Dissolution Q&A, Part 2

Superintendent News & Views

Dissolution Questions & Answers, Part 2

By David Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent

This is the second column in a series which provides answers to questions about the proposed dissolution of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District.  These questions were submitted through an online form and special telephone line which allowed district patrons to leave a recorded message to ask a question. The first column in the series answered a single question about how property taxes would be affected in the event of a dissolution.  If you missed that column, you’ll want to be sure to check it out in last week’s paper or on my blog. Now, on with the questions and answers!

Q: You have said that about 100 jobs will be lost if the dissolution passes. How many jobs is it really?

A: We have often used the number “100” in our communication because this is a number that is easy for people to quantify.  Here are the specifics, based on our current plans for the coming school year: Full-Time Employees: 68.  Part-Time Employees: 35.  Total Employees: 103.  Please keep in mind that we occasionally add/reduce positions as student needs and program needs change.

It is appropriate to note that this total does not include several other part-time and full-time employees who may not have an employment contract with Gladbrook-Reinbeck but whose jobs may be in jeopardy or would at least be affected if G-R dissolves. Examples of this type of person would be specialists employed by the AEA who are assigned to spend part of their time at G-R such as our AEA Team Representatives, Speech/Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, etc.  It is difficult to measure the effect on the college instructors, part-time instructors, and teachers from other districts who teach classes at the Cedar Valley West Center (formerly known as the Western Outreach Center). 

The total number of employees reported above also does not include employees whose contracts are held by other districts. Examples of this would be our Elementary Art teacher who is employed by Grundy Center, as well as our Superintendent, Curriculum Director, and Agricultural Education/FFA Teacher who are employed by North Tama. Substitute teachers & associates would also be affected. 

Q: How many of your employees would be hired by the neighboring districts if G-R dissolved? These districts would have an influx of students, so wouldn’t they need more teachers?  

A: That is really anyone’s guess.  I think it is safe to say that all of our neighboring districts are carefully evaluating their staffing levels because of the low increases in supplemental state aid in recent years.  If they can serve additional students without adding staff, that’s what they’ll do. 

If neighboring districts do need to hire additional teachers, they may consider applications from former G-R teachers who lost their jobs due to a dissolution, but they will also need to consider hiring first-year teachers right out of college who will be less costly to hire.  They are under no obligation to hire G-R teachers. We have GREAT teachers at G-R, but it’s likely that the only G-R teachers who would find employment in a neighboring district right away would be those who teach in high-demand shortage areas such as Special Education.  Many would be forced to leave the area to find employment as a teacher, while others may need to leave the teaching profession if they wish to stay in the area. 

As for other employees…I know there is a general shortage of bus drivers all across the state so my best guess is that any former G-R bus drivers seeking employment in a neighboring district would find a job. Principals would have no trouble finding a job as long as they are willing to move to another area. As for the secretaries, associates, cooks, custodians, and other support staff, it’s really anyone’s guess.  Again, if the neighboring districts can avoid hiring additional staff, that’s most likely what they will do. 

Q: Is it possible to go back to being just the Gladbrook district and the Reinbeck district – to just divide back into two schools?

A: No. Iowa law has no provision for this. 

Q:  It doesn’t seem right to me that voters in Grundy Center, Dike, Garwin, Traer, and the other districts around us don’t get to vote on September 12. If it was a merger, both sides would get to vote. I’ve heard that Dike-New Hartford and GMG are already overcrowded in their elementary buildings, can you tell me if that’s true? Do we know if the citizens of these districts even want our students?  

A:  The outcome of the vote on September 12 will be determined ONLY by the voters in the Gladbrook-Reinbeck district.  The VOTERS of the neighboring districts really don’t have a say in a dissolution according to Iowa law.  The SCHOOL BOARDS of each of the districts included in the dissolution proposal have expressed that they are willing to accept the proposed territory if the district dissolves. 

As to whether Dike-New Hartford or GMG’s schools are overcrowded, that’s a matter of opinion and probably something that should be addressed to the administration of those districts.

Q:  Can they get more poll workers so voters won’t have to wait in line for the dissolution election?

A: We have discussed the large expected turn-out with election officials, and they are making arrangements to have a sufficient number of poll workers on election day.  Also, the polls will be open for extended hours on September 12, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  

While eligible voters can register to vote at the polls just before voting, one thing that would help to speed up the process is taking care of voter registration in advance.  Visit my blog for link to online voter registration or to download a copy of the mail-in voter registration form.

Voting by absentee is an option which allows voters to completely avoid waiting in line, and waiting at the polling place is reduced when some voters vote by absentee. You can request an absentee ballot by mail by sending an absentee ballot request to the Tama County Auditor’s Office. The auditor’s office has informed me that they have received a large volume of absentee requests and that as of August 11 they had already started mailing absentee ballots to those who had requested them.

If you wish to show up IN PERSON to vote by absentee, this can be done at the Tama County Auditor’s Office at 104 West State Street in Toledo during their regular office hours of 8-4:30, Monday through Friday. BALLOTS ARE READY NOW, and the process of in-person absentee voting has already begun. The final opportunity to vote in person by absentee is the day before the election on Monday, September 11, 2017. 

I invite you to join the conversation by leaving comments on my blog at http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com and/or following me on Twitter at @DavidRobertHill.       

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & LINKS:

Three ways to get REGISTERED to vote:

1. Register to vote at the polls on election day. Find your polling place here.  
2. Register online.  
3. Download and print a voter registration form.

Not sure if you're already registered to vote?  Visit this link to find out.  

Three ways to VOTE:

1. Vote at the polls on election day. Find your polling place here.  
2. Absentee voting by mail.  Mail this form to the Tama Co. Auditor to request a ballot.  They will send you a ballot in the mail. Complete the ballot and return it in person or by mail.  
3. In-person absentee voting.  Visit the Tama County Auditor's office at 104 West State Street in Toledo during their regular office hours of 8-4:30, M-F.