Enrollment is up in the Webster City school district.

At Monday night’s school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Mandy Ross told the Webster City School Board the district’s certified enrollment is 1,774.98 students, which is up 56.97 students from last year’s enrollment.

“This truly is a celebration,” Ross told the board, who noted this is the second year of increased enrollment for the school district.

The figure includes 114 new students to the district. A breakdown of the new students includes 31 from out of state, 13 from out of the country, 14 from Eagle Grove and 12 from Fort Dodge.

In addition, Ross noted that Kindergarten enrollment district-wide is now at 185 students and the district is looking at graduating 123 seniors in 2020.

In other business, the board approved a letter of support of the Career Ag Academy to be established at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds.

Dr. Dan Kinney, President of Iowa Central Community College and Gene Gourley addressed the board, noting that the career ag academy would much like Eagle Grove’s Career Academy in that it would draw students from around the area.

“This would be a great partnership with the Career Academy and us,” stated Kinney. “It will expand agriculture (education) in our area”.

With Webster City CSD’s endorsement, fundraising for the venture will begin, said Webster City School Board Secretary Cathi Hildebrand.

The board also approved the school district’s Smoke-Free Environment policy. Before approval, Rich Stroner and Linda Williams asked for clarificaiton. Ross explained that any member of the public who smokes or vapes at district events will be asked to extinguish their tobacco or vaping product. If they don’t comply, they will be asked to leave the premises.

Consequences for students caught smoking during the school day vary depending on the number of offenses, noted Ross. A new policy will be drafted for students and it will be included in the 2020/2021 student handbook.

The board voted to allow Iowa School Finance Information Services to serve as a host on the school website. At a cost of $1,000, the action will enable ISFIS to develop user-friendly access for the district’s policies and information. Once the site is created, it becomes property of the district.

Information of board minutes, policy, agenda and other business information that will be indexed for easy access by staff and the public.

“We are very excited about this,” stated Ross. “This will make it easier and help utilize board policy easier”.

The board approved education contracts with Iowa Falls-Alden CSD, Mason City CSD and Manson NW Webster CSD for services not available in the Webster City School district.

Approved by the board were requests for fundraising activities for the Band Boosters at the season showcase and to sell t-shirts for the field show. Also granted permission was the WC Cheer to solicit ads for t-shirts to be given away at home games.

The board accepted the donation of school supplies from Van Diest Medical Center and will draft a thank you note in appreciation.

Ross noted that because there will only be one meeting each month in November and December due to the holidays, all business for the month will be conducted during those two meetings. In addition, due to the election on Nov. 5 and the official results declared on Nov. 19, new board members will have to be sworn in at the business office within the prescribed ten days. They will be seated at the December meeting.

Rich Stroner announced tentative observances planned for Veterans Day on Nov. 11. The tentative schedule includes a WC Middle School presentation will be held at 8:30 a.m. A program will also be held from 10 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. with a community program at 10:30 a.m. The guest speaker will be an active duty member of the Air Force National Guard. Pat Farley will speak to the high school students at 1 p.m. and veterans and their spouses are invited to lunch at the high school from 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. The next meeting will be held on Nov. 11 at the Webster City Administration Board Room at 6 p.m.