School Calendar

As you are likely aware Iowa Department of Education Director, Brad Buck, issued a statement to Iowa districts last week stating that early start date waivers will no longer be "automatically" approved.  CCA is waiting on guidance from the DE as to what will constitute good cause for a waiver, guidance is expected in January.

In the meantime we are working on a calendar that would meet the statutory start time.  As will calendar every year, the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving, Christmas/Winter Break, and Spring Break are all hot topics.  In my experience there is no calendar that everyone loves and supports.  If we could start late, take a long winter break, long spring break, and get our early, that might work.  :-) But, I have yet to see that calendar exist.  The transition to hours would allow it, but we would need to significantly lengthen our school day.

There are also significant concerns on the impact of a late start with middle and high school activities, as well as our student who participate in courses through Kirkwood Community College. All of these things will need to be considered as we develop the calendar.

At this point it looks like CCA will plan to have a later start than we've had traditionally.  However the breaks pan out during the year, families can anticipate the planned final day of the year falling in June, instead of May.

Sincerely,

Tim Kuehl

Go Clippers!

Wow, what a great fall to be a Clipper! 

Volleyball advances to the State Semi-Finals, Football has their first District Championship, CCA students at State in Cross-Country and Swimming. An All-State vocalist, award winning Marching Band, and recognition for the AP programs at the high school. 

Thank you to all the students, coaches/teachers/sponsors, parents, and community members who support the programs at CCA. On to the winter activities!

CCAHS Recognized for AP Course Success

For Immediate Release: November 13, 2014

Clear Creek Amana High School Placed on the College Board’s 5th Annual AP^® District Honor Roll for Significant Gains in Student Access and Success

A Record 547 School Districts Across the Nation Are Honored

Tiffin, IA — Clear Creek Amana is one of 547 school districts in the U.S. and Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on the 5th Annual AP^® District Honor Roll for increasing access to AP course work while simultaneously maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP Exams. 2014 is a milestone year for the AP District Honor Roll, and more districts are achieving this objective than ever before. Reaching these goals indicates that the district is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are ready for the opportunity of AP. Since 2012, Clear Creek Amana has increased the number of students participating in AP while improving the number of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher.

Data from 2014 show that among African American, Hispanic, and Native American students with a high degree of readiness for AP, only about half of students are participating.  The first step to delivering the opportunity of AP to students is providing access by ensuring courses are available, that gatekeeping stops, and that the doors are equitably opened so these students can participate. Clear Creek Amana is committed to expanding the availability of AP courses among prepared and motivated students of all backgrounds.

“The devoted teachers and administrators in this district are delivering an undeniable benefit to their students: opportunity. When coupled with a student’s hard work, such opportunities can have myriad outcomes, whether building confidence, learning to craft effective arguments, earning credit for college, or persisting to graduate from college on time.” said Trevor Packer, the College Board’s senior vice president of AP and Instruction. “We applaud your conviction that a more diverse population of students is ready for the sort of rigor that will prepare them for success in college.”

Helping more students learn at a higher level and earn higher AP scores is an objective of all members of the AP community, from AP teachers to district and school administrators to college professors. Many districts are experimenting with a variety of initiatives and strategies to determine how to simultaneously expand access and improve student performance.

In 2014, more than 3,800 colleges and universities around the world received AP scores for college credit, advanced placement, and/or consideration in the admission process, with many colleges and universities in the United States offering credit in one or more subjects for qualifying AP scores.

 Inclusion on the 5th Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on the examination of three years of AP data, from 2012 to 2014, looking across 34 AP Exams, including world language and culture. The following criteria were used.

Districts must:

• ·       Increase participation/access to AP by at least 4 percent in large districts, at least 6 percent in medium districts, and at least 11 percent in small districts;
• ·       Increase or maintain the percentage of exams taken by African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students; and
• ·       Improve performance levels when comparing the percentage of students in 2014 scoring a 3 or higher to those in 2012, unless the district has already attained a performance level at which more than 70 percent of its AP students are scoring a 3 or higher.

When these outcomes have been achieved among an AP student population in which 30 percent or more are underrepresented minority students (Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native) and/or 30 percent or more are low-income students (students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch), a symbol has been affixed to the district name to highlight this work.

