ANNA B. LAWTHER ACADEMY

ANNA B. LAWTHER ACADEMY. The $2.4 million building primarily serving Lawther Academy high school students opened in 2012. (1) In 2015 Anna B Lawther Academy, part of HILLCREST FAMILY SERVICES, was a private school with 104 enrolled students in combined levels. According to the school, there was an approximate ratio of 7 students per teacher. Services were provided for grade levels 5-17, over a 7 hour day.

The Academy was located at 2005 Carter Road. Another branch was located in Maquoketa. (2)

For twenty-five years Hillcrest billed the DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT costs associated with utilities, wages and occupancy associated with educational services provided at Hillcrest. The district paid Hillcrest with special education funds and billed other districts with students attending Hillcrest.

The arrangement between Hillcrest and the district was challenged under Governor Terry Branstad using an Iowa law that said districts could not pay private agencies for items like utilities. In 2014 the Iowa Department of Education established guidelines which supported that interpretation. If the guidelines were not changed, the district would be required to pay much of the cost of educating Hllcrest students which would cost more than if Hillcrest provided the services. (3)

The rules changed held and the school district's cost for special education services increased by nearly $1 million. Options in 2016 included the district purchasing the academy or building an addition on an existing facility. There was also the possibility of the district staffing an in-district program by contracting services or making new hires. (4) In September, 2016 voters were asked to their support of the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL). (5) On September 13th the levy passed with the support of 80% of those voting. The levy had been in place since 1967 and amounted to $1 per $1,000 of property evaluation. In the most recent fiscal year, the district had received $3.6 million from the PPEL. (6)

In 2018 the school district were advancing plans for a $6 million addition to its Alta Vista Campus. The addition would bring into the district students with special needs and behavioral and mental health issues being served off-campus by staff at Hillcrest and Four Oaks. Plans called for sixteen classrooms, four areas for collaborative work, an additional entry with security enhancements and a half-sized gym. (7) In April, 2018 district officials announced that it would not contract for staff at the new facility anticipated to be open in 2019, but would hire its own employees. Consideration would be given to staff at Hillcrest and Four Oaks because of their expertise with those students. (8)

The new program at the Alta Vista campus was expected to serve between 100 to 110 students. The building would serve middle and high school students. Elementary students who had been enrolled at Hillcrest or Four Oaks would be placed in a regular elementary school. (9) The move eliminated the estimated $1 million that would have been paid in rent annually to Hillcrest and Four Oaks. (10)

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Source:

1. Hinga, Allie, "District Won't Contract for Staff at the Alta Vista Addition," Telegraph Herald, April 7, 2018,, p. 5

2. "Anna B. Lawther Academy," Online: http://www.realtor.com/local/Anna-B-Lawther-Academy-Private-School_Dubuque_Dubuque-County_IA/education

3. Becker, Stacey, "Nontraditional Education," Telegraph Herald, March 9, 2014, p. 1

4. Yager, Alicia, "Officials Mull Future of Hillcrest Academy," Telegraph Herald, January 18, 2016, p. 1

5. Gansemer, Gary, "'Yes' Vote Support Special Needs Students," (editorial), September 10, 2016, p. 4

6. "Voters Extend School Levy for 10 More Years," Telegraph Herald, September 14, 2016, p. 3

7. "Plans for $6 Million Alta Vista Addition Advance," Telegraph Herald, March 13, 2018, p. 3

8. Hinga

9. Hinga, Allie, "Dozens of Social Work Jobs Cur, but the Layoffs Could be Brief," Telegraph Herald, April 9, 2019, p. 1A

10. Hinga, Allie, "District Officials Tour Alta Vista Campus," Telegraph Herald, October 8, 2019, p. 3