IJAG Specialists Katie Allison, left, and Austin Hauser gave an update on the program to the school board at the May 20 meeting.
iJAG program making a difference in first year
Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) Specialists Katie Allison (MHS 11-12th grade) and Austin Hauser (Miller – 7th-8th) gave this presentation on the iJAG program. This program is for students who may be facing barriers but also show great potential.
“We are excited to be wrapping up our first year,” Allison said.
IJAG teaches leadership skills, soft skills, employability skills, service learning and more.
“The program is very beneficial,” Hauser said.
The goal is to prepare students to be active participants in the workforce. The board approved adding a 9-10 grade coordinator for MHS for next school year as part of a Memorandum of Understanding.
Recognition
Marshalltown High School seniors Emily Miller (left) and Phoebe Osgood presented their national-qualifying senior performance on Emily Dickinson in National History Day. The two will travel the Maryland in June for nationals.
Personnel
For personnel items approved by the school board, click here.
Public Comment
Several teachers spoke out against removing permissive items from the teacher contract.
Out-of-State Travel Request
The board a approved the out-of-state trip for the National History Day national qualifiers, as requested by MHS XLP teacher Susan Fritzell.
Student School Board Representatives
Student School Board Representatives America Dominguez, Jane Ragland and Jocelin Sharfnejda from MHS gave their final update presentation of their one-year term. The three will graduate from MHS on June 2.
Guidance Curriculum Adoption
Matt Cretsinger, Director of Special Services and Dee Burt, College and Career Readiness CPDL presented this item.
Between every 5-7 years professional school counselors have to go through a guidance curriculum adoption. At the next board meeting, bids will be brought to the board for $50,000 paid for out of at-risk budget.
Iowa Youth Survey Update
Matt Cretsinger, Director of Special Services presented this update. The survey happens every 2 years given to all 6, 8 and 11th grades (Students can decline)
It was administered in November of 2018.
Cretsinger compared our answer percentages to those districts of similar size. Students self report their perceptions, their beliefs and their feelings.
Next time he will talk about social emotional learning support continued plans for the district.
Classroom Computer and Projector Replacement Cycle
Joshua Wesley, Director of Technology, presented this cycle.
Wesley said we are “trying to create a regular replacement cycle similar to what we have going on with the Chromebooks” to provide reliable technology for teachers. The goal is to spend in the $200,000 range each year.
The board approved to go ahead for technology to publish and RFP for 228 Epson projectors and 280 ceiling mounts for the first year in this replacement cycle.
Copier Bid Tally Results
Joshua Wesley, Director of Technology, presented the bid tally.
The current lease expires July 1, 2019. Discussion was held regarding this item.
The board approved awarding Advanced Systems the copier bid for 3 year copier lease and software agreement in the approximate total of $292,478.76 as presented.
K-4th Grade Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Into Reading and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Arriba la Lectura Presentation
Woodbury Principal Anel Garza, ELL Coordinator Rachel Inks and Woodbury Instructional Coach Julie Thede presented this curriculum recommendation for Woodbury Elementary, after meetings of the literacy advisory committee.
“This will be the first Spanish curriculum we’ve purchased in over 17 years,” Garza said.
The kindergarten through fourth grade Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Into Reading and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Arriba la Lectura is in the amount of $100,298.75, with $23,415.00 from ELL budget and $76,883.75 from curriculum budget.
This was a discussion item only as it will be up for possible board approval at the June 3 meeting.
K-4 CKLA Language Studio
Dr. Lisa Stevenson, Director of Instruction, presented this as a follow up to the presentation at the last meeting. This is for literacy materials in English for K-4 (minus Woodbury).
The board approved the purchase of CKLA Language Studio in the amount of $92,942.25 accompanying ELL materials to support all K-4 English Learners (except Woodbury K-4) as presented.
K-5 CKLA ELA and 6th Amplify ELA Literacy Materials
Dr. Lisa Stevenson, Director of Instruction, This information was presented at the previous meeting, for K-5 literacy and 6th grade.
The board approved the purchase of K-5 CKLA ELA in the amount of $281,313 and 6th Amplify ELA in the amount of $35,700.80.
2019-2020 Preschool Handbook
This was shared with the board at the last meeting with the changes. The board approved the handbook as presented.
2019-2020- Property/Casualty and WC Renewal
Local agent Mark Rohde and representatives from the Iowa Public School Insurance Program presented at the meeting. IPSIP uses group purchasing power as it has dozens of other districts in the state on the plan.
The insurance market is tightening with flooding, hail and tornadoes becoming more prevalent in Iowa. Due to increases in losses, the premium cost to Marshalltown Schools is going up.
The new rate for 2019-20 is $862,597, up from $679.204 for the current year.
It was noted that 75 percent of claims were bus incidents in 2017-18. More training is expected in hopes to cut that number of claims.
This is the renewal of the third year of a 3-year contract which was approved by the board.
2018-2019 Budget Amendment
Paulette Newbold, Director of Business Operations, presented this item to increase the expenditures of the support services area of the budget from from $18.4 million to $21.2 million. This is not an increase in overall budget of expenditures, but rather some coding changes.
The board approved the budget amendment. A public hearing on this budget amendment was held earlier in the meeting
Board Policies
First Reading
708.5 Inventory – Deleted by board, waived second reading
Initial Review
710.5 Financial Support-Food Service – To be deleted at next meeting.
711.1 Student School Transportation Eligibility – Marked as reviewed
711.1-R(new 711.1-R1) Student Eligibility for Bus Service- Minor change at end of regulation which is not current practice.
The next regular meeting of the board will be on June 3 at 5 p.m. in district offices.
From Board President Bea Niblock
“Matt Cretsinger presented the board with an update on the results of the Iowa Youth Survey given to our 6th, 8th and 11th grade students. Even though the results of Marshalltown youth were, oftentimes, similar to other schools our size, it is troubling to think that any of our students do not feel safe at school or home and have thought about suicide. We certainly have issues in our district that need to be addressed.
And Matt Cretsinger and Dee Burt shared information about a new guidance program being proposed. The guidance curriculum, Positive Action, provides lessons that encourage student interaction. Lessons provide instruction on social skills, managing emotions, building positive relationships with others and mental health. Sounds like a good choice for our students.” – Bea Niblock
For a video of the entire meeting, click here.
The Board Report 