Rosa Yanez speaks to the board on behalf of the Marshalltown High School student group Al Exito. Also pictured, from left, are Isabel Paredes, Guillermo Rivas Alanis, Angel Minjarez and Balthazar Pereznegron.
Al Exito
Marshalltown High School teacher Jocelyn Frohwein brought several members of the student group Al Exito, which has 54 members, to the board meeting.
It is an intensive weekly afterschool leadership and entrepreneurial empowerment program for high school Latino youth.
These youth develop leadership skills, acquire a sense of belonging and help out the community.
A key element to the group is collaboration with entities such as Iowa State University, the Marshalltown Public Library, and meeting with other teens around Iowa.
“We’ve enjoyed it so much and we’ve learned a lot,” said member Rosa Yanez.
Many students said this program has given them inspiration to continue on in school and strive to do well in school. It’s also made them more community-minded.
“It’s a good support group,” said Angel Minjarez.
Personnel
Personnel items approved can be accessed here.
Retirements effective at end of school year on personnel items approved at the meeting.
Grant Brintnall is currently a Level I Special Ed Teacher at Miller Middle School. He has been a teacher for 33 years. Grant is a Marshalltown High School graduate and a master educator. In addition to teaching Grant has held various coaching positions and was a bus driver in our District from 1978-1981.
Debra Johnson is also a Level I Special Ed Teacher at Miller Middle School and master educator. She has been a teacher at MCSD for 28 years with assignments at Lenihan and Miller.
Bret Lee is the Instrumental Band Director at Marshalltown High School. Bret is also a master educator and has been in this role for the past 18 years.
Mary Oetker is a Kindergarten Teacher at Fisher Elementary. Previous to her 17 years of teaching experience with our District she was a substitute for MCSD. Mary has taught at Fisher and Hoglan and in addition to teaching Kindergarten she has also taught First grade.
Vicki Vopava has been with our District for 25 years first as a Special Education Teacher at Lenihan and Hoglan. Vicki has been the Principal at Fisher Elementary since the 06-07 school year.
Don Wiser has been a teacher for 44 years. He has taught Physical Education for MCSD for the last 39 years. Schools include Anson, Hoglan, Woodbury and two schools that are no longer in operation – Glick and Palmer. Don also held head coaching positions in the following sports: 8th grade volleyball (31 years), 8th grade girls track (39 years), and 8th grade girls basketball (25 years).
“These six retirees have a remarkable 150 years of combined experience to the Marshalltown Community School District. While we hate to see them go I know I speak for the Board, Dr. Schutte and the rest of the MCSD community when I say we wish you the best in retirement and thank you for your service,” said Human Resources Director Anthony Spurgetis.
Casey Moberly, left, and Jay Giannetto
Swing with Kids program
Elmwood Country Club Pro Jay Giannetto, representing Iowa PGA, and Casey Moberly, Lenihan physical education teacher, presented this item to the board. Swing with Kids is an indoor type of golf program to show them what golf is about and lifelong sport. It comes with a curriculum.
“It’s a great opportunity for our students to learn about the game of golf,” Moberly said.
Giannetto said this type of program is starting to launch statewide. It is supported locally from a $5,000 grant from the Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation and a donation from Marshalltown golfers totaling $2,925.
“We are excited that Marshalltown Community Schools is on board,” Giannetto said.
The program was approved by the board.
Dual Language Programming CARLA
Director of Instruction Dr. Lisa Stevenson presented along with Woodbury Principal Anel Garza, Woodbury teacher librarian Sue Cahill, Woodbury teacher Mary Estrada and curriculum director Shauna Smith. The dual language program allows students the opportunity to learn Spanish and English at the same time at Woodbury, Lenihan, Miller and Marshalltown High School.
A team of school staff visited the Center for Advanced Research of Language Acquisition (CARLA) conference in Minnesota in October.
The K-12 dual language program in our school district started during the 2002-2003 school year, said Cahill, who has been at Woodbury that entire time.
Stevenson said they are looking at what professional development can be offered to help the quality programming continue in the dual language program.
Estrada said the CARLA conference was very beneficial for her to receive professional development. Garza said she worked with a dual language principal in Minnesota to bounce ideas of off him.
Work on the dual language program continues with opportunities for professional development into the future and dual language program planning for Miller and MHS, Dr. Stevenson said.
Marketing of the dual language program will continue into the future.
