Area Educators focus on funding and needs during education panel

Over 50 attend luncheon hosted by Hamilton Growth Partnership

It was a clear focus on the funding and future of our schools in Hamilton County during the luncheon held at the Briggs Woods Conference center Thursday.

The panelists: Matt Berninghaus, Superintendent of the Webster City Community Schools, Heather Holm, Superintendent of the South Hamilton Community Schools and Dr. Stacy Mentzer, representing Iowa Central Community College, explained their situations, looking at historical data.

Enrollment is a key factor for all three institutions. The Webster City and South Hamilton schools are both funded by the same amount: $8,148/pupil, per year. The enrollment numbers are gathered and applied on October 1. Every school in the state of Iowa, uses the same number to determine their budgets.

As the funding explanation progressed, poorer school districts were able to access equal funding through the State Foundation Aid, equalizing the funding allocated to schools around the state. And their funds are monitored; they have spending limits, according to the presentation shared by Ottie Maxey, Executive Director of the Hamilton County Growth Partnership, who served as moderator for the panel.

Iowa Central Community College, however, has a similar driving factor. According to Mentzer, their funds are highly generated by tuition.

According to figures determined by the State of Iowa Education Association, the Webster City Community Schools are expected to remain at a stable enrollment figure through 2030/31. South Hamilton Schools are seeing a slight downward trend.

Retention of students is equally important to all three institutions. They pay attention to enrollment figures to insure they can keep the staff, as this is the only variable that they have to adjust budgets in the K-12 system.

According to Berninghaus, they surveyed families to determine the issues that made them enroll away from the Webster City Schools. 65% said it was due to where their home or work was located.

A similar situation occurs in the community colleges. "Community colleges are working to keep it affordable to all students," said Mentzer. The college looks at their retention rate during the year, and has developed a Student Success Academy to assist their students. Since that has been put in place, they have improved with an 89% retention rate from fall to spring, and a 44% retention rate from spring to fall, according to Mentzer.

Each of the individuals were asked what the biggest challenge was for them. They also were asked what they wanted the community to know.

For Berninghaus, it was automatic, "Recruiting high quality staff," was his response. But he also indicated a need for community connections.

"How do we get students into the communities and learn what jobs there are during the school day," he continued. The workforce programs initiated through the schools, with internships at various businesses is a driver for helping the entire community. "

The School system is a major economic driver in our communities. You have to have something they are proud of. We need to make sure educationally we are improving and growing.

Holm indicated all school districts share a problem. "Meeting every students needs, and knowing how to challenge them is a priority," said Holm

But more, Holm continued is how it is applied.

"We want the students prepared for life after school and become responsible citizens and stay in our communities or come back to them," Holm said.

Mentzer indicated the college’s biggest challenge is again technology. "AI, just keeping up with it and teaching them how to use it correctly," she said.

But, she continued, what she wants everyone to know is this.

"We truly want every student to be successful, and have a better life," she concluded.