Waterloo incentives are effective

By Tammy Krueger for the Daily Times
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 1:03 PM CDT

WATERLOO - An update on the Waterloo Middle School Incentive Program that was created to help students make the sometimes difficult transition from elementary to middle school more smooth was presented by intermediate-middle school Principal Ann Kox to the Waterloo School Board on Monday.

Students in good status, with no F's or late assignments, are rewarded at the end of each school term with an incentive activity.

A dance in January followed by a recent trip to the Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells are among completed incentive activities that have taken place. In June, activities involving inflatable structures will highlight the last incentive program of the school year.

This year 45 students received F's during term three as compared to 63 F's from term three of a year ago. Pirate Improvement Awards are given out to students who improve their grade point average by 0.5 percent from term two to term three. Last year no students received the award, as compared to 20 students who received the award this year.

“Kids really are working toward this. They are excited about it and the kids that went had a fabulous time,” Kox remarked in regard to the overall incentive program and the Great Wolf Lodge trip.

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“The staff and students feel good about providing these opportunities for kids who are making really good decisions all along,” Kox said.

The No. 1 reason students are unable to take part in the incentive activities is that two or more assignments are consistently late in a term.

Students are motivated to do better and follow the criteria so they can participate in incentive opportunities. Students also vote on which incentive activity will be offered each term.

“It sends a consistent message. You take care of business, there will be more fun,” Kox concluded.

Elementary school Principal Maureen Adams reported on the success of the recent geography contests. More than 170 students participated in four different contests held throughout the school year.

“They (the students) really did an awesome job,” Adams said in regard to the contests.

Students began the contests by first answering questions regarding the location of South America. Sixty-one more specific questions regarding cultures, geographical features and land formations in South America were added as the contests continued.

“It was a huge amount of fun. You could see their growth and they started talking a lot about geography,” Adams said.

Next year's geography location topic will be Europe and the PTO is organizing a one-week European dance group presentation next school year to coincide with the geography contests.

Adams also mentioned other upcoming events to the board including the PTO Science Fair scheduled for Thursday, April 24.

Teacher Appreciation Week is in early May and the Parent/Volunteer Appreciation Night is in late in May.

The 2008-09 Head Start facility use agreement was approved by the board. Students involved in both the Head Start and the district's 4-year-old kindergarten program will receive services nine of 10 days in each two-week period. Students with special education needs will have services provided at school with the cooperation of the Head Start program. Three-year-old students will be served at other Head Start sites in the area.

The 2008-09 CESA 2 driver education contract was approved by the board with a cost of $375 per student for traditional classroom curriculum and $400 for an Internet option. There has not been a cost increase since the 2006-07 school year.

Information regarding the three-year facility maintenance and improvement plan was presented by school board member Eugene Kegler. Improvements and updates to the high school science rooms along with the possibility of an exterior keyless door entry system to the school were among the possible projects projected in the plan.

In other business, the board:

- Approved the minutes from the March 31 regular meeting.

- Approved the resignation of swim team coach Jessica Fritsch effective April 1.

- Approved the resignation of cross-categorical special education teacher Rachel Netz.

- Approved the resignation of Nathan McKittrick as the ninth-grade boys football and basketball coach.

- Approved the resignation of Larry Gillen as the girls junior varsity soccer coach.

- Approved the resignation of maintenance custodian Del Bolin effective Nov. 21.

- Approved the 2008-11 contract for school nursing services and the 2008-09 medical service provider contract.

- Approved the resolution authorizing the sale of $1,375,000 in general obligation school improvement bonds. Banker's Bank was the low bidder with a true interest cost of 3.484 percent. The district was given an A-plus bond rating based on its continuation of strong financial performances.

- The Waterloo School District has qualified to receive $1,000 from the Snow Emergency Grant Fund due to the Feb. 6 and 7 snowstorm.

- The board recognized Eric Epstein for his 13 years of service on the school board. Epstein did not seek re-election in Area 1 and Karen Stangler will fill his vacancy.

- All school board members were present and a board reorganization meeting will be held Monday, April 28, at 5:30 p.m. in room 28 located in the elementary school.

- The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the high school library.