Marshalltown High School social studies teacher Brad Rahmiller spoke to the school board on August 20 about his time in the four-week summer institute at Washington DC as part of the James Madison Fellowship Program.

MHS social studies teacher highlights summer institute as part of James Madison Fellowship

Marshalltown High School social studies teacher Brad Rahmiller discussed a four-week institute he participated in this summer in Washington DC.

He spent the time with 50 social studies teachers from across the country studying the origins of the American Constitution and visiting many historical sites as part of his James Madison Fellowship.

“It was a really amazing experience,” Rahmiller said.

Personnel items approved by the board
RESIGNATIONS:
Mary Bazal, Special Education Paraeducator at Rogers Elementary; Effective August 7, 2018
Renae Devenney, 12 Month Secretary at Lenihan Intermediate School; Effective August 24, 2018

APPOINTMENTS:
Adam Edgington, Assistant Volleyball Coach at MHS
Replaces: Casey Moberly
Start: 18-19 Volleyball Season
Salary: $3,569

Khor Kong, Assistant Football Coach
Filling Vacant position for all of 2017 football season
Start: 18-19 Football Season
Salary: $4,104

Emilee Johnson, Special Education Paraeducator Level II/Level II at Hoglan Elementary
Replaces: Lori Egleston
Start: August 21, 2018
Salary: $10.36/hr

Jackie Bryant, Special Education Paraeducator Level II/Level III at Lenihan Intermediate SchoolNew Position
Start: August 21, 2018
Salary: $10.36/hr

Ruth Kliewer, 5th Grade Math & Science Teacher at Lenihan Intermediate School
Replaces: Eliana Garcia
Start: August 20, 2018
Salary: BA/5

Jeanette Heil, Special Education Para Level II/Level III at Lenihan Intermediate School
New Position
Start: August 21, 2018
Salary: $10.36/hr

Morgan Benthin, 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher at Miller Middle School
Replaces: Chad Spear
Start: August 20, 2018
Salary: BA/5

Brisel Davalos, Special Education Paraeducator Level II/Level III at Lenihan Intermediate School
New Position
Start: August 21, 2018
Salary: $10.36/hr

Elizabeth Chavez, 12 Month Secretary at Anson Elementary School
Replaces: Stephanie Cutright
Start: August 21, 2018
Salary: $14.00/hr

Kelly Sebastian, Special Education Paraeducator Level II at Fisher Elementary School
Replaces: Sam Horn
Start: August 21, 2018
Salary: $10.36/hr

Kayla Edwards, Food Service General Worker at Miller Middle School
Replaces: Candace Buckley
Start: August 21, 2018
Salary: $11.67/hr (Grade 2, Step 1, 6 hours per day)

Amanda Zubrod-Torres, Food Service General Worker at Miller Middle School
Replaces: Jessica Starn
Start: August 21, 2018
Salary: $11.67/hr (Grade 2, Step 1, 6 hours per day)

CHANGE OF CONTRACT:
Elizabeth Montepeque, Bilingual Assistant Paraeducator at Woodbury Elementary
From: General Education Paraeducator at Woodbury Elementary
Replace: Lorena Valdez
Start: August 21, 2018

Nicole Moore, Preschool Para Educator at Woodbury Elementary
From: K-4 Special Education Level II at Woodbury
Replaces: Nancy Minjares
Start: August 21,2018

Lori Ferneau, General Education Paraeducator at Rogers
From: Special Education Paraeducator Level I at Rogers
Replaces: Anne Soetenga
Start: August 21, 2018

Stephanie Kunch, Special Education Paraeducator Level II at Hoglan
From: Special Education Paraeducator Level II at Franklin
Start: August 21, 2018

Scott Randall, Head Custodian at MHS
From: Custodian at Rogers & MLA
Replaces: Eldon Stanley
Start: July 31, 2018

Adriana Ramirez-Avalos, Bilingual Language Assistant at Franklin
From: Special Education Paraeducator Level II at Franklin
Replaces: Patty Magana
Start: August 21, 2018

The Following are PLC Leads for the 2018-2019 School Year:

Jonathan Landhauser, 8th Grade Social Studies at Miller
Allison Burchland, 7th Grade Math at Miller
Start: August 20, 2018
Salary: $1,200

Lisa Crouch, 12 Month Secretary at Lenihan
From: 10 Month Secretary at Lenihan Intermediate School
Replaces: Renae Devenney
Start: August 24, 2018
Salary: $24,508.80 (222 days; hourly rate $13.80.)

