The Board Report

Rogers Elementary staff members (from left) Sabrina Russell, Angela Pelham, Kara Elsberry and Mark Church discuss the school’s focus on student social-emotional health and education.

Rogers Elementary staff showcase student engagement efforts
Rogers Elementary School Principal Dr. Mick Jurgensen and several school staff members showcased highlights from the school’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan at Monday’s Marshalltown School Board meeting. 

Social-emotional learning is playing a large role in the Rogers ESSA plan. One way students are being supported in that area this year is with an additional full-time social worker, Kara Elsberry.

“Building trust and individual relationships with the kids, I can’t even express to you how important that is for the kids,” Elsberry said.

She said school officials have been working in small groups with students to help grow leadership, social, and life skills. Additionally, Elsberry said she has focused on building positive relationships with parents. 

School counselor Mark Church said Elsberry and other staff members’ work means more students get the support they need.

“What has happened is we identified students that are in need, and I can run small groups, the social workers can run small groups as well, and we can get more students served,” he said. 

The staff members said they are seeing positive results after a semester of the ESSA plan implementation. In the fall, 125 Rogers students were considered “at-risk” after taking the Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS). A winter screener showed the number of at-risk students drop to 102, indicating a trend in the right direction. 

Additionally, the school has seen a 54 percent drop in the number of minor behavioral referrals and a 59 percent drop in the number of major behavior referrals since bringing extra focus to students’ social-emotional skills and health. 

“We are a school that not only looks for tomorrow but we also look down the road a number of years for kids’ success,” Jurgensen said. “I think we’re making some good progress at trying to ensure kids have a good, positive outlook on learning, and supporting their families in that regard as well.” 

Tennis court project bid decision tabled until March
The board voted to delay making a decision on which of three bids to approve for the community tennis court renovation project at Marshalltown High School. Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte recommended tabling the decision to allow the Marshalltown City Council to reconsider supporting the project. 

“We would anticipate that the city would take action on whether to approve this as one of their projects for the near future at their March 23 regular city council meeting,” he said. 

The project bids are set to come up for a vote at a tentative March 24 special school board meeting.

“The base bid for the six new tennis courts, as well as for the three pickleball courts – with or without lights – came in a bit above what the projected cost was going to be,” Dr. Schutte said.  “But, with the alternate bids – particularly as it relates to the parking lot and the reconstruction of the eight existing courts and six new courts with restrooms, with storage facilities – came in significantly under (the projected cost).”

District Director of Instruction Dr. Lisa Stevenson, left, and Director of Special Services Matt Cretsinger, right, share updates on the 2017-2023 district strategic plan with the board Monday.

School leaders share strategic plan updates
MCSD Director of Instruction Dr. Lisa Stevenson, Director of Special Services Matt Cretsinger, Director of Business Operations Paulette Newbold, Director of Human Resources Dr. Nora Ryan and Director of Communications Adam Sodders presented updates on the district’s 2017-2023 strategic plan at Monday’s meeting. 

The strategic plan was unveiled in October of 2017. Past survey research, open forums and a Thought Exchange survey helped shape the direction of the plan. The plan has five primary goals: student achievement, staff development, communication & engagement, learning environments and resources.

Transportation employees recognized for their work
The week of Feb. 10-14 was Love the Bus Week, when bus drivers and other transportation personnel are recognized for their crucial role in the public education system. Special recognition was given to MCSD bus drivers, bus monitors, supervisors and shop personnel Monday evening for their hard work ensuring students are safely transported to and from school every school day. 

Student School Board representatives Carmen Araiza, Mia Barajas and Diana Sanchez share updates on the happenings around Marshalltown high School and the district.

Student School Board Representative update
Student School Board Representatives Carmen Araiza, Diana Sanchez and Mia Barajas shared these updates from around the district at Monday’s meeting. Highlights include: 

• Students in the upcoming Marshalltown High School spring play, William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” are seeking donations of wood materials and fake flowers for the production of the play. The play is scheduled to take place April 3 and April 4. 
• MHS students taking part in the Martha-Ellen Tye Foundations Students Teaching and Empowering Philanthropy (STEP) program are reviewing 10 grant applications to determine how to give $10,000 in grants to community efforts. 
• An update on Society of Women Engineers (SWE) projects. 

