Decorah School’s 5-year agreement with Mabel-Canton to expire in 2024

By Roz Weis,

Tuesday, December 12, 2023 6:49 am

Emotions ran high at Monday night’s Decorah Community School District (DCSD) Board meeting, as residents packed the meeting room with concerns about the upcoming expiration of a 2019 agreement allowing state funding for Decorah students living in the northern portion of Winneshiek County who choose to attend school across the state line.

The agreement was adopted five years ago, following the consolidation of North Winneshiek and Decorah.

DCSD Board President Cindy Goodner said that the District has lost $1-million in state aid since 2019 because of the students going to Mabel-Canton. DCSD Board Member Ron Fadness said that Decorah taxpayers should no longer “pay the freight” to send students to Mabel-Canton.

Currently, there are 27 Iowa students enrolled in the Minnesota District, according to Mabel-Canton Superintendent Gary Kuphal, who was among those speaking at the Board meeting Monday. He said that he believes even when the agreement expires, the Decorah District won’t see increased revenue, as parents have expressed a commitment to finding ways for their kids to continue to attend Mabel-Canton.

Several Mabel-Canton students and parents from the northern part of the county made comments during the public forum portion of the meeting. Many were emotional in their requests that the board renew the agreement.

Brian Petersburg, who has served on the DCSD Board for 16 years, said he was sympathetic to the students and families affected by the decision.

“It’s really tough,” Petersburg said, “But the only thing that makes me feel different about it is that you kids can still go to Mabel-Canton but obviously that is going to be with some type of tuition … That doesn’t make me feel great, but it makes me understand that there are ways you can continue your education at Mabel-Canton.”

It was noted that if DCSD Board members don’t take action on the issue before Jan. 15, 2024, the SEA (Student Enrollment Agreement) between the two districts will expire next summer.

For complete story, see the Dec. 14 Decorah Public Opinion.

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Cindy
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1 year ago

Instead of working about the money, worry how it’s going to effect 27 students, that don’t want to go to Decorah Schools

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Karen
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1 year ago

I think I should think about the kids that are going to that school in mabel. They are comfortable going there and is settled in that school. And it won’t be good to pull them out. Think about those kids. If i were one of those kids I would fight like hell to stay where I am and graduate there. Think about the kids first

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