Lauren Bottom, Special Ed Pareducator Level II/III (7 hours per day) at Lenihan
From: Special Ed Paraeducator Level II (6.5 hours per day) at Lenihan
New Position
Start: August 21, 2018

Superintendent and Board Goals
The board approved these superintendent and board goals.

Franklin Elementary School roof replacement
Director of Buildings and Grounds Chuck Springer talked about this Franklin Elementary roof project. The board approved the bid from Central States Roofing for $63,800. The work is expected to be done this fall.
“This can be done during school, so it’s not an issue,” Springer said.
This is the northwest quadrant of the roof, not the portion damaged in the storm.

The permanent roof replacement on the north end which was damaged due to the July 19 tornado has been completed as of this past weekend. That repair was covered by insurance.

Power outage at MHS athletic complex
Springer explained the current power outage at MHS athletic complex and the remedies in place. Plans are to replace the power lines underground. The board approved a waiver of liability with Alliant Energy as part of this work.
“They just want a waiver of liability which is very common,” Springer said.

Board Policies

First Reading
204.4 – Annual Meeting-  No changes since last meeting- Approved as amended and waived second reading
600 – Statement of Guiding Principles- Approved as amended
600.1 -Nondiscrimination- Approved as amended
601.2 (new number) School Day- Approved as amended waived second reading
601.1 (new number)- School Calendar- change start date to August 23 to no sooner than permitted by state law. To come back before board

Initial Review
602.1 – Elementary Curriculum -Deleted
602.2 – Middle School Curriculum- deleted
602.3  – Senior High School Curriculum -deleted
602.5- New number 602.3- Special Education- A number of changes to come back before board
602.6 – Adult Education- Deleted
602.7- Safety Education-Deleted
New number 603.1 Basic Instruction Program- to combine previous policies- To come back before board
505.4- Testing program -IASB policy to add – To come back before board
804.7- Cardiac Emergency Response Plan -Minor changes on policy – To come back before board

Next meeting
The next regular meeting of the board will be at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4 in district offices (1002 S. 3rd. Ave.).

From Board President Bea Niblock
“It’s back to school time for everyone.  And it’s no different for the Board of Education.  At last night’s meeting the board approved its goals for the coming academic year.

The goals include a focus on student achievement for all students, preparation for negotiations based on the new state laws for collective bargaining and ensuring the fiscal integrity of the district.

The focus on student achievement is our priority goal.  The board will focus on defining academic standards and overseeing the development of solutions for low performance.  Student data will be shared regularly with the board as benchmarks are achieved and achievement increased.

Focus on these 3 goals will drive the deliberation of the board at meetings and work sessions throughout the year.” – Bea Niblock

Tom Mead, right, representing the Marshalltown High School Class of 1981, presented $500 donations to both the school district and Mid-Iowa Community Action during the August 6 school board meeting. Pictured with Mead are Marshalltown Schools Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte, left, and Karina Hernandez of MICA who is also a school board member.

Class of 1981 donates $1,000 to tornado relief
Tom Mead, representing the MHS Class of 1981, presented two donations totaling $1,000 for tornado relief.  He presented a $500 check to the school district for the school supply donations/tornado relief and a $500 check to Mid-Iowa Community Action for tornado relief.

Tornado response
Communications Director Andrew Potter, Food Service Director Lynn Large and Buildings and Grounds Director Chuck Springer presented ways in which the school district responded to the July 19 tornado. This document was presented.
Potter said he was very proud of the way students and staff stepped up to volunteer in the community. Board member Karina Hernandez said she was also proud of the Bobcats, both staff and students that she saw in the community and also helping on her property.

Personnel items
This personnel list was approved by the board was the retirement of Rose Fuller, a paraeducator from Woodbury Elementary School who spent 19 years of service.
“She will be missed by her Woodbury family,” said Director of Human Resources Anthony Spurgetis.