For the presentation document, click here.
2017-18 School Year Course of Studies at Marshalltown High School
MHS Principal Jacque Wyant presented the 2017-18 course guide as they get ready to register students.
For the course guide, click here. Wyant spotlighted some changes and those can be accessed here in the executive summary.
Wyant said MHS is able to offer more dual credit courses at the high school than other area high schools due to the resources of the staff.
The guide is currently being translated into Spanish and will be available on the MHS website.
Extensive conversation was held regarding dual credit courses, the marketing of these courses, and ways to get more students to take dual credit.
The board approved the course guide.
New District Vision and Mission Statements
These new statements reflect work done by the community at a public input meeting on December 1 and the district leadership team in two more meetings and will serve as a foundation for the new strategic plan moving forward. Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte said the meetings were all very productive and collaborative.
Vision
“Preparing ALL learners, through an unparalleled culture of excellence, to be productive and engaged citizens in a diverse world.”
Mission
“We develop learners who have the knowledge, skills, and positive mindset to successfully pursue a meaningful future through personalized learning experiences.”
The board approved the new mission and vision statements.
Board Book study, part 2
The board and district administrators held a discussion on chapters 8-14 on the book “How Not To Be a Terrible Board Member.” During this meeting administrators led the discussion
Habit 8- Dr. Schutte led the discussion on Habit 8 and talked about the importance of developing a mutually respectful atmosphere at the board table as people will be coming from different viewpoints.
Habit 9 – Speaking for the board and where that fine line is between speaking on behalf of yourself and speaking on behalf of the board.
Habit 10 – Dr. Stevenson talked about building coalition and gave an example of board members meeting in groups of 2-3 to strategize. The book indicates that public business should be in the public.
Habit 11- Discussion led by Anthony Spurgetis. The chapter encourages board members to be deciders and not abstain just because the vote is a tough one.
Habit 12- Discussion led by Matt Cretsinger – The message was be decisive – don’t compromise. Compromise to do what’s best for the district and not yourself.
Habits 13 – Led by Brian Bartz- Be prepared for board meetings was the message of this chapter.
Habit 14- Led by Brian Bartz – Don’t do too much homework. Even though we all have our areas of expertise, other opinions from fellow board members, staff, community and students should factor into decisions.
The discussion on the book will continue at a future meeting.
FEH Design Agreement- update on Roundhouse Phase 2
Kevin Eipperle and Gary Schulte of FEH Design presented an update on the design of Phase 2 of the Roundhouse
“We have completed the schematic design phase,” Eipperle said. For design documents click here.
This is about 25 percent of the design process. The design includes a lower level featuring the wrestling room with the upper level having an auxiliary gym and some classrooms.
The exterior views has bricks which match the auditorium. The north edge of the addition would end where the sidewalk is today. Design development is expected to be completed by February 8. The total expected cost of the addition is nearing $6.8 million
The board held discussion on whether to hire a construction manager as part of the project or utilize FEH as an oversight entity. No decision was made on this aspect of the project
The board approved the schematic design agreement with FEH and move into the design development phase.
Board Policies
201.4- Elections – Marked as reviewed
204.5-R – Organizational Meeting Procedures- Marked as reviewed.
301.4-E – Formal Superintendent Evaluation Report – To be brought back in June
301.4-R – Evaluation of the Superintendent -to be brought back in June-
301-4 – Evaluation of the Superintendent – To be brought back in June once the board has gone through the process.
312.4- Administrator Evaluation – Marked as reviewed.
Reminder: The first in a series of MEA legislative forums will be at 10 am. Saturday, January 21 in the Marshalltown Public Library. All are invited to talk with area legislators.
From Board President Bea Niblock
“We begin each school board meeting reading the district’s mission statement together. We do that to focus our attention on the reason that we have become board members – providing the best possible educational experience for our students.
At last night’s meeting, the district’s new vision and mission statements were approved by the board. These statements came after many hours of work from our community and finally, our administrative team. Our new charge is to ‘prepare ALL learners’ to be ‘productive and engaged citizens in a diverse world.’ And, we’re going to do that ‘through personalized learning experiences.’ What proudly stated vision and mission statements!
We accept the challenge and will work to provide the necessary support to accomplish these things. We look to our staff to help us develop that culture of excellence in preparing ALL students to be successful in their pursuits.” – Bea Niblock
The Board Report 