Changes abound at Aurelia Community School

K-12 Principal Ann Sandine. Photo by Pierson Photography [Click to enlarge]

The Aurelia School District will begin its 118th school year this fall, and you certainly can't say there's nothing new at the venerable institution.

For starters, neither High School Principal Dave Hickman nor Superintendent Tom Vint are with the Aurelia District now, as Vint resigned his position to accept a new position with another School District and Hickman retired. Elementary Administrator Ann Sandine will fill the new position of K-12 Principal this fall, and the Superintendent's position is unfilled at this time. Aurelia school board members are working on a possible sharing agreement with another school district, as it has been determined by consultants that the responsibilities of the Superintendent in the Aurelia district no longer require a full-time position.

A big addition to the district last fall was the opening of the new fitness center, which is located adjacent to the north end of the high school band room. The center is open to Aurelia students from 7th grade - 12th grade. 7th and 8th graders must have a parent or coach present while they are at the Fitness Center, and high school students must have adult supervision present. The Fitness Center is also open to adult members of the Aurelia community.

The hours for the Fitness Center are 5 a.m. - 10 p.m., seven days a week, The cost of membership is $50 a year for a single membership and $75 a year for a family membership. The Fitness Center had its grand opening on October 7, 2007, and there are already 142 members, each of whom has their own card-styled key.

The north side of the new Aurelia Fitness Center. Photo by Dan Whitney [Click to enlarge]

The younger students at Aurelia will have something new when they return to school on August 19th. Several new pieces of playground equipment have been purchased and the playground itself is in the process of receiving a "face lift." The Aurelia school was one of a few schools which received the National Safe Surfacing Grant, sponsored by the Dept. of Natural Resources and the Iowa Association of School Boards. Local contractor John Paltz has begun preparing the surface and the playground tiles are in boxes on the playground, awaiting installation by supervised community volunteers. The tiles are made of shredded rubber from used tires.

John Paltz uses the heavy equipment as he gets the Aurelia school playground ready for a new surface and new equipment. Photo by Dan Whitney