Research project
Wade Judge, Marshalltown High School art teacher, requested approval for his action research project through the University of Northern Iowa. Click here for more information on the project. Mr. Judge is looking to see and compare how teacher only feedback from blogging to peer evaluations. The board approved the project.

2017-2018 End of the School Year report
Dr. Lisa Stevenson, Director of Instruction, presented this end of the year report.
Dr. Stevenson said the good news is there was a decrease in the number of chronically absent students and overall percentage for the 2017-18 school year, with hopes to continue the decrease. Bullying/Harassment data was down as well. The graduation rate is at 88.07 percent. Given the challenges, Dr. Stevenson said that rate is exciting information.

2018-2019 Chromebook Cases
The board approved  awarding C.D.W. the bid for 7th grade Chromebook cases in the amount of $12,685, which was the recommendation of Director of Technology Josh Wesley.

2018-2019 Transportation-Bus Drivers/Monitor Handbook, 2018-2019 Student Transportation Handbooks
The board approved the transportation handbooks which were presented by Director of Transportation Rex Kozak at the previous board meeting.

2018 Legislative Priorities
The board agreed to keeping these same priorities as last year,  because there was no action on those priorities at the last legislative session and approved. These priorities will be presented to the Iowa Association of School Boards, which will tally the priorities from throughout the state.

Bid Award for the Purchase of Nutrition Equipment
Lynn Large, Director of Nutrition, presented these bids. The board approved the bid award for the purchase of nutrition equipment to Rapids in the amount to $32,369.12.

Summer Projects Update
Director of Buildings and Grounds Chuck Springer updated the board on summer projects. Several projects will be done by the start of the school year, while others will be deferred to a later date, especially due to tornado damage work. Speaking of the tornado damage, temporary roof fixes are in place at Woodbury and Franklin with more permanent fixes in the future.
“We are not going to have any issues with roofs for (the start of) school,” Springer said.

Woodbury Classroom Audio Systems Purchase
Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte recommend the purchasing of 15 Lightspeed TOPCAT audio systems (mounted speaker, 2 mics & media connector) for the regular education classrooms at Woodbury Elementary School in the amount of $24,480.00. The PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy) Fund will be used for payment The board approved the purchase. Dr. Schutte said Woodbury will work as a pilot program for these type of audio systems, with hopes for expanded this in the district in the future.

Board Policies
First reading
710.4 – Meal Charges –  No changes from previous presentation -Approved as amended and waived second reading
802.8 – Use of Contract Service- Minor change – Approved as amended and waived second reading.
804.1 – R – Safety Management Manual- Approved as amended waived second reading
804.4 – Asbestos-Containing Materials – Approved as amended and waived second reading.
804.2 – Warning System and Emergency Plans- New policy – from IASB Adopted and waived second reading

Initial review
204.4- Annual Meeting – Change to make a deletion to be consistent with 801.3- To come back before board for first reading
600 – Statement of Guiding Principles –   Interjected new language consistent with anti-discrimination language- To come back for first reading
600.1 Nondiscrimination – Minor change to reflect IASB language, to come back –
601.1 – new number 601.3-  Type of School Organization – Marked as reviewed
601.2 – new number 601.1 School Calendar – Adjustments made- to come back before board
601.3 – new number 601.2- School Day – changes reflecting change in law- to come back
804.7- Cardiac Emergency Response Plan –  New policy developed by nurses for the implementation of AEDs in schools. To come back before board

The next regular meeting of the school board will be at 5 p.m. on  August 20 at district offices.

From Board President Bea Niblock
“Bobcat Pride filled the room as district directors shared all that had been done to service the community since the July 19^th tornado. Andrew Potter, Lynn Large and Chuck Springer shared all of the ways that district employees and students rose to the occasion and helped Marshalltown begin its recovery.

Devastation is the single word to describe what happened on July 19^th, but the days following showed the true mettle of Bobcats in the community. Staff and students showed their strength of spirit in cleaning up, assisting where needed and providing meals to those who needed it.

We are Bobcat Strong!” – Bea Niblock