Superintendent Slater Newsletter

Dear Blackhawk Families,

Tomorrow is the decision day for the bond referendum. If you are still undecided, please consider the following information and go to the website by clicking https://bit.ly/hcsd-ref23.

The projects stem from a thorough facility assessment, insights from the community engagement committee, and invaluable input from the community survey. The process of developing this facility master plan for the future was detailed, thoughtful, and intentionally aligned with our community’s priorities. While the community expressed a strong desire for a new school, The state of Iowa’s laws that limit the amount of debt a school district can have make this unfeasible. Despite this limitation and the fact our schools are structurally sound, we are determined to find viable solutions to improve our schools.

The school district’s enrollment has grown by 8% since 2013, and the City of Hinton is currently in the planning stages for additional housing and business development opportunities. This growth trajectory places our current high school beyond its capacity, emphasizing the urgency for upgrades.

To navigate the needs of the district in conjunction with the expectations our community has for our schools, the school district has thoughtfully structured four questions on this referendum:

Initiative #1: (two questions) will

• Question #1: Authorization for the School Board to issue $16,145,000 in general obligation bonds to fund several school improvement projects. These projects aim to update and enhance school facilities, encompassing both infrastructure and programmatic enhancements.
• Question #2: Approval to increase the maximum debt levy amount to $4.05 (from $2.70) per $1,000 in taxable property value, which will facilitate the payment of the general obligation bonds.

Initiative #2: (two questions) will:

• Question #3: Seeks to increase the Voted PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy) levy amount to $1.34 (from $0.67) per $1,000 in taxable property value. This increase in the annual budget will support the ongoing maintenance of our facilities, future projects outlined in the long-term facility master plan, and will help offset rising costs due to inflation.
• Question #4: Pertains to extending the Voted PPEL levy authority for an additional ten years after 2025, as state regulations require.

In conclusion, these initiatives highlight our community’s commitment to providing an optimal educational environment for our students. We urge you to familiarize yourself with the bond referendum information on our website (bit.ly/hcsd-ref23) and cast an informed vote on November 7.

Sincerely,

Ken Slater

Go Blackhawks!

We applied for a CFGPC Grant and were awarded the funds to cover two AEDs, totaling $4,700. The application was completed by Sue Popken, who was present at the awards ceremony held at Bunny Ice Cream Parlor on Tuesday, October 24th. A picture was taken of Sue Popken with Laurie Bird, a CFGPC Board Member, during the ceremony.

We are thrilled to announce that Hinton has launched a Girls Wrestling program. The high school team started its training last Monday, and nine girls are participating in it. Meanwhile, the junior high team has ten girls enrolled. We are excited to witness these Hinton Blackhawk Girls Wrestling pioneers taking the first steps towards their journey.

Our activities during this fall have been remarkable as shown below. They have set a great tone for the rest of the year. Although these are impressive accomplishments, we are even prouder of how the students and coaches of these groups have represented Hinton on and off the arena where they perform. We are extremely grateful for all of them.

We have seen the following:

Volleyball:

• 2A State Runner UP
• Two All-Tournament Team Members - Ashlyn Kovarna and Bailey Boeve
• All-Tournament Producer (Sponsored by Pork Producers) - Baley Boeve
• 4 Academic All-State Athletes
• Ashlyn Kovarna, Belle Derocher, Avery Burgad, and Gabbie Friessen
• War Eagle Conference Champions
• Senior All-Star Selection - Ashlyn Kovarna
• War Eagle All-Conference
• 1st Team: Bailey Boeve, Ashlyn Kovarna, Carly Hicklin, Gabbie Friessen
• 2nd Team: Belle Derocher
• Academic All-Conference: Belle Derocher, Gabbie Friessen, Carly Hicklin, Ashlyn Kovarna, Avery Burgad, and Eva Van Acker

Cross Country

• Girls State Cross Country Qualifiers
• Girls Cross Country - War Eagle Conference Champions
• Academic All-State - Kadence Peters
• Two Senior All-Star Runners - Kyra and Kadence Peters

Football:

• District Runner-Up with a district record of 4-1
• All-District Team
• 1st Team: Gabe Anderson, Brogan Lake, Bode Binneboese, Brooks Binneboese, Jackson Kounkel, Kyle Leary
• 2nd Team: Karson Ludwig, Jacob Bishop
• Honorable Mention: Garrett Lindley and Reese Stokes
• All-Academic: Gabe Anderson, Nick Lindley, Kyle Leary, Brooks Binneboese, Jack Beeck, Blake Schoenherr, Jacob Bishop, Drew Keller, Bode Binneboese, and Kyle Wiese

Band

NWIBA Honor Band - Caden Koopmans (Third Trombone - Blue Band)

Choir

• ACDA Regional Honor Choir Singers
• Ian Hertenstein. and Aiden Soroka

Dance

• ISDTA State Solos
• Ava Townley (Div I Rating) and Ruby Harper (Div II Rating)

Swimming:

• Addie Oelke qualified for the state meet for the Metro Swimming Team in the following events:
• 200 IM with a Team Record
• 100 Butterfly
• 200 yd Freestyle Relay
• 400 yd Freestyle Relay