The more involvement, the better the outcomes
High school students are encouraged to be in more activities
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SENTINEL-NEWS FILE PHOTO
H-M-S students that participate in multiple activities have better GPAs than those who are involved in none.
Increased involvement in activities was stressed as Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School students returned to the classroom last week.
The emphasis began during the orientation night for freshmen and their parents. Principal Blake Wendt presented data during the Aug. 21 school board meeting showing how academic success is tied to students' involvement in activities.
"I found that our students who did not participate in any extracurricular activities had an average GPA of 2.61. Those in four-plus activities had an average GPA of 3.62," he said. "For each incremental increase in activity participation, GPA increased."
To further help freshmen adjust to high school, students were assigned to four home base groups on the first day of school. The groups rotated through four breakout sessions, which offered suggestions for having a successful first week of high school. One session focused on students getting involved in high school.
Wendt said the data also indicates that increased student involvement generally results in fewer unexcused absences during the school year.
"We want a really robust activity program without burning them out," he concluded.
• Parking proposal
The H-M-S Athletic Booster Club asked that special parking spaces be designated for supporters who donated $500 or above to the organization. The group proposed that spaces be located on the north side of either the high school or the elementary building, near the front entrance to Peterson Field.
The special spaces would be designated with signs displaying sponsors' names and mounted on portable posts that would be put out for each event.
Superintendent Patrick Carlin said he saw pros and cons with each option, and was particularly concerned about safety at the area where players, coaches and band members cross to and from the field. He mentioned another issue that the district may have to consider.
"One challenge is to figure out where the line is. What do we do if other groups ask for spaces?" Carlin asked.
"We need to have a policy about these types of requests," Board Member Ryan Haack responded.
After discussing other options, board members designated up to 10 spaces north of the high school for the 2023 football season, and will then reevaluate the situation.
• Commercial insurance review
Severe storms that have occurred in Iowa are impacting insurance premiums for property owners, including school districts. During a review of the 2023-24 commercial insurance package, agents David Treimer and Kim Rye said that inflation and higher labor costs are especially affecting H-M-S's premium costs.
Another premium that has increased is for errors or omissions. Treimer said that situation was not due to the district's loss history but was an industry-wide situation.
One piece of good news is that the worker's compensation Experience Modification Rate is "trending in the right direction" compared to a year ago.
