A long list of unaddressed problems could cause school districts in Hamburg and Farragut to lose accreditation by the end of the school year. The Daily NonPareil – citing two reports released Wednesday by the Iowa Dept. of Education – reports the Fremont County districts have struggled with overspending, compliance with state regulations and continued enrollment loss.
The districts have 30 days to respond to the Department of Education. The report recommended Hamburg and Farragut resolve district issues individually, together as part of a merged district or part of another district. The report said the districts lacked facilities compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. The cost to make facilities ADA compliant is unknown. However, it would likely outweigh the districts’ resources. The report also said districts have administrative, curriculum and other policy issues.
Hamburg Superintendent Terry Kenealy wrote in a letter on the district’s website earlier this week that the districts should have ongoing conversations with neighboring communities. For 2014, the Hamburg and Farragut districts have a combined enrollment of more than 300 students.
The report said the districts’ priority on whole-grade sharing and reorganization has pushed the best interests of students to the back burner. In addition, the districts’ current finances would likely hinder necessary improvements required for the facilities’ continued operations.