Communications
Communications Director Adam Sodders reviewed the good news from the district by sharing newspaper articles as well as school communications articles. That list can be seen here. 

Personnel items
For a list of personnel items approved Monday, click here. 

Policies
First reading: 

• New Policy 303.5 Administrator Duties (adopted, second reading waived)
• New Policy 303.8 Administrator Civic Activities (adopted, second reading waived)
• New Policy 401.9 Employee Political Activity (will come back as a first reading)
• New Policy 405.9 Licensed Employee Probationary Status (adopted, second reading waived)
• New Exhibit 407.3-E1 Application for Retirement (adopted, second reading waived)
• 905.1-R1 Application for Use and Approval (amended and second reading waived)
• 905.1-R2 Fees for Use of School Facilities (amended and second reading waived)
• 905.1-R3 Community Use of School District Facilities & Equipment Regulation (amended and second reading waived)
• 905.1-E2(new E1) Use of School Facilities-Application Form (amended and second reading waived)
• 905.1-E3(new E2) Use of School Facilities and Equipment-Indemnity and Liability Insurance Agreement (amended and second reading waived)
• 905.1-E1(new E3) Use of School Facilities-Rental Contract (amended and second reading waived)

Initial review: 

• 905.5 Supervision by School Personnel (deleted)
• 905.6 Loan of School Equipment (deleted)

From Board President Bea Niblock
“Recognition was given to Public Schools Week, February 24-28, at last night’s board meeting. The week is supported by NSBA, NEA, PTA and all of the professional educational organizations. Dr. Nora Ryan read a proclamation for the week.

Public Schools Week honors the 50.8 million students, plus 3.2 million teachers and hundreds of thousands of specialists, administrators and support staff working in public schools today. Public schools educate 9 out of every 10 students. Public schools are the great equalizer for children. They have lifted generations of students out of poverty and from middle income to higher income, helping to set young adults on a path to a fulfilling life. 

This national celebration highlights the great things happening in our public schools and shows the strength and potential of them in a democratic society. You can sign the Pledge for Public Schools at www.publicschoolproud.org.” – Bea Niblock

The next Marshalltown School Board meeting is set for 5 p.m. Monday, March 2, 2020 at the Central Administration Office, 1002 S.Third Ave.

Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte, left, accepts a check from Marshalltown Performing Arts Center Board members Larry Pfantz, center, and Bill Fitzgerald, right.

Marshalltown Performing Arts Center Board representatives recognized for Fine Arts Honor Wall display
A new Fine Arts Honor Wall is on display at the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center (previously called the MHS/Community Auditorium), and the addition was installed thanks to the generosity of the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center Board and donors. 

Board representatives Bill Fitzgerald and Larry Pfantz discussed the decision to install the Honor Wall, as well as a public art project being planned by the Performing Arts Center Board. Pfantz said Phase II of the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse project next door to the auditorium was positive, but it meant the Performing Arts Center lost a few windows, leaving a blank space on the south side of the lobby. 

Thanks to several donors, the board raised $4,841 to pay for the Honor Wall that now occupies the space and recognizes Bobcats past and present to earn all-state plaudits in chorus, band, orchestra and theatre. 

Pfantz also said the board is planning a public art project at the Performing Arts Center to celebrate the arts, similar to the Drills sculpture celebrating athletics on the south side of the Roundhouse. 

MCSD receives clean audit for Fiscal Year 2019
The Fiscal Year 2019 audit report for the school district came back clean, according to Dennis Muyskens of Hogan-Hansen, CPA’s and Consultants. 

“There was nothing that we found on the school district’s financial statements that had anything misstated or anything that looked inappropriate,” he said. 

After an issue with payroll reporting discovered in a previous school year audit, Muyskens said he took particular care to ensure the payroll processes at the district were sound. 

