[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6056075,"mediaKeyId","3312332-957af616ad50c19176f07d7cb7e5bc15","parentId",3312332,"title","Ottumwa reports higher graduation rates and sharply lower dropout rates; district credits program changes","audioSeconds",580,"startMs",1734000,"endMs",2314000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3312332-957af616ad50c19176f07d7cb7e5bc15&start=1734&end=2314","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3312332-957af616ad50c19176f07d7cb7e5bc15/thumbnail_1734000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6056075/Iowa/Ottumwa-reports-higher-graduation-rates-and-sharply-lower-dropout-rates-district-credits-program-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6056075-05aed7b046825e3ebaab667e67786580/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180532&Signature=SUWIKbg9bF4yWiCQN~65kiX~GCY7zaewtfCGuwR41WKxR-hY4-biuBZM36DmxI~9sfyD-jeED4GJ0tCeP4DZIJQNByWzIS-11WvifDQQRG37FbXdqhLtS1YZpnSLlNw4II85HEa8goPZmn5qm~gNPOd79zMskRPDQCehJv3e3AQH2m5lsF75ivsX2KEI-YO5a2StNhLHus8H-HLNMHIZkY1Yz58bM-q8PMh4Qlp0o03v~m~dq3Xmb6zq7jwswnhrxW2zQzEbFNpdMh5dne0rBjJO~0osP5dTqAavE~P3v1NVEcaW7-D8eyInqXZ2kd3vSLwenYGeEd4hORWWzMGB1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ottumwa Community School District","date","2025-04-22T11:35:36Z","article","District administrators presented certified graduation and dropout figures showing gains at Ottumwa High School and Gateway High School and described several system changes they said contributed to the improvement.

Superintendent (name not specified) introduced the report and turned the presentation over to Maria (staff member), who presented certified rates. Maria said, “we're really, really proud of that,” when describing the increase in Ottumwa High School’s graduation rate to 94.74 percent. She said the rate is higher than the statewide rate and that the figure represents a cohort tracked from freshman year through graduation.

District figures presented in the meeting record included:
- Ottumwa High School graduation rate: 22–23 school year just over 91%; rose to 94.74% in the most recently certified year.
- Gateway High School graduation rate: 22–23 school year 62.22%; rose to 75% in the most recent certified year.
- OHS dropout rate: from just under 3% (22–23) to about 1.94% (most recent year).
- Gateway dropout rate: from about 12.5% (22–23) to roughly 4.38% (most recent year).

District staff and principals attributed the gains to a mix of systemwide changes and on-campus supports, including smaller learning cohorts, expanded staffing for ELL and special education, reading intervention and increased mental-health supports (therapy classrooms, a “brain health room” and a zen room at Gateway). Principals Bram Shiver and Aaron Ruff were cited by staff as describing these supports and the district’s “Be the Best” plan as contributors to higher graduation rates and lower absenteeism.

Presenters noted differences between graduation-rate and dropout-rate calculations: graduation rate follows a cohort across four years, while dropout rate measures how many students leave enrollment in a given year. Staff also said the state’s certification process means the data are typically about a year old but are the official, certified figures.

Superintendent’s office plans to issue a press release with these certified figures; staff said the release would be distributed to the board the following day. The board had no substantive follow-up questions during the presentation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ottumwa Community School District Board Meeting.- 4/21/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent and district staff presented certified graduation and dropout data showing a rise in Ottumwa High School's graduation rate (to 94.74%) and a large increase at Gateway (to 75%), with dropout rates falling; staff attributed gains to personalized programs, added supports and lower absenteeism.","taxTitle","Ottumwa Comm School District, School Districts, Iowa","taxId",65510,"location","Iowa","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6056080,"Ottumwa school board certifies 2526 budget, approves multiple contracts and settlements",803,928000,1731000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3312332-957af616ad50c19176f07d7cb7e5bc15&start=928&end=1731","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3312332-957af616ad50c19176f07d7cb7e5bc15/thumbnail_928000.jpg","/articles/6056080/Iowa/Ottumwa-school-board-certifies-2526-budget-approves-multiple-contracts-and-settlements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6056080-e899f8291b9e9c5f1a012129d1ed42be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180532&Signature=J-OkqARCloUgAlvFYQcrgDFArvTazil-estEQigHKGfgK0VYQr03Cixibnzxq3Hqe1V3me7nTl7CJgVy~3I1RIjlsrdta5Al1ev3RF2aJsNddIetd7BPqQmZxhKo2dkuN96DQGVerVCLHDWL3rtK0JEoHKW4-c8Jcy-ePC~4INMKjHrvSRUcSCPTDxUKSCAFcxhtZHSbD412FPqAlqATji3dQ6EF4q-kDYs2RpXYWivOcGecTK1K5aRi8Rqv3M3ga~1rGWGrkPKOKKCkKfculYlwXUHDVNyakb2USu6JgEKn-Z227wnj32v~VF09FljTfZoWPjVILFt4gQS-nPU7Pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ottumwa Comm School District Board of Education certified its 2526 budget and approved a suite of contracts, waivers and labor settlements during a regular meeting; the board also tabled one agenda item for later consideration.

