Clear Lake Board approves sharing with MC

The Clear Lake School Board voted 4-1 Monday night to approve a sharing agreement with the Mason City Community School District which will provide oversight and training for two Clear Lake employees carrying out the duties of transportation/building and grounds director.

Jeff Sheimo and Sterling Washburn, longtime employees of the Clear Lake School District, have been leading the departments since Kelly McLaughlin resigned the position in August after being placed on a paid administrative leave of absence in June.

The School Board met in special session Monday to discuss taking advantage of sharing incentives offered by the state.  The deadline for application was Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Superintendent Anita Micich, who herself is shared between the Mason City and Clear Lake districts, explained the incentive plan sponsored by the Iowa legislature will provide Clear Lake approximately $303,200 and Mason City approximately $480,000 for sharing the positions for one year. 

According to the sharing agreement, Mason City Grounds and Transportation Supervisor Randy Meyer and Facilities Supervisor Todd Huff will spend 20 percent of their time working in Clear Lake.  The two school districts will divide their salary costs by the same 80-20 ratio.  Total cost for their part-time services is $40,000, which saves the Clear Lake district approximately $25,000-30,000 this year.

Meyer and Huff attended Monday’s meeting to discuss their job responsibilities and ways they believe they can help in Clear Lake.

Meyer said he joined the Mason City district in 2002 and leads a three-person staff in managing 11 locations and multiple fields.  Although the Mason City district contracts with North Iowa Bus Co. for its buses and drivers, Meyer said he plans routes, discipline and oversees the drivers.  He also tracks fuel usage and repairs made to each vehicle and produces monthly reports which provide district leaders with important budgeting information.

Through the sharing agreement the CLSD will be able to use the data base developed by Meyer to create the same information tracking system at no charge.  

Board Secretary Lorna Leer said she would appreciate having the information so readily available.

Huff joined the Mason City School System in 2004 and oversees the maintenance of approximately 780,000 square feet of school buildings.  He has a background in heating and air-conditioning systems.

Micich and Board members were clear that the financial benefits each district will realize was not the only reason for pursuing the one-year sharing agreement, but all noted the incentive made the idea worth considering.

“How can we use the expertise that we have to meet our needs at this time?  That is what we are looking at,” Micich told the Board.

“The financial side is significant and should - Read More Via e-Edition