            The complete 5th Annual AP District Honor Roll can be found here.

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Congratulations Mrs.Greathouse! A+ for Education

ACE Program Kickoff

Today was the kickoff for the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) program in the Cedar Valley.  Approximately 170 area students are involved, approximately 40 of them are CCA students.  These students will be designing and constructing a building to serve as a STEM Center at the CCAMS site.  Students work with mentors from industry who volunteer their time.  Much thanks to the mentors and students for this great collaboration between industry and education.

KGAN story:  HERE

CCA Fight Song

CCA Logos Approved

Over the past few months there has been discussion regarding the official CCA logos.  At their 9/18/14 meeting the Board of Education approved the following CCC, Clippers, and ship to be utilized by the District.

CCA/Clippers
Ship

Approved Elementary Boundaries for 2015-2016

At their regular meeting on September 18, 2014 the Board of education approved elementary attendance boundaries for the 2015-2016 school year.  There was substantial discussion regarding area E, the Deer View development in Tiffin.  Ultimately the Board voted to include area E with new developments A and B, on the map, in attending at Clear Creek Elementary.

The Board and I are aware that this does not result in the most convenient elementary attendance for all district patrons.  We struggled with meeting the desires of individuals and being good stewards of the district's tax dollars in ensuring that current buildings are utilized as much as possible.  The feeling of the Board was that this boundary solution balanced those needs as well as possible at this time.


Map

Elementary Boundaries 2015-2016, Post Work Session

After the work session on 9/10/14 two possibilities go before the Board on 9/17/14.  The recommendation from the Elementary Boundaries Committee has all of existing Tiffin moving to the new elementary, with new development on the west side of Tiffin attending Clear Creek Elementary. One possible change that came up in the work session was having Area E, also attend at Clear Creek Elementary.

Rationale for the Committee Recommendation centered around all current homes in Tiffin attending the new elementary.  Reasons discussed for having Area E attend CCE included it being a "neighborhood" with the new development to the west and the desire of the Board to ensure that CCE is utilized fairly near its capacity.

Prioritized Boundary Criteria from the Board of Education:

1) Projected Enrollment / Capacity ( 35%)

2) Contiguous Attendance Areas ( 28%)

3) Duration of Boundaries ( 16%)

4) Neighborhoods Intact ( 15%)

5) Fiscal Consideration – Operational ( 6%)



Boundaries Committee Recommendation
Post Work Session Consideration

KCRG Coverage of Public Forum 8/26/14

KCRG

Public Forum - Elementary Boundaries

On August 26 approximately 40 CCA patrons participated in the public forum regarding elementary school boundaries beginning in the 2015-2016 school year.

Please keep in mind that we do not need patrons to pick one of the two draft scenarios.  The committee needs feedback on those scenarios in order to present the Board with a recommendation of the best possible solution.

Survey

RSP Presentation

Public Forum Scenarios

Below you will find the maps that will be utilized at the public for on August 26.  Please note that this is not a situation where forum participants will have to "pick" one of the scenarios.  They will be asked to submit feedback and the committee will process the feedback before making a recommendation to the Board of Education.  In the bottom, right corner of each map is an additional key which shows possibilities discussed by  the committee.

Scenario 1

Scenario 2

8-7-14 Elementary Boundaries Committee

NOTE TIME CORRECTION (8-10-14)

Public Forum on August 26, 6:00 pm, starting in the CCA HS Auditorium.  This will be an opportunity for CCA patrons to provide input on scenarios for setting new elementary boundaries when the new elementary opens in August 2015.

During the forum constituents will get an overview of the process to date.  They will then have the opportunity to discuss two scenarios, with a committee member or two, in their group.  All participants will be asked to complete a feedback document prior to leaving the forum.  The committee will meet again on September 4 to process the feedback and formulate recommendations to the Board of Education.

Presentation from the 8-7-14 meeting:  here

Elementary Boundaries Committee Update

The Elementary Boundaries Committee has met three times now.  Links to the presentations are attached.  At the second meeting committee members were asked to identify geographic splits for the elementary buildings.  At the third RSP brought in a scenario to be critiqued.  At the next meeting the committee will provided direction on two scenarios.  One has students from the western part of Tiffin attending in CCE, the other will have all Tiffin students attending the new elementary.

