Woodbury Elementary School Principal Anel Garza talks during the school’s attendance center update to the board on March 21. Also pictured from left are Julie Thede, Mary Harris and Sue Cahill.
Woodbury Elementary Attendance Center plan
Woodbury Principal Anel Garza, along with staff members Sue Cahill, Jasmine Hazen, Becky Jacobson, Mary Harris, Gladis Gonzalez, and Julie Thede, presented the annual attendance center plan to the board.
There are 295 English Learner students in the school, which represent 85 of the total Woodbury students. Cahill talked about the dual language program, which has been in place since 2003-04 at Woodbury.
The Woodbury attendance center plan has two specific goals under reading and math. The attendance center plan has five actions to address these goals.
The group also talked about SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol), CLM (Comprehensive Literacy Model), Spanish and English Standards, parent involvement and several other strategies. The group also talked about assessment scores.
Recognition
Marshalltown High School junior Mitch Eberle was recognized for his achievement of the highest possible composite score on the ACT test. Eberle took the test last fall and earned a 36 composite score. He said he was thankful for all the congratulatory messages he’s received since the news was released.
Personnel
For personnel items, click here.
Public Comment
MHS senior Nathaniel Harris said he would like the whole district to recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily. He is asking for a policy to give every student the opportunity to recite the pledge. Currently, some schools recite the pledge and some do not. Board President Bea Niblock said board policies will be researched on this matter and it could be brought up for discussion at a later time.
Marshalltown High School Health Careers Club trip
Members of the leadership team of the MHS Health Careers Club took a trip to San Antonio in February. Accompanying the group were MHS Dean of Students Dan Terrones and staff member Meredith Goldman. Both Terrones and Goldman were at the board meeting, along with health careers club students Samantha Lammert and Kyli Jacobsen. The group visited a health careers high school, and the Center for the Intrepid, for burn victims and amputees. The group also visited several tourist sites including the River Walk.
“I’m very proud of the nine students who went on this trip,” Terrones said.
The group is beginning to take steps toward creating a health careers academy at Marshalltown High School, Terrones said. To learn more about the trip, click here.
School Calendar
The 2016-17 school calendar was presented by Director of Human Resources Lisa Koester and was approved by the board. To view the calendar, click here . 2016-17 calendars in both English and Spanish are posted on the Marshalltown Schools website under the “calendars” link.
“The calendar is created by a committee of teachers, administrators and a board member,” Koester said.
School will start on Tuesday, August 23, 2016.
Food Service meal prices for 2016-17
Food Service Director Lynn Large presented the meal prices for 2016-17. Increases were approved of 10 cents for 5-12 breakfast to $1.50 and 5-12 lunch to raise 5 cents to $2.45. Adult breakfast is going up 5 cents to $1.80 and adult lunches remain at $3.50.
Milk is unchanged at 35 cents as is reduced lunch and breakfast prices.
Kindergarten through 4th grade will continue to have meals at no cost in 2016-17 as part of the Community Eligibility Provision, which started this school year.
Budget Reductions for Fiscal Year 2017
A list of $1.46 million in proposed district budget reductions for the fiscal year 2017 was presented to the board by Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade and the administrative cabinet. To view the list, click here.
These reductions are proposed for three reasons: 1) State Supplemental Aid for fiscal year 2017 has not been established; 2) settlements have not yet been negotiated with employee bargaining units; and, 3) the fiscal year 17 certified budget is scheduled for approval at the April 4, 2016 board meeting.
Dr. Wade said the $1.46 million in reductions prepares the district for what is going to occur budget-wise over the next couple of months, including negotiations and state funding.
Discussion was held between the board, Dr. Wade and several administrators around the reasoning for several of the specific reductions.
The board approved reductions on the list 1-7, 9-13, 16 and 17. The board wanted further information on No. 8 (MHS math tutor), No. 14 (move computer replacement to SAVE/PPEL), and No. 15 (Reduce 25 percent portion of at-risk budget) and did not vote for approval of those reductions.
Rick Simpson and Heidi Pierson talk about the Roundhouse Public Art project. The four finalists are displayed on the board pictured.
Roundhouse Public Art Committee
Heidi Pierson of the Marshalltown Public Art Committee said the selection committee of 15 people has been hard at work researching for this art project to be located at the MHS Roundhouse. It is grant funded through a $250,000 Iowa Great Places grant. There are 4 finalists for the project, which were described in detail by Board Member Ben Stansberry, who is also on the selection committee. They are in the public comment process of the selection. The selection committee will make the decision after input and comments from the community. Buildings and Grounds Director Rick Simpson also was part of this presentation to the board. More information on the project is available at the Marshalltown Public Library.
At-Risk/Droupout Modified Supplemental Amount
Associate Superintendent Dr. Susan Pecinovsky presented documents on the at-risk budget. She said the goal is to use the funds to help students complete their education. Dr. Pecinovsky outlined the staff in place who are funded by this budget as well as services provided. The board decided to include the proposed $150,000 in at-risk reductions back into the funding.
Policies
202.5 – Board of Directors’ Conflict of Interest – Marked as reviewed
202.7 – Individual Board Members – Marked at reviewed
203.1 – Formulation, Review and Revision of Policy – Marked as reviewed
203.2 – Adoption of Administration Rules and Regulations- Marked as reviewed
203.4 – Ad Hoc Committee – Marked as reviewed
603.12 – Internet Appropriate and Safe Use – Changes made will come back at first reading.
603.12R – Electronic Resources and Electronic Mail – Appropriate Use Regulation -Will come back to board as first reading.
From Board President Bea Niblock
“The board has begun one of its most difficult challenges. It is engaged in the process of balancing the budget – a balancing act, indeed. This board has diligently looked at past state funding, past tax levies and past budgets; then, future funding possibilities, future tax levies and future negotiation settlements.
Last night’s meeting was the first where board members were faced with the gut wrenching decisions of what to cut from the budget in a possible ‘worst case’ scenario of funding streams. Each item was looked at individually with consideration to cutting those things furthest from touching children.
Please know that the current board members give each suggested cut serious and very deliberate consideration before making a decision. We will continue to give the budget our diligent attention in the meetings to come.” – Bea Niblock
The Board Report 