The Oskaloosa School Board doesn't want the state dictating local school calendars. That's the message it sent to the Iowa Association of School Boards when the Oskaloosa board selected which of the IASB's goals are most vital to district success.

At Tuesday's school board meeting, the board voted to show its opposition to the state legislature mandating that schools start no earlier than the first week of September.

The other four goals selected by the board are as follows:

- Support preserving the statewide penny sales tax for school infrastructure.

- Support continued progress of benchmarks based on the Iowa core.

- Support funding for preschool for four year-olds.

- Support setting an allowable growth rate that encourages improvement.

In other business, Superintendent Russ Reiter gave an update on the district's attempts to go green.  The district joined Energy Association of Iowa Schools, an organization that works to connect schools with resources and grant money to make the schools more efficient, at a cost of $2,000, but Reiter says it's already seeing the saving.  The district is installing more than $28,000 worth of more efficient lighting in the middle and high schools, but with the help of grants and additional rebates, the district will save more than 65 percent of those costs.

Reiter also noted that he met with city officials to discuss additional sidewalks for students to get to their bus stops.  The city wanted to gauge the schools' needs before going after grant money to build sidewalks that would make it easier for students to get to school.

Also, the board reappointed Chad Vink was board secretary and treasurer.  The board also approved the hiring of Corey Trainer as an elementary guidance counselor and Ashley Westoff as a first grade teacher.

The next board meeting is August 14th at 7:30 PM with a work session at 6:00 PM to further discuss board goals.  The regular meeting will include a public hearing about the sale of the student-constructed house.