The Board Report

Director of Food Service Lynn Large presented a report to the school board that served as a wrap up of the last year in food service in the district.

Nutrition Services Update
Director of Food Service Lynn Large presented this report to wrap up the last year in food service in the district.

Summer feeding sites served 23,063 lunches and 6,644 for youth in 2019.  These numbers are up slightly from last summer.

For the school year 2018-19 the district served 666,839 lunch meals and 281,409 breakfast meals. This past school year there were more than a million servings of fruits and vegetables delivered to the students,  “which I’m very proud of,” Large said.

Large said they continue to try to incorporate different fruits and vegetable to expose students to options out there.

“We really are encouraging fruits and vegetables at meal time,” Large said.

New this year, Lenihan Intermediate School will offer free lunches and breakfast meals to all students as part of the Community Eligibility Provision, joining all the elementary schools in this program.

Large also has a goal to increase breakfast participation in the district, which is currently at a 30 percent participation level.

“I would love to see that (number) at least 50 percent of our kids,” Large said.

Personnel
Click here for personnel items approved by the board.

 Donation to soccer team

From left, Dr. Theron Schutte, Steve Madsen, Scott Johannes and Bobby Shomo.

Shomo-Madsen Insurance and IMT Insurance presented a Community award in the amount of $500 as a donation to Marshalltown High School boys soccer through the Bobcat Booster Club. Bobby Shomo and Steve Madsen presented the donation to Coach Scott Johannes and Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte.

Revenue Purpose Statement
Paulette Newbold, Director of Business Operations, presented this item. Our current Revenue Purpose Statement expires in 2029. With the extension of SAVE, there is a need to put this on the ballot to have the statement go beyond 2029.

The board approved the Revenue Purpose Statement, Ordering an Election on a Revenue Purpose Statement to Authorize Expenditures From Revenue Received From the State Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund, and Ordering the Publication of a Notice of Election. This will be on the November 5 ballot.

Security Management System Phase 3
Director of Buildings and Grounds Chuck Springer and Director of Technology Josh Wesley presented this plan.

The plans were shared with the board on security enhancements at all elementary schools with bid alternates for secondary schools.

The project plans call for cameras for front entrances, auxiliary entrances and cameras for perimeter, loading docks and other areas. The plans also call for enhanced security with the access/door systems in the schools.

The estimated cost of the project is $450,000. The board set a public hearing for September 3 (next board meeting) regarding plans, specs and form of contract for the project. After that, the project is planned to be let out to bid.

Sale of Surplus Technology Equipment
Josh Wesley talked about the success the technology department has had in selling surplus equipment through PublicSurplus.com. Last year, the department sold several surplus pieces for a total of approximately $90,000.
The board approved a public hearing for September 3 for the sale of these listed items, which would then go to the surplus website.

Board Policies
First Reading
100.1 (new 100) Name of School District- No changes made since initial review- Approved as amended waived second reading
101.1 (new 103) Long-Range Needs Assessment – Approved as amended waived second reading
101.1-R2 (new 103-R2) Early Childhood Progress: Parent Notification – Approved as amended waived second reading
100 (new 101) District Philosophy, Mission, Beliefs, and Expectations  – Approved as amended waived second reading

Initial Review
102 – Equal Educational Opportunity – Updating Contact name to Nora- Marked as reviewed
102.E2 – Continuous Notice of Nondiscrimination – Updating Contact name to Nora- Marked as reviewed

102. R1 Grievance Procedure -Updating Contact name to Nora- Marked as reviewed

Communications
Director of Communications Andrew Potter presented these updates to progress made from the Communications/Marketing plan presented last fall.

From Board President Bea Niblock
“In just 1 day, we will all be together in the MHS Auditorium.  I will have a few remarks but they won’t be as eloquent as the words of Neil Gaiman.

‘I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you’ll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return.  And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind.’

Wishing each of you a year filled with remarkable memories!” – Bea Niblock

Retiring MHS baseball coach Steve Hanson was recognized by the school board during the school board meeting on August 5.