I anticipate some variation of these two proposals being available for public input at the Community Forum on August 26, 6:00 pm, at CCA HS.  Please encourage your friends and neighbors to attend that meeting and provide the committee with their feedback.

Meeting 2 Presentation
Meeting 3 Presentation

Elementary Boundaries Committee

A committee comprised of CCA patrons and elementary principals began working on establishing new attendance boundaries to begin with the 2015-2016, when the fourth elementary school opens.  I will be posting information from the meetings here.  One date to put on your calendars is August 26, 2014. There will be a community forum at 6:00 pm in the high school to gather community input in regards to the boundaries that evening.

The schedule of meetings is here:  SCHEDULE.  All meetings are at 6:00 pm in the High School Library.  Committee meetings are public meetings, so anyone is welcome to attend and observe, but only committee members are actually involved in the meeting.

You can view the presentation shared by RSP, Associates with the committee here:  PRESENTATION.

Thank you Hills Bank!

Video From West High Student Publication

The students of West High recently highlighted area high schools.  Here is the video they did about CCAHS.

North Bend Color Run Article

Link

Video: CCA students lopped off locks to support cancer patients More than 40 had their hair cut in Oxford for cancer patients

Link to Video

2014-2015 Calendar

The following calendar was approved by the CCA Board of Education on 4-9-14 for the 2014-2015 school year.

KCRG Story 2-21-14

Clear Creek Amana Growing Into the Future

Post Election Articles

Here are a couple articles from today's papers.  Thanks again for the tremendous show of support to the students of CCA.

Press-Citizen:  Voters overwhelmingly OK district bond issue

Gazette:  $48 million dollar bond referendum for clear creek amana school district passes

The Results Are In

Thank you on behalf of CCA to all the folks who made the effort to vote and special thanks to all those who worked so hard in the planning and bond passage process.

Sincerely,

Tim Kuehl
Superintendent

Press-Citizen Articles

Officials say additions will prevent overcrowding

Cities' Growth Leaves CCA Schools Overflowing

CCA Elementaries Bursting at the Seams

Some Common Questions

Recently I have fielded questions regarding the location of the proposed elementary school land in the referendum and the impact of open enrollment on the district.  The following will hopefully provide some background and rationale for the bond referendum before us on February 4.

Last fall we contacted several landowners regarding potential school sites.  The Board expressed their desire to purchase enough land to house multiple buildings in the long term.  They also desired to have the land on the eastern side of the district in order to accommodate the growing population/enrollment in that area.

To that end several parcels of land were researched.  In the end, the current parcel met the criteria of being large enough to accommodate multiple buildings, and is by far the most economical, the similar sized parcel adjacent to the high school would have been approximately six times more costly.  Should the bond fail on February 4^th; there is no guarantee that the land involved in this bond would be available for the same price, or ultimately available at all.

The area between the middle school and high school has also been mentioned.  In the current plan much of that area will be developed into the middle school addition and parking.  There is not sufficient space there for an elementary school.  Guidelines for elementary school sites run from 11-15 acres per building.

At the present time the district is simply reaching the place where enrollment is greater than available educational space.  Our enrollment is projected to exceed instructional capacity in the 2015-2016 school year, exceeding 2500 students in 2017-2018 and 3000 students in 2020-2021.  Current plans work to lay the groundwork for continuing to deal with the growing enrollment in the district.  The district anticipates needing to add a fifth PK-5 elementary building within the next five years and additional secondary facilities in approximately 10 years.

In the event the bond passes, Clear Creek Elementary fifth graders will need to be transported to Amana Elementary for only one year, 2014-2015.  The opening of a new elementary in the fall of 2015 would create space for the implementation of community PK-5 elementary schools.

If the bond should fail, the district will need to implement a combination of measures in order to meet the needs of our students.  Increased bussing of elementary students to Amana Elementary, utilization of portable/temporary classrooms, and larger class sizes would all be necessary.  During that time we would also need to put forth another bond referendum in an attempt to increase the facilities available to meet the needs of CCA students.  It is almost certain that land prices and interest rates will rise during the time needed to run another bond, increasing the cost of adding facilities.

