The A-H-S-T school district Board of Education heard the proposed whole grade sharing agreement with Walnut Community School District, Tuesday. Superintendent of the A-H-S-T school district Jesse Ulrich gave the presentation of the draft sharing agreement between the school districts. The agreement states grades seven through twelve Walnut students will attend and be served by A-H-S-T for a minimum of four years as specified during the 2014-2105 school year, up to and including the 2017-2018 school years.

Walnut students will attend all regular educational services and extracurricular programs the same as if the students were residents in the A-H-S-T district. After the end of the four year agreement, the agreement shall continue for additional terms of one year until and unless either party notifies the other in writing to terminate. Resident students in grades kindergarten through 6, of each district, shall be provided for by each district independently.

Also in the draft, Walnut would pay A-H-S-T 80 percent of the per pupil cost for each school year as by the state comptroller plus a proportionate share of Teacher Salary Supplement Funds received by Walnut per Iowa Code. The AHST and Walnut school boards would have joint meetings at least twice a year beginning next school year as well plus a representative from the Walnut School board will on the AHST school board for the district. Superintendent Ulrich explained what’s next.

He said a Public hearing must take place. After the public, the district has to wait a minimum of thirty days before it approves the final agreement, which  will be voted on at the district’s regular meeting in January.  No comments were made from those in attendance during the public hearing. Superintendent Ulrich said a few public comments were received this past Monday at the Walnut Community School District’s Board of Education meeting. Most of those were supportive, while others asked a few questions were asked about input on the curriculum decisions.

Ulrich says AHST will be in control of the curriculum provided. The joint board meetings will be a platform for the boards to have discussions about that. The next meetings for final adoption will be held for Walnut on Monday, January 20^th and AHST on Wednesday, January 22^nd.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)