.
Online Payments
Visa,
MasterCard and Discover cards are now accepted however e-checks are not available at this time.
Please note, there is a 3.49% fee for all on-line payments! This is a fee the credit card and on-line service providers charge and not Decorah Community School District. Payment via e-checks are not available at this time, but will also incur the 3.49% fee through the on-line store.
Please be aware you are always welcome to make any payment by check or cash or via your personal banking e-checking program.
The on-line payment through RevTrak is provided as an option and convenience for those who choose to utilize that feature.
Backpack Program - Food
The BackPack Program is a free program that provides kid-friendly, non-perishable food for students most in-need, to eat over weekends and breaks when school meals are not available and there may be little or no food to eat. Please carefully consider your family’s economic status and determine if this program is something needed by your children. If the BackPack Program is something your family depends upon, please complete the registration form. If you are able to make do without this assistance, please allow this program to be used by others. Registration Form in Spanish
SchoolMessenger Opt-In Form