Another area that is often questioned is that of open enrollment.  Currently CCA has a net of approximately 200 students open enrolled into the district.  The district has closed open enrollment at North Bend Elementary, for three years, and at Clear Creek Elementary, for two years.  My recommendation to the Board will be to continue with closed open enrollment at those sites, as well as the new elementary should the bond pass.  While we do not pick up many open enrollments at the secondary level, we will continue to evaluate if that needs to be closed also on an annual basis.

The area of growth that CCA is dealing with is in resident students.  The district was up 126 resident students over the last year.  That type of growth is projected to be maintained, or increased for the next several years.  The challenge lies in the growth of our resident population, not from students open enrolling into CCA.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have.

Sincerely,

Tim Kuehl

Superintendent

One Week From Today!

In one week, February 4, the polls will be open from 7:00am - 8:00pm in order for voters to cast their ballot regarding the proposed bond referendum. Polling places include:

• Amana Elementary School
• St. Peter's Hall
• North Bend Elementary School
• Oxford City Hall
• West Campus (between the Middle School and High School)

In addition, satellite voting is available on January 31, 2014 at CCA High School from 5:00pm - 8:00pm.  And absentee ballots can still be utilized, but must be postmarked by February 3, 2014.  Absentee ballots can be obtained from the Johnson County Auditor's Office:  ph.:319-356-6004, website

Please feel free to contact me at:  319-828-4510 or timkuehl@ccaschools.org with any questions or comments you may have.

Sincerely,

Tim Kuehl

Superintendent

January 12 Press-Citizen article

Article

January 9 Press-Citizen Article

Article

Satellite Voting

CCA residents will have the opportunity to vote on the proposed bond issue from 5:00 - 8:00 pm, at CCA HS, on January 31.

The option to vote via absentee ballot still exists as well.  Absentee ballots must be post marked no later than Monday, February 3, 2014.  An absentee ballot request form can be obtained from the Johnson County Auditor's website, the pdf can be found on this page:  http://www.johnson-county.com/dept_auditor.aspx?id=14518 

Some dates from the Auditor's site:

• Friday, January 24:  Voter pre-registration deadline, 5 p.m. 11 days before the election.  Voters can still register after this deadline using the election day registration procedure.    
• Friday, January 31: 5 p.m. deadline to request absentee ballot by mail.  
• Friday, January 31: 5 to 8 p.m. satellite voting site at Clear Creek Amana High School, Tiffin (at basketball game)
• Monday, February 3: Postmark deadline for absentee ballots to be counted.  

Please contact me with any questions you might have regarding the Bond vote and/or the proposed facilities:  timkuehl@ccaschools, 319-828-4510.

Sincerely,

Tim Kuehl

Informational Meeting

There will be an informational meeting regarding the proposed bond on Saturday, January 11 at Serena's Coffee shop in Amana.

Building Plans

The new elementary plan is based on the North Bend configuration.  This building would have one additional kindergarten and one additional pre-school classroom.  These would be configured into a fourth "pod".  Capacity of this building would be 450-500 students.  The proposed site for this building is at the NE corner of the intersection of HWY 6 and Jasper Avenue, east of Tiffin.  Work would begin on this facility in the spring of 2014, pending approval of the bond on February 4.

The following diagrams show the proposed additions to the middle school.  The addition on the west end of the current building is two stories.  Capacity after all work is completed will be approximately 750 students.  Work would begin on the additions in the spring of 2014, pending approval of the bond on February 4, with renovation of the current facility to follow the next year.

NW View

SW View

W View

The proposed additions at the High School involve the first of two anticipated extensions of the academic wings, along with the remodeling of the current weight and wrestling rooms into a practice gymnasium.  New weight and wrestling rooms would be built at the south end of the current building.  All of these additions were anticipated in the original plan for the High School.  Additions at the High School would be constructed beginning in 2016 with an anticipated opening in August of 2017.

If you have questions or comments, please contact me at 319-828-4510 or timkuehl@ccaschools.org. If your church or community group would like a presentation regarding the proposed facilities I would welcome the opportunity to speak with your group.

Sincerely,

Tim Kuehl

Superintendent