(Arnolds Park)– The Spirit Lake and Okoboji school boards met in joint session Monday evening at the Okoboji Middle School gym in Arnolds Park to discuss the ins and outs of a state incentive program that encourages school districts to share certain administrative personnel. Talks so far have been centered around maintenance and transportation personnel.
Okoboji Superintendent Bob Miller says the two boards wanted to be sure they were on the same page when it comes to information. He says the boards will decide individually at their respective meetings this coming Monday whether to proceed with a feasibility study. The findings of that study would then be forwarded to the state.
Miller says any agreement would need to be in place for five years in order to receive the state incentive. He says the incentive funding is graduated down, with the districts receiving 100 percent the first year; 80 percent the second; 60 percent the third year…and so on.
Based on preliminary estimates and a weighted formula from the state, Miller says the incentives the districts would receive would be significant.
While the sharing discussion has been centered around maintenance and transportation, Spirit Lake school board President Beth Will said last (Mon.) night there had been some informal talk about including the Superintendent’s position, but she said it appears that’s something they’ll possibly discuss in the longer-term.