The most consequential formal action was certification of the 2526 budget. The board approved the budget by roll call, with Morgan Brown, Dave Walbrenner, Becky Engel, Brian Jones, Jeremy Weller, Jan Weichirk and Christina Shark all voting yes. District staff told the board the district will submit the levy “no higher than 14.66907,” and that final state adjustments could lower that amount slightly.

In other formal actions the board:
- Approved a three-year HSFS 3 waiver to allow Gateway High School to continue operating a competency-based high school model (motion passed).
- Approved travel for an Odyssey of the Mind team to attend world finals (motion passed).
- Approved bargaining settlements for associate staff (2.24% increase, roughly $0.38 per hour in conversion cited by staff) and secretarial staff (about 2.25%, roughly $0.55 per hour) (motion passed for both items).
- Authorized going out for public bidding via resolution for Eisenhower Secure Entrance Planning and James Elementary classroom renovation; staff said those projects will return with bids for board approval and a public hearing planned for the May 19 meeting (motions passed).
- Approved Ottumwa High School exterior door replacement (recommended bid to local contractor for $93,385) and two classrooms of OHS science furniture (School Specialty bid of $15,410) (motions passed).
- Approved six contracts tied to the Fourth Street/Shaffer Field entrance project (board packet updated to reflect a late bid; staff said the total project is just under $199,000, and the presentation included estimates for a $3,000 sidewalk/pad and contingency) (motions passed).
- Tabled agenda item H1F earlier in the meeting on a motion to table; the board recorded the motion and vote to table the item.

Votes at a glance (motion text, mover/second as recorded in the meeting, outcome):
- Table item H1F — mover: Christina Shark (motion recorded in meeting); second: not specified in transcript; outcome: tabled.
- Approve consent agenda — mover/second not specified in transcript; outcome: approved.
- Approve Odyssey of the Mind travel as presented — mover/second not specified; outcome: approved.
- Approve HSFS 3 waiver (Gateway High School) for three years — mover/second not specified; outcome: approved.
- Approve associate group bargaining settlement (2.24%) and secretarial settlement (2.25%) — mover: motion recorded; second recorded; outcome: approved.
- Approve resolutions to go out for bids for Eisenhower Secure Entrance Planning and James Elementary classroom renovation — mover/second not specified; outcome: approved; public hearing on bids expected May 19.
- Approve OHS exterior door replacement (recommended bid $93,385 to local contractor) — mover/second recorded; outcome: approved.
- Approve OHS science furniture (School Specialty, $15,410) — mover/second recorded; outcome: approved.
- Approve six contracts for Fourth Street/Shaffer Field entrance (project total just under $199,000; includes estimated sidewalk/pad $3,000 and contingency) — motion/second recorded; outcome: approved.
- Certify the 2526 budget (tax levy no higher than 14.66907) — motion/second recorded; roll-call votes: Morgan Brown, Dave Walbrenner, Becky Engel, Brian Jones, Jeremy Weller, Jan Weichirk and Christina Shark all voted yes; outcome: approved.

Board members and staff who spoke on record included Morgan Brown, Dave Walbrenner, Becky Engel, Brian Jones, Jeremy Weller, Jan Weichirk and Christina Shark (board members); district staff and administrators who appeared and spoke included Brad (administrator), Aaron Ruff (staff/principal), Marcy/Marcy Dunlap (staff), John (staff), Don (facilities staff), Landon (staff), and others. Several votes were routine approvals of procurement or personnel settlements; where the transcript provided dollar amounts or percentages, those figures are reported above.

The board packet contained bid documents, settlement summaries and project renderings; staff said the board would review returned bids and hold a public hearing on the Eisenhower and James projects before awarding contracts. Item H1F remains on hold pending future action.","At a regular meeting, the Ottumwa Comm School District board certified the 2526 budget (tax levy capped at 14.66907) and voted to approve bids, waivers, bargaining settlements and several facilities contracts, while tabling one agenda item.","actionData","errors"]

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Ottumwa reports higher graduation rates and sharply lower dropout rates; district credits program changes

Ottumwa school board certifies 2526 budget, approves multiple contracts and settlements