“I personally looked at every single payroll deposit for the year and didn’t see anything out of line after the misstatements that had happened the previous year,” he said. 

Muyskens also complimented the district’s success in receiving more than $640,000 in refunds from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the previously-discovered payroll issue. 

District Finance Director Paulette Newbold said she has full confidence in Muysken and Hogan-Hansen’s audit. She has led the business office in a comprehensive review of oversight and reporting processes for all aspects of district finance. 

The full FY2019 audit can be found here. 

Dennis Muyskens of Hogan-Hansen, CPA’s and Consultants gives an overview of the FY2019 school year financial audit.

School counselors’ important work acknowledged
It is National School Counseling Week and district Human Resources Director Dr. Nora Ryan read out a proclamation recognizing the incredible work done by MCSD school counselors and counselors all over the country. Counselors Ashley Chyma and Valerie Corson were also present during the recognition. 

Health Care Careers Club field trip approved
Representatives from the Marshalltown Area Health Care Careers Club gained board approval for an out-of-state trip to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. in March. The trip will allow students to hear personal testimonies from Mayo Clinic staff, visit historic clinic buildings, and learn more about certification and degree programs in areas like nursing, diagnostic imaging, oncology, surgery and more. 

Funds from TRIO and Gear Up, as well as money raised by the club, will cover the cost of food, lodging and transportation for the trip. 

The club has participated in many learning and volunteer activities with local organizations, including the Iowa Veterans Home, McFarland Clinic, UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown, Pilgrim Heights, Grandview Nursing Home, Iowa Valley Community College District, the Marshalltown Fire and Police departments, and others. 

Marshalltown High School Dean of Students Dan Terrones, left, and Marshalltown Area Health Care Careers Club students Arlette Yepez (second from left) Taylor Duff (second from right) and Aida Almanza (right) speak about their upcoming trip to the Mayo Clinic.

Exciting new offerings added to Marshalltown High School course manual
The school board approved the 2020-21 MHS Course Guide Tuesday, and principal Jacque Wyant introduced several new areas of coursework that will be available to high school students next school year. Additionally, existing areas of coursework will offer additional options for students to explore career pathways. New and enhanced course areas include:

• Speech
• Industrial Arts Technology (welding, machining, small engines/basic automotive maintenance)
• Computer Science through Project Lead the Way, including the new cybersecurity capstone class
• Agriculture
• Fire Science in collaboration with Kirkwood Community College
• Technical math for areas like the medical field, industrial arts and more

Wyant said the new course guide also includes information about the Bobcat Ready initiative and some more minor changes. 

Board approves Bobcat High School Ready indicators
The district’s Bobcat Ready initiative seeks to ensure all students are college and career-ready by the time they graduate high school. Now, that same focus on ensuring readiness will be directed toward Miller Middle School eighth graders entering high school. 

Like the original Bobcat Ready initiative, the tentative Bobcat High School Ready indicators approved by the board Monday will help determine a student’s readiness for high school. Those indicators include, among others:

• No failing grades in core classes (English, Math, Science and Social Studies)
• Grade-level proficiency in English-language arts, Math and Science
• An attendance rate of 90 percent or better
• Participation in two or more organized co-curricular activities
• 10 or more hours of community service

Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte said the indicators were decided based on established knowledge about the importance of student readiness and on national research. In addition to meeting some or all of the life- and academics-based indicators, Dr. Schutte said eighth graders would also be expected to identify potential post-secondary or career interests.

For more information on the Bobcat High School Ready indicators, click here. 

Anson staff members share positive highlights from their building. Pictured, from left: counselor Ashley Chyma, third grade teacher Jocelyn Schmidt, principal Ronnie Manis and first grade teacher Jennifer Estabrook.

Anson Elementary School showcase
There are a lot of good things going on at Anson Elementary School, and principal Ronnie Manis was joined by Anson staff members to outline some of those positive efforts Tuesday. 

