WEBSTER CITY-There was a special meeting of the Webster City Community School Board on Wednesday evening on a proposal requesting the support for board to take action to petition the Governor and Legislature to fund public education at 5 percent annually and cap the income for Educational Savings Accounts or ESA’s and to phase out the program over a five-year period. Kathy Getting spoke to the school board addressing concerns such as Iowa used to be ranked at the top among the 50 states for education. The 2025 US News and World Report ranks Iowa 20th or near the middle. For the last 15 years, Iowa pre-pupil spending growth has averaged at 2 percent a year. Iowa’s recent surpluses of about $2 billion a year,showing the state has had resources to help schools keep up with cost increases and enhance learning opportunities. Lower costs, and more choice better outcomes were the reasons advocates used to pass the Educational Savings Accounts or vouchers.
The board thanked Getting for bringing the issue to the attention of the schools and will be reviewed further by the school district.No action was taken by the Webster City school board.
In fund raising matters, the board accepted the volleyball fund raiser for breast cancer research, the yearbook class for advertising, the National Honor Society at Webster City High School for collecting funds at athletic events and from the Spanish Club for the sale of butter braids
In personnel matters, the Webster City School Board approved the internship program affiliation agreement to permit high school students to be placed at Van Diest Medical Center for internship experiences. Resignations were accepted from High School Student Council Advisor Jess Howard and paraeducators Misti Woods and Brittany Moss. The following hirings were approved by the Webster City school board Wednesday evening. They include Tony Streigle as head 7th grade football coach, Christin Wagner and Joni Smith as co-head 7th grade volleyball coaches, and paraeducators Alondra Ramirez, Dawn Nilles, Emelyn O’Hearn and Shelby Eide.