Five-year reciprocity agreement with Mabel-Canton School District expires

By Roz Weis,

Decorah Community School Board (DCSB) members were informed at the regular monthly meeting Monday night that the five-year reciprocity agreement with the Mabel-Canton School District is scheduled to expire soon.

In fall 2018, the Decorah-North Winneshiek interim school board (which was organized during the merger talks between Decorah and North Winn) approved a five-year reciprocity agreement with Mabel-Canton School District, allowing North Winneshiek area students to attend Mabel-Canton, about two miles from the Iowa border in Minnesota.

After the merger of North Winneshiek, some parents opted for their children to attend Mabel-Canton, due to proximity to their homes, consistency and community. The matter was discussed at length in 2018. The interim board at that time was made up of representatives from both Decorah and North Winn Boards. The inter-state reciprocity agreement was a major talking point in the merger negotiations.

DCSD Superintendent Tim Cronin informed board members Monday night that in 2018, it was expected that 14-15 students would attend Mabel-Canton and utilize the reciprocity plan. Instead, that number has grown and has averaged about 30 students each year.

When the reciprocity agreement was approved, then-Mabel-Canton Superintendent Gary Kuphal stated he believed the number of students who wanted to attend Mabel-Canton would decline. He believed there would be a “natural break” from the move to Mabel-Canton. That has not been the case, with an average of 30 students continuing to travel to Minnesota for school at a cost of approximately $7,635 per student per year in state aid.

The financial impact of the reciprocity agreement was then discussed. Cronin said that with the cost of $7,635 per student, it equals more than $1 million (about $200,000 per year in state aid) going out of state to Minnesota.

Board President Ron Fadness said he was “shocked” as the financial impact was broken down for board members.

Full article in the October 12 Public Opinion.

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Cindy
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11 months ago

I think the children that started there when north winn closed . Should be allowed to go there till they graduate. The new students should go to Decorah.

Ryan
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11 months ago

When the financial aspect outweighs the good of the student and of the family, we are most definitely thinking wrong.