March 16, 1971. The Collins Parent Teachers Organization (P.T.O.) sponsored three one-act plays: "Tillie the Teller" with an all-faculty cast directed by Mr. Hoien; "The Laughing Ghost" directed by Pat Caulkins and Alice Newman; "Great Smokies" directed by Pat Kimberley and Reno Milligan. Intermission music was provided by a quartet of William Hamilton, Bill Hamilton, Rex Morrison, and Jim Newton. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of new stage curtains.
April 2, 1971. The 3rd 4th, 5th, and 6th grades enjoyed a field trip to Des Moines on April 2. Teachers - Mrs. Stagner, Mrs. Mack, Mrs. Welch, and Mrs. White accompanied their classes and were assisted by the following mothers - Mrs. Boozell, Mrs. Ronald Smith, Mrs. Charles Fish, Mrs. McGuire, Mrs. Oglesby, Mrs. Ball, Mrs. Partridge, Mrs. McQuiston, Mrs. Holland, Mrs. Tjelmeland. Everyone took a sack lunch which they ate on the bus. They toured the Science Center, Planetarium, and Art Center.
April 9, 1971. Deb Carroll won 4 events in the Colo Triangular Track meet: Collins 83 points; Colo 53 points; Maxwell 48 points. Events - 60 yd dash: 1st - Deb Carroll 7.5 seconds. 100 yd dash: 1st - Deb Carroll 11.6 seconds; 2nd - Cathy Kingman. 220 yd dash: 1st -Deb Carroll 27.6 seconds. Long Jump: 1st - Deb Carroll 16" 10"; Diana Atwood 2nd. High Jump: 2nd - Cathy Kingman. Softball throw: 4th - Joan Altes. 400 yd shuttle hurdle: 1st - Collins (names not listed) 1 minute, 13.7 seconds. 100 meter hurdles: Tie for 1st - Joan Altes and Teresa Luing 18.6 seconds. 880 yd medley: 1st - Collins (names not listed) 2 minutes, 13.1 seconds. 440 yd dash: 1st - Newman 1 minute 14.5 seconds; 4th - Shaw. 220 yd low hurdles: 1st - Diana Atwood 32.6 seconds; 2nd - Teresa Luing. 440 yd. relay: 1st Collins 57.3 seconds (names not listed). 880 yd run: 1st - Jodee Holland 2 minutes, 48.6 seconds. 400 yd shuttle relay: 2nd - Collins (names and times not listed).
April 14, 1971. King's (Boys) Track Relays held at Zearing with 20 schools participating. Union-Whitten was meet winner - 61 points; Radcliffe 51; Alden 35; Roland-Story 30; CAL 1; Collins 16 points - 6th; Colo 15; NE Hamilton 13; Dows 11; United 9; LDF 7; Maxwell 6; New Providence 6; Nesco 5; Hubbard 5; Green Mountain 5; Herbert Hoover 4; Garwin 2; one school did not score. Events - Long jump: 3rd - Steve Carroll; 5th - Bill Huntrods. High jump: 4th - Stan Carroll (Tied Collins School Record). 2-mile run: 1st - Craig Stratton 11 minutes, 15.4 seconds (new Collins School record). 120 yd high hurdles: 4th -Doug Atwood. 2-mile relay: 5th - Collins. 440 yd dash: 5th Bill Huntrods.
April 14, 1971. The State School Budget Review Committee has noticed a growing trend of misunderstanding the cause of increased school costs. The committee has concluded that school fiscal inefficiencies appear most frequently in the administrative and instructional areas. These salaries comprise approximately 75% of the school districts' budgets. The committee notes 117 Iowa schools have less than 500 students and are often forced to hire a disproportionate number of staff members to carry out acceptable curricular offerings. In the 1969-70 school year Iowa had a total of 30,073 classroom teachers for a pupil-teacher ratio of 20-1; one of the lowest in the United States and below the national average of 22.7. The per pupil basis cost is $890; 8th highest in the nation. Failure of bond issues to gain voter approval has tended to perpetuate inefficient organizational structure; adds the committee.