One major area of growth for the school has come in students’ math performance. First grade teacher Jennifer Estabrook said that more than a year ago, a fall semester screener test showed only 33 percent of students were proficient in math; Estabrook and fellow first grade staff knew improvement was needed, and decided to do a book study over Jessica Shumway’s “Number Sense Routines.” 

After adding a 5-10 minute period of time for students to rearrange, organize, combine, separate and otherwise interact with numbers on a daily basis, the next screener test showed the number of first graders who were proficient in math shot up to 71 percent; the next test showed 77 percent proficiency. The students kept up that proficiency into second grade, where another screener showed 76 percent of students were proficient in math. Number Sense strategies are now being used across the building due to their success. 

Additionally, counselor Ashley Chyma discussed the school’s Positive Action initiative.

“The main focus of Positive Action is to start with a positive thought that leads to a positive action that then leads to a positive feeling and then goes back to a positive thought, so it’s a circle,” she said. 

A third grade Kindness Club was formed to promote Positive Action. Among other generous efforts, the students put together treat bags for Marshalltown firefighters and police officers to thank them for their service.

Student School Board Representative update
Student School Board Representatives Carmen Araiza and Mia Barajas shared these updates from around the district at Tuesday’s meeting. Highlights include: 

• A review of the Jam in the Gym event Feb. 1, where two MHS seniors won $500 Marshalltown Community College scholarships. 
• The Words of Encouragement project at MHS, mostly directed at high school seniors, is focusing on helping students stay focused through the end of the school year. 
• An MHS After Prom Tip Night will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 at Pizza Ranch,  2305 S. Center St. All tips given at that time will go toward the upcoming MHS After Prom events. 

Communications
Communications Director Adam Sodders reviewed the good news from the district by sharing newspaper articles as well as school communications articles. That list can be seen here. 

Personnel items
For a list of personnel items approved Tuesday, click here. 

Policies
First reading of:

• 407.3 Licensed Employee Retirement (approved as amended)
• 504.5 Student Fundraising (approved as amended)
• Old 905.1 Community Use of School Facilities (deleted)
• New 905.1 Community Use of School Facilities and Equipment (approved)
• 905.1-R3 Community Use of School Facilities and Equipment Regulation (will come back for a first reading)

Initial review of: 

• New Policy 303.5 Administrator Duties (will come back)
• New Policy 303.8 Administrator Civic Activities (will come back)
• New Policy 401.9 Employee Political Activity (will come back)
• New Policy 405.9 Licensed Employee Probationary Status (will come back)
• New Exhibit 407.3-E1 Application for Retirement (will come back)
• 905.1-R1 Application for Use and Approval (will come back)
• 905.1-R2 Fees for Use of School Facilities (will come back)
• 905.1-E2 (new E1) Use of School Facilities-Application Form (will come back)
• 905.1-E3 (new E2) Use of School Facilities and Equipment-Indemnity and Liability Insurance Agreement (will come back)
• 905.1-E1 (new E3) Use of School Facilities-Rental Contract (marked as reviewed)
• 905.2 Parent Teacher Organization Building Use (deleted)
• 905.4 Gratuities to Personnel (deleted)

From Board President Bea Niblock
“Excellence is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.” – Anonymous

 “The board saw repeated presentations at Tuesday’s meeting showing the excellence that abounds in the district.

• Board members from the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center presented the district with a check to cover the expense of the new recognition wall in the Community Auditorium lobby.
• The auditors shared a clean audit report for the district. That was certainly a spot of excellence after the problems encountered over a year ago.
• The high school course offerings manual was shared showing the many pathways that students may choose, from college prep to apprenticeships to technology and many more. 
• Anson staff shared a book study being undertaken by staff to increase number sense with increased scores to substantiate the work. 
• Bobcat High School Readiness Indicators were approved for implementation at Miller Middle School.
• The board began its annual book study. The board continues to grow and learn together through workshops, seminars and the book study.

Excellence is widespread throughout the district.” – Bea Niblock

The next Marshalltown School Board meeting is set for 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, 2020 at the Central Administration Office, 1002 S.Third Ave.