Kevin Posekany administers the oath of office to board president Kay Beach.
Board elects new president, vice president
Kay Beach was elected president of the Board of Education Monday night during the annual reorganization meeting. Anne Paullus was elected vice-president.
Following the election, the Board made its annual appointments for various positions:
- Secretary-Treasurer: Kevin Posekany
- School Attorney: Cartwright, Druker & Ryden
- Additional Legal Counsel: Ahlers & Cooney, PC
- Architect of Record: TSP
The board also approved the list of District financial institutions and membership on the School Improvement Advisory Committee.
—
September is Attendance Awareness Month
Spread the Words: Read by 3rd! is marking Attendance Awareness Month with several activities and outreach programs to make sure students are in class and learning every day.
Lindsay Upah, Spread the Words: Read by 3rd! coordinator, and Arlene McAtee, executive director of Mid-Iowa Community Action, discussed plans with the Board Monday night. More than 250 school districts across the U.S. participate in Attendance Awareness Month campaigns annually. In Marhsalltown, Spread the Words will have a float in the Oktemberfest parade, as well as present information to the city council and school board. There are also plans for PSAs, flyers for businesses, and participation in parent nights at elementary schools.
September will also launch the second year of the Perfectly Punctual campaign. This initiative began mid-way through last year and will include efforts at Rogers Elementary and St. Paul’s Preschool, the Community Y Preschool and Head Start. Children track their own attendance through the program, which includes parent activities and frequent recognition.
The quarterly attendance ceremonies will also continue this year at all elementary schools in Marshalltown.
—
Special Education deficit discussed
Special Education funding is always a year behind, explained Matt Cretsinger, director of special services. This fact, combined with an increase in students served after the annual Child Count date, contribute to a Special Education deficit of $1,139,996.
Funding is determined by the number of students and their level of services who are attending the district on the last Friday of October. Last year 676 students were counted on that date, but the district served 759 students throughout the school year. This 83 student increase over Child Count equates to $392, 363 in additional costs, with funding not allocated until the next year.
The district also had some initial start-up costs for Four Oaks ($85,970) and costs to serve Special Education students placed outside if the district or open enrolled ($681,772).
Cretsinger did note that Special Education Department expenditures decreased by $147,752 between 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 and while our deficit increased by $221,001, it is still below or comparable to many other districts this size.
The Board voted to approve applying additional spending authority from the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) to cover the costs.
—
Brycon, LLC, awarded Anson Elementary parking lot project
Brycon, LLC, of Marshalltown will complete the Anson Elementary parking lot project at a cost of $214,000. They listed a substantial completion date of Oct. 31, 2014. The project includes repaving the current parking lot and an alternate of expanding to the north.
—
NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
By. Dr. Marvin Wade
During Monday evening’s board meeting Kay Beach was elected Board President and Anne Paullus was elected Vice President. Mrs. Beach and Mrs. Paullus have provided leadership to Marshalltown Schools for a number of years and the community is fortunate to now have them as officers of the Board. We are equally fortunate to have former President Sherm Welker and former Vice President Jennifer Wilson remaining on the Board. I have greatly appreciated the vision, guidance and support of Mr. Welker and Mrs. Wilson – both have worked tirelessly on behalf of the district and made significant contributions to the short- and long-term success of our students, staff and community.
—
Policy
First Reading
701.4 Governmental Accounting Practices and Regulations, approved as amended
Initial Review
701.5 Post-Issuance Compliance Policy for Tax-Exempt Obligations, mark reviewed
703.3/R Preparation of the Working Budget Document, bring back for first reading.
704.1 Local – State – Federal – Miscellaneous Revenue, mark reviewed
704.2 Sale of Bonds, mark reviewed
704.3 Investments, mark reviewed
704.4/R Gifts, Grants, and Bequests, mark reviewed.
—
Personnel – Click here.
The Board Report 