The Board Report

Franklin students present learning to school board

Faye Gilbertson, standing, plays a number game with her fellow second graders from Franklin Elementary School during Franklin’s presentation to the school board on May 21.

Franklin Elementary School Presentation
Principal Tim Holmgren presented along with teachers and students.
The board was able to visit “experience stations” featuring students and staff from different grade levels.
The stations included kindergarten math center, 1st grade writing process, 2nd grade class meetings, 3rd grade classwide intervention and 4th grade writing extensions.

Franklin attendance center plan.

Public hearing for budget amendment
Director of Business Operations Paulette Newbold said this amendment is for the fiscal year due the refinancing of sales tax debt. No written or oral comments from the public during the hearing.
The board also set a public hearing for fund transfer from preschool to IJAG program, for 5 p.m. on Monday, June 4.

Personnel
For personnel items approved by the board, click here.

IJAG (Iowa Jobs for American Graduates)
President and CEO of Iowa Jobs for American Graduates (I.J.A.G.), Laurie Phelan, presented to the board. The Marshalltown Community School District would like to re-implement the program at the Marshalltown Senior High School and start a new program at Miller Middle School during the 2018-2019 school year. The mission of I.J.A.G. is to assist students with multiple barriers (at-risk) in graduating from high school and/or successfully transitioning from high school to continued education and careers. I.J.A.G. provides 12 months of follow-up with students after high school graduation as well.

“We are excited to be back and look at middle school and the high school and look at building bookends around that IJAG program,” Phelan said.

Students will be selected by a school advisory committee.
This was an information item only. The Memorandum of Understanding will be presented at the June 4 board meeting for possible approval.

RSP & Associates agreement
Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte presented a cost proposal from RSP & Associates including enrollment analysis, boundary analysis and public facilitation. The board approved the $13,000 for this proposal.

Secretary meet and confer
Director of Human Resources Anthony Spurgetis presented the package for secretaries for 2018-19. There is a total package increase of 2.12 percent,1.05 percent wages, 1.07 percent on FICA and IPERS. Total increase cost to the district is $28,801
The board approved the agreement.

Phone RFP Update
Director of Technology Josh Wesley presented this document as part of a proposal. Wesley said the current phone system is 13 years old which has been difficult to support and is in need of replacement. The district received four bids. The district proposed, and board approved, moving to the discovery process to learn more about the offerings with Heartland Business Systems. This was not an award of bid. “We still have a lot to fine tune during the discovery phase,” Wesley said.

E-rate firewall
The firewall sits between us and internet, Wesley said. He proposed approval of firewall installation from Heartland Business Systems for $55, 276.58. which was approved by the board. The district will be reimbursed for this firewall 80 percent by USAC.
The firewall was approved by the board.

Destiny Resource Manager
Mr. Wesley presented this which is a software package to manage technology resources. It allows the district to manage technology inventory in a better way. There is also a library manager program component. The board approved the total cost of $24,955.

K-6 Science Curriculum
Director of Instruction Dr. Lisa Stevenson presented the budget  for approval. This curriculum details were presented at the May 7 meeting. The board approved $50,490 for the curriculum.

7th-12th grade Social Studies Curriculum
Dr. Stevenson presented details on this item also at the May 7 meeting. The board approved the budget of $130,341.37 for classroom sets for 7th-8th Social Studies, 9th World History, Honors World History, Government, Dual Credit Government, Psychology curriculum purchases and professional development.

MHS/Community Auditorium reroof
Director of Business and Grounds Chuck Springer presented the quote for reroofing the auditorium.  The board approved the Central States quote for a total of $143,600,

Auditorium roof top equipment HVAC
The district recommended awarding both projects to Young Plumbing & Heating. The two roof top units were bid with separate quotes. The smaller west unit provides HVAC to the stage and back of house areas. The quote amount is $89,160.00. The larger unit, on the east, provides HVAC to the seating and lobby area. This is the unity that was initially identified for replacement. The quote amount is $97,440.00. The total cost of the project is $186,600.00. The board approved the quotes.

