HTC leaders look to next five years

ESA HELP

Until this year, we’ve had about 60% of our students get some form of financial aid. With the help of the ESA money, that figure has jumped to 83%, and next year, that number should jump close to 100%.”

Ryan Kruse, HTC Board President

WEST POINT – The Holy Trinity leadership laid out a plan for the next five years at their State of the School address Tuesday night at the J.A. Wagner building in West Point.
Leaders of committees and HTC board members outlined the progress over the past five years, but also gave a good look at where the school would like to be in the next half decade.
This was the first system-wide public update since 2019 and the first since Governor Reynolds signed into law Educational Savings Accounts providing private schools with public tax dollars to help offset some of the costs of tuition in 2023.
The new law provides more than $7,500 per student for families that apply. It was phased in over three years and the next school year will allow all families to apply for accounts to use at nonpublic schools.
ESAs were for families making up to 300% of the federal poverty level the first year and provided about $7,600. This school year, that level increased to 400% of the poverty level and funding increased to $7,800. Next school year, the income limits will be lifted.
The law also allotted $1,200 to public school districts for each student who leaves the district for a private school.
According to recent data from the Iowa Department of Education for the 2023-2024 school year, 16,757 students utilized an Education Savings Account (ESA) to attend an accredited nonpublic school in Iowa. That represents a 7.4% increase in nonpublic school enrollment.
Holy Trinity saw a 14% increase and officials are hoping that figure increases with the income cap coming off next school year.
School board president Ryan Kruse said the move will allow HTC to get aggressive with programming, staff salaries, and tuition over the next five years.
“Until this year, we’ve had about 60% of our students get some form of financial aid. With the help of the ESA money, that figure has jumped to 83% and next year that number should jump close to 100%,” Kruse said.
The only students not eligible for ESA money would be students from Illinois, but Kruse said they should still be able to find some form of assistance.
He said the district still isn’t maximizing the amount from the state because they don’t want to price out some families that have been with the district.
“In the future, we plan to get more aggressive on that,” he said.
He said the ESA wasn’t just an issue of more money, but a chance to improve the school and provide additional opportunities for students.
The district was able to increase pay rates over the past five years while keeping tuition in check.
Elizabeth Scheetz said the district would like to move the three sections per grade level at the lower elementary level, as well as adding a counselor for those schools and create an elementary student council.
Craig Huebner, Chief Academic Officer and Jr./Sr. High Principal told the group he would like to see additional trips for students and add an industrial arts program. He also wants to build a greenhouse for the FFA and science use, increase sports offerings, and bring those programs back under the HTC system.
“I haven’t been able to make it happen yet, is some industrial arts offering and work-based learning and increase our sports offerings. We offer all the sports, but our goal would be in the next five years would be to hold them under HTC in the future. As our numbers continue to grow, we should be able to get those back under the HTC umbrella,” he said.
He also hinted at additional travel for high school students with a possible trip to the Vatican once every four years.
Over the past five years, the district accomplished moving the 6th grade into the high school building creating a full junior/senior high setting, as well as expanding class offerings and moving to Powerschool to align with the rest of the diocese.
School officials would also like to expand dual credit programs and collaboration with Southeastern Community College, and hire a work-based learning supervisor as part of curriculum improvements.
Other improvements that are being considered include:
• increasing kitchen staff
• more security cameras and automated defibrillators at each building
• smart boards in every room and digitizing the alumni database
• new windows and air conditioning in high school gym, a new weight room, and possibly a practice gym.
• create a Foundation Board annual fundraising event
• building addition for lower grades and preschool