Both houses are considering only short term solutions for the decade-old problem of declining enrollment because they expect to receive recommendations next fall from a federally financed study by the department of public instruction.
The truth is that the legislature, after eight years of trying, has not figured a way for the local spending limit it has imposed on a per-pupil basis to be rationally adjusted on a year-to-year basis so that it will permit the maintenance of educational programs in districts with declining enrollments. That means most of the districts in the state of Iowa.
Actually there is only one formula to adjust each district's budget to fit its actual needs and experiences. It is called a local school board. The legislature is convinced, however, that a local school board cannot be trusted. (Excerpts from total article in The Des Moines Register.)
May 17, 1978. High School Graduation at Collins will be Friday, May 19, at 8:00 p.m. in the high school gym. The guest speaker for the evening will be William J. Reichardt. Mr. Reichardt attended the University of Iowa, 1948-1952. He was an All American fullback and was named most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference. He also played professional football with the Green Bay Packers.
May 22, 1978. Approximately 76 million lunches served in Iowa during the 1977-76 school year. All Iowa schools including boarding schools and day care centers are eligible for the lunch program, but is mandatory in public schools. A similar breakfast program is also available. Iowa receives $23 million from the federal government each school year in reimbursements funds for lunches served. Schools also receive $9 million in commodities from the federal government. Some of the commodities received include frozen ground beef, frozen chicken, cheese, corn, flour, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables. The U. S. department of agriculture makes free meals available to those families who fall under its income guidelines.
June 5, 1978. Collins girls softball team came up short with a rally in the bottom of the 7th. Trailing 17-9, they sent 11 batters up to the plate and scored 5 runs before Semco could get the last out. Rhonda Smith had a double and single.
The Collins boys won their baseball game by the 10-run rule over Semco, 11-1. Patterson had 2 hits. Fish pitched, striking out 8, and allowing only 4 hits, and walking 3.
June 13, 1978. Colo swept a girls softball (16-7) and boys baseball (8-7) double header at Colo.
June 20, 1978. Randall M. Betz has been chosen the new superintendent-principal for Collins Community School for 1978. -79 school year. Betz received his school administration degree from Iowa State University in 1967. He has 22 years experience in education, 18 as secondary principal. The past 14 years he has been secondary principal at the North Polk Community Schools.
July 3, 1978. A record 483 schools will open play in 64 Iowa girls high school summer softball sectional tournaments on July 15. Participation has increased by 28 teams this year. Again the state tournament will be 16 teams at Harlan Rodgers Field in Fort Dodge. Collins will face NESCO on July 16.