Policies

First Reading
505.4- new 505.7-Commencement- Approved and waived second reading
505.6 new 503.3 – Fines, Fees and Charges- Approved and waived second reading
505.7 new 503.3R-Student Fee Waiver and Reduction Procedures- Combined 505.7 with 505.7R aligned with IASB, Approved and waived second reading
505.7R-Fee Waiver Procedure- Deleted
505.7E- new 503.3E -Standard Fee Waiver Application-Approved and waived second reading
504.5 -Student Fundraising- New policy- slight adjustment to contradictory language. Approved and waived second reading
704.6- Online Fundraising Campaigns- Crowdfunding- New policy- IASB policy-  Discussion to be held around past practices. To come back before board.

Initial Review
102.E-1- Annual Notice of Nondiscrimination-Added to include all 6 CTE programs legal change- To come back before board
201.4- Elections- new number is 201- add IASB recommendations – To come back
506.1- Few minor edit changes, to come back before board.
506.1R1- Use of Education Records Regulation – through 506.1E8- All related to students records and are connecting regulations- All to come back before board.
506.2-Student Directory Information- Adopting IASB language- changes to language, to come back
800 – Change name to Objectives of Buildings and Sites- marked as reviewed
801- new 901-Public Examination of School District Records- Change to reflect current work hours To come back

The board then went into an exempt session to talk about Administrator Meet & Confer. The next regular meeting of the board will be at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 4.

From Board President Bea Niblock
“Only a few days remain in this school year and the work that you began in August will be done for another year.  In the words of Amy Larson, “All endings are a chance to rest, to breathe, to reflect on the conclusion of a journey in preparation for a new one.”

After a year of hard work, done with caring, I wish all of you a chance to rest, breathe and reflect.  Rest is an absolute must for each of you – rest from the daily rigors and rest from the unexpected trials.  Breathe in the healing of time spent doing the things that are uppermost in your mind. And reflect on all that has occurred since you began your journey last August.

Come back to us in August rested and ready to spend another grand year with the youth of our community entrusted to our care.  Happy Summer time!” – Bea Niblock

Marshalltown High School 4-H Club members presented to the board. From left are Nalleli Nava-Tellez, Gabriela Mancillaz, Daisy Lopez, Jessica Mancillaz and Michelle Macias.

MHS 4-H Club
The Marshalltown High School 4-H Club presented an update to the board. The group has more than 20 students and is inclusive to all but primarily features minority students. Their main goals are to get students ready for college and to support diverse communities.

Students talked about a recent Washington DC leadership trip, scholarships received and more.

Nalleli Nava-Tellez attended the National 4-H Congress in Washington and Gabriela Mancillaz attended the National Health Summit in Washington.

School Board Recognition Month
Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte recognized the school board with certificates and thanked them for their efforts.

Communications Award
District Communications Director Andrew Potter was recognized by the board for his Iowa Communicator of the Year award from the Iowa School Public Relations Association.

Personnel
For personnel items approved by the board, click here. (Added in resignations was Sarah Gaalaas, third grade teacher at Fisher.)

Public comment

Miguel Garcia

Marshalltown High School senior  Miguel Garcia talked about his transformation. He was in trouble and was expelled from MHS years ago. When he was let back into school.  Board Member Ross Harris gave him some inspirational words of wanting to see him graduate. Miguel will graduate later this month.

Marshalltown Learning Academy presentation

Eric Goslinga

MLA Principal Eric Goslinga presented this document. MLA is a non-traditional school for at risk learners.
They are on the cutting edge of working with STEM, robotics, creating business partnerships and working to train students for the open jobs out there.
“We work to really target what is called the mid-level skills gap,” Goslinga said.

District Culture Study

Brad Black, CEO of Humanex, presented results on the recent survey by employees. The district had more than 80 percent participation in the recent survey, which included 88 questions.

“Overall, very positive,” Black said of the results.

He said while the district has a strong, healthy culture, there is always room for improvement.

“Communication and relationships are keys to improvement, Black said.