Retiring Coach Hanson honored by school board

Retiring MHS baseball coach Steve Hanson was honored by the board after serving for 26 years in that role. Hanson led the Bobcats to 567 wins, seven state tournament appearances, four state title games and one state championship. He thanked a very supportive staff, the players and coaches through the years.

“You can’t simply do it by yourself,” Hanson said.

He also gave kudos to the well-rounded players he’s had on the Bobcats through the years.

“Almost to a guy, the great players are also great people,” Hanson said.

MHS junior talks about being a US Youth Ambassador

MHS junior Abbey Welden talks to the board about her US Youth Ambassador experience in Paraguay this summer.

MHS junior Abbey Welden talked about her experience as a US Youth Ambassador in Paraguay this summer. To qualify for the program, Abbey had to write five essays as part of her lengthy application and conduct the final verbal interview in Spanish. Abbey is a product of the MCSD dual language program as she started at Woodbury Elementary School.

“I credit the bilingual program (in Marshalltown Schools) with this opportunity entirely,” Welden said. “I see how it is beneficial to people of all different backgrounds.”

For more about her experience, see this video.

Personnel
For personnel items approved the board, click here.
Late additions to the agenda are highlighted in yellow, said Director of Human Resources Dr. Nora Ryan.

Public Comment
Miller teacher Steve Hinderhofer expressed concern with the amount of food waste he has seen. He would like to talk further on possibly getting those scraps to animals on his farm and maybe paying back the district with a processed pig in the future.

2019 Legislative Priorities
Dr. Theron Schutte, Superintendent, presented this list of priorities.
After previous board conversation, this list was presented for board approval to pass along to the Iowa Association of School Boards to lobby the state legislature. The IASB collates these with other priorities from other districts. The board approved the priorities.

2019-2020 Board and Superintendent Goals
The board was presented these goals for the next year after the board self evaluation and superintendent evaluation. The board approved the goals.

Security management system phase 3
This is looking at further enhancing security and/or adding more secured entry points, said Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte.
The plan also adds security cameras at the elementary and secondary school levels.
Board members expressed concern that they had yet to see plans before approving them and setting a public hearing. Due to this need, it is now scheduled to have plans presented at the August 19 meeting and possibly setting a public hearing for the September 3 meeting.

Board policies
First reading
100 District Philosophy, Mission, Beliefs and Expectations – Approved as amended and waived second reading
100-E1 District Philosophy, Mission, Beliefs and Expectations – Indicators – Deleted
100-E2( new 100-E1)District Philosophy, Mission, Beliefs and Expectations – Strategies  – Approved as amended- waived second reading
New Exhibit 100-E2 District Philosophy, Mission, Beliefs and Expectations-Strategic Plan – Adopted and waived second reading
202.5 (new 203) Board of Directors Conflict of Interest – Updated based on law of thresholds- Approved as amended and waived second reading.
New Policy 206.2 Vice President – Adopted and waived second reading.
501.5 Attendance Center Assignment – Approved as amended and waived second reading
505.5 Graduation Requirements – Approved as amended and waived second reading
603.1 Basic Instruction Program – Approved as amended and waived second reading.

Initial review
100.1 – Name of School District – New number (possibly- coming back) and name change adding wording to align with IASB- To come back before board
101.1  – Long-Range Needs Assessment – Number change to 103 and changes made – To come back before board
101.1-R1 – Long-Range Needs Assessment Process – Number change to 103-R1- marked as reviewed
101.1-R2 – Early Childhood Progress: Parent Notification. Number change to 103-R2- and date changes for reports-  To come back before board

The next regular meeting of the school board will be at 5 p.m. on August 19.

Click here for a video of the August 5 meeting.

From Board President Bea Niblock
“August rolls around and we start thinking about school starting.  In 16 days staff will be gathered together for the pre-service Welcome Back.  And, in 21 days the new school year will start.
But, there’s still much to be done.  Custodians are working at a fast pace to finish their work, administrators are attending a multi-day in-service, teachers are participating in internships, and secretaries are registering the last few students.
As vacations and adventures are but a memory now, a new school year is upon us.  Remember to send those pictures to Andrew so that we can all remember that enjoyment one more time before the school doors open wide to welcome Marshalltown’s youth.
Have a grand new year!” – Bea Niblock