The Carroll Community School District (CCSD) Board of Education reviewed shared agreements for facilities, programs, and athletics during last week’s work session, with some changes potentially in the works. Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau says CCSD has agreements with many entities, including surrounding school districts, the City of Carroll, and other organizations. Some agreements included shared days and food service director with Ar-We-Va CSD, bus maintenance and transportation director with Glidden-Ralston CSD, and Kuemper Catholic for preschool and teaching assistants. Berlau says that next year there will be a change to the preschool agreement, and discussions are underway on adjustments for teaching associates.
Berlau says the district has agreements with the City of Carroll, mainly for the use of facilities. Current agreements state that CCSD pays $1,800 to the city to use Merchant’s Field for baseball during the summer, 70 percent of the student resource officer’s salary, and fees to use the REC swimming pool for swim meets and practices. Berlau says that the district does not charge the city for usage of the soccer fields, the stadium, or other school-based facilities.
Board member Jill Johnston asked Berlau whether the agreements were considered fair, specifically those regarding the amount the district is required to pay to use city-owned facilities that are not reciprocated.
Another agreement raising questions by Board Member Jim Friel is the North Central Consortium (NCC) for the THRIVE Academy at Manson NW Webster CSD. The initial cost is $64,000 to send students who need an alternative learning environment, but the district is reimbursed if not all the funding is used during the school year. CCSD does pay $7,000 annually to participate in the consortium. Questions were raised on whether the services at THRIVE Academy could be something done in-house at CCSD. Berlau says that could be an option, but addresses some of the challenges.
Berlau says he understands where Friel is coming from, but advises caution on where budget reductions are made.
No final decisions were formally made on the discussions had. Agreements for the 2026-27 school year are likely to come before the board towards the end of this school year.
