Marshalltown High School student board representative America Dominguez updated the board on MHS activities during the December 3, 2018 school board meeting.
Student School Board Representative Update
MHS student America Dominguez updated the board on MHS activities including information on boys swimming, the French Club, a Veterans Day display, Tree ornaments from Student Rotarians, the poinsettia sale and upcoming events.
Recognition
Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte was recognized as it was his birthday.
Personnel
For personnel items approved by the board see below.
RESIGNATIONS:
Stacy Betts, Special Education Paraeducator Level II at Lenihan, Effective November 28, 2018
Kanjana Hahn, General Food Service Worker at Franklin, Effective November 26, 2018
Curtis Jarrell, Bus Driver for Transportation, Effective November 21, 2018
Ann Collison, Special Education Paraeducator Level III at Hoglan Elementary, Effective December 31, 2018
Stephanie Anderson, General Education Paraeducator – Study Hall at MHS, Effective November 26, 2018
TERMINATIONS:
Tanya Viles, Special Education Paraeducator Level II at MHS, Effective November 21, 2018
CHANGE OF CONTRACT:
Christian Tuttle, LI/T1 Para at Anson Elementary
Change of Contract Hours
Start: November 27, 2018
From: 7 hrs/day
To: 7.5 hrs/day
Barb Arends, Special Education Paraeducator Level I at Hoglan Elementary
To: Special Education Paraeducator Level II at Hoglan Elementary
Start: December 4, 2018
Salary: $16.34/hr
Yaisha Erwin, BD Paraeducator at MHS
To: Special Education Paraeducator Level II at Anson Elementary
Change of Location
From: MHS
To: Anson
Connor McKibben, Substitute Bus Driver with Transportation
From: Bus Monitor with Transportation
Salary: Depends on Route Driven
Start: November 16, 2018
Gary Lurvey, Bus Driver at Transportation
Change of Route which changes Salary
From: Preschool Driver with 3 routes/day
To: Special Education Driver with 2 routes/day
Salary: $12,990.03/yr
Student School Board Representative Update
MHS student America Dominguez updated the board on MHS activities including information on boys swimming, the French Club, a Veterans Day display, Tree ornaments from Student Rotarians, the poinsettia sale and upcoming events.
State Representative Mark Smith
State Representative Mark Smith
State Representative Mark Smith addressed the board as he prepares for the 2019 legislative session.
“I feel like I’ve always been a strong supporter of public education,” Smith said.
Representative Smith said it appears to be a “tough budget year again.”
Dr. Schutte talked about unfunded and underfunded mandates – such as financial literacy that needs to be implemented soon. Also discussion was held regarding SAVE ( the statewide penny sales tax which sunsets on December 31, 2029), mental health, school calendars, the school funding formula and more.
The board also presented Representative Smith the Iowa Association priorities and school board priorities. State Senator Jeff Edler and Representative Dean Fisher are expected to address the board at the December 17 board meeting.
Director of Instruction Dr. Lisa Stevenson talks about the At-Risk Budget program and budget while Director of Special Services Matt Cretsinger looks on.
2019-2020 At-Risk Budget Overview
Director of Instruction Dr. Lisa Stevenson and Director Of Special Services Matt Cretsinger presented this report as information only. This is a result of work of an at-risk committee, which meets monthly.
Dr. Stevenson reported while we made headway in increasing the graduation rate and decreasing the dropout rate, we still have work to do.
“At least our trajectory is moving in the right direction,” Dr. Stevenson said.
She said, they continue to look to improve on chronic absenteeism, behavior issues, overall proficiency in reading and math and credit recovery. Two of the new priorities are to expand Bobcat University and expand the i-JAG at high school. The budget is near the same amount requested the previous year. Board and administrator discussion was held. Director of Business Operations Paulette Newbold also went over the budget.
The proposed dropout prevention and at-risk budget will be brought before the board for possible approval at the December 17 meeting.
2019-2020 School Year Calendar
Dr. Theron Schutte and Communications Director Andrew Potter presented a feedback results summary from parents and staff on the tentative 2019-20 calendar. While the results varied, spring break seemed to be the most talked about topic in the feedback.
Board President Bea Niblock said in the future she would like to see two calendars for staff to vote on as was done in the past. A public hearing on the proposed calendar will be held at the December 17 board meeting.
Authorization To Seek Bids for School Buses
Transportation Director Rex Kozak sought authorization from the board get bids for three new school buses
Mr. Kozak will report back to the board with bids he received. The board granted authorization to seek bids.
Board Policies
First reading
312.3-E1 Fringe Benefits-Administrators/Supervisors – Add past practice that administrators can carryover 10 days, TO come back before board
604.6 ( new 604.1) Competent Private Instruction – Adopted IASB policy and renumbered, Adopted and waived second reading
New Policy 903.1 School-Community Groups – Presented at last meeting – Adopted and waived second reading
New Policy 904.1 Transporting Students in Private Vehicles – new policy -Adopted and waived second reading
Initial Review
New Policy 505.6 Early Graduation – New policy that supports current and past practice- To come back to board for approval
505.7 Commencement – Change made due to deletions in 600 series – To come back before board
704.6 Educational Material Fees – Deleted by board- (Information from it added to policies in 500 and 600 series)
605.1 (new 505.1) Student Progress Reports and Conferences – New number, Minor change, Marked as reviewed
605.2 (new 605.8) Accountability Test Integrity/Test Preparation – Changed from old No Child Left Behind, to come back before board
605.4 – Graduation Requirements – Graduation Ceremonies- Deleted (added to other policy)
605.4-R (new 505.5) Graduation Requirements –Changes made to come back before board.
605.5 Education Records – Deleted –
The board then went into a closed session to conduct a quarterly evaluation of the superintendent.
The next regular meeting of the school board will be at 5 p.m. on Monday, December 17 in district offices (1002 S. 3rd. Ave.).
From Board President Bea Niblock
“This is the time of the year when our legislators are invited to visit with the school board. Last night, Representative Mark Smith joined the board for a conversation.
The board shared its legislative priorities with Representative Smith and he shared his expectations for the 2019 session.
He indicated that this will be another year of low state aid. That is not good news for us as we have been working with a limited budget for a number of years now. Other items discussed included underfunded mandates, mental health concerns, and the continuation of the penny sales tax (SAVE).
Senator Jeff Edler and Representative Dean Fisher will be present at the December 17th board meeting for a similar discussion. Take up advocacy for our public schools and join us at our next meeting.” – Bea Niblock
The Board Report 