STEM Scale up grant
Elementary Curriculum Director Erica Finders and Director of Instruction Dr. Lisa Stevenson presented this item, which was approved by the board. It is a grant to provide modules for pint-sized science in preschool.

PLTW grant
Our district received a $10,000 grant from John Deere to implement Project Lead the Way at Lenihan. Programs include Infection Detection in 5th grade and robotics and automation in 6th grade. It was approved by the board.

9-12 World Language Curriculum
Dr. Lisa Stevenson presented this information at the April 16 meeting. The board approved the purchase of $43,521.80 for Spanish and French curriculum.

K-12 Health and PE Curriculum
Details on this item were also presented on April 16.  The board approved the purchase of $51,871.47. 

Professional Development and Materials for each K-2 teacher and 5-6 reading interventionists
Dr. Stevenson presented this request for materials for Really Great Reading for Lenihan and elementaries in the amount of $63,054.72 for elementary and $2,494.80 for Lenihan. The board approved the request.

K-6 Science Curriculum
Dr. Stevenson and Erica Finders presented this recommendation as an information item only.  Dr. Stevenson will bring this for approval at the next board meeting. Marshalltown is committing to 30 minutes per day of science instruction in K-4, which is a rotation of social studies, health and handwriting/keyboarding.

7th-12th Social Studies curriculum
Dr. Stevenson and Pam Brewer-Michael presented this document for information only, with approval being requested at the May 21 meeting. A request is being made for $130,341.37 in materials.

Teacher Leadership and Compensation System 2018-19 school year
Dr. Stevenson presented this list of personnel for the 2018-19 TLC positions. After a few questions on the program, the board approved the list.

Bus Bids
Director of Business Operations Paulette Newbold presented this item. The recommended bid with Hoglund Bus Company of Marshalltown for two 65-passenger gas buses and one 77-passenger gas bus for a total of $237,171 was approved by the board.

Public hearing
Mrs. Newbold proposed to set a date for May 21 to amend current budget for 2017-18 budget to accommodate refinancing. The board approved to set the public hearing.

Board Policies
First reading-
504.31R – new number 507.2R- Administration of Medications to Students- Title changed as well as additions from district nurse – Approved as amended, waived second reading

Initial review
504.33 new number is 507.12 – Life Threatening Allergies. No changes other than number – Marked as reviewed
504.33-R new number is 507.12-R – Life Threatening Allergies. No changes other than number marked as reviewed
505.4- becomes 505.7-Commencement. Slight adjustment to coincide with IASB policy- To come back before board
505.6 new number is 503.3- Fines, Fees and Charges. Adopting IASB language into that- To come back
505.7 to be new 5053.3R -Student Fee Waiver and Reduction Procedures. Added information- To come back before board
505.7E new number is 503.3 E- Standard Fee Waiver Application- Took IASB’s and combined policies- To come back before board
505.7R – Fee Waiver Procedure-deleted (incorporating into other policies)
504.5 – Student Fundraising – New policy- Second line to be deleted- To come back
704.6- – Online Fundraising Campaigns – Mirrors  IASB policy-Changes to reflect no need for “terms by the board”-  To Come back before board.

Board discussion on Making the Grade- Examining the Role of the Board in Improving Student Achievement- (Held a discussion on the previously watched webinar)

The next regular board meeting is May 21 at 5 p.m. in district offices

The MEA/MCSD Retirement tea is May 16 at 4:30 p.m. in Dejardin Hall at MCC.

The board then went into a closed session for the quarterly evaluation of the superintendent.

From Board President Bea Niblock
“Board members were reminded of the upcoming MCSD/MEA Recognition Tea on Wednesday, May 16th.  I would like to encourage all of you to attend the recognition tea, as well.

The event is a time honored tradition in this district where long standing employees are recognized for their service to the community in educating its young people.

When you have only been in the district a year or two, it is hard to understand the festivities surrounding longevity.  But, it is that longevity, those countless days of trials and those of happiness and success that make this district what it is today.

Please come and hear their stories and be inspired by them.  It will just be a blink of an eye before we are honoring you, too, with your own retirement!”  – Bea Niblock