To watch the full board meeting discussion of the below items, please click the “watch recording” link next to each item. The links will take you to the start of each of the below agenda items/topics from the board meeting recording.
Community mental health & counseling partners recognized for school community support – watch recording
The Monday, Nov. 21 Marshalltown School Board meeting featured a recognition of the District’s many valuable community mental health and counseling partner organizations, each of whom responded swiftly to school community needs after the accident that took four students’ lives earlier this month. Monday’s recognition included:
- YSS of Marshall County Director of Community Engagement David Hicks & MPACT Community Advocate Autumn Drewelow
- Central Rivers Area Education Agency Regional Administrator Amy Thoms-Starr
- Center Associates Executive Director Paul Daniel and Social Worker Nick Calzada
- The Strengthening Center Owner/Executive Director Lani Maassen
- Wild Spirit Counseling Therapist/Counselor Misty Smith and Office Manager Marney Medhaug
- Mosaic Church Lead Pastor Steve Bensema
- Grace C. Mae Advocate Center Service Area Manager Dawn Lammert and Counselor Jamie Rich
- The District would also like to thank Father Alan Dietzenbach of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish
Director of Special Services Matt Cretsinger said the group has supported the District through several other challenging events in recent years.
“The people standing behind me have responded immediately to any phone call of support and need, so I think it’s important to say ‘thank you’ to them for being there when we need them most,” he said.
Heitmann, Faltys to continue in leadership roles after annual board elections – watch recording
School Board President Sean Heitmann and Vice President Sara Faltys were re-elected to their leadership positions for 2022-23 at Monday’s annual/organizational meeting. Additionally, the board confirmed Director of Business Operations Randy Denham as the board secretary, and approved Ahlers & Cooney, PC as legal counsel. Also approved was the treasurer’s annual settlement.
Board, superintendent recognized for earning IASB Annual Conference awards – watch recording
All seven members of the Marshalltown CSD Board of Education, as well as Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte, were recognized after earning major plaudits at the 2022 Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) Annual Conference.
Each board member – President Sean Heitmann, Vice President Sara Faltys, Karina Hernandez, Bonnie Lowry, Jan McGinnis, Leah Stanley and Zach Wahl – earned an IASB Individual Achievement Award for their dedication to their own professional learning through a combination of participating in formal in-service programs, board service, and experience. The board was also one of only 15 statewide to earn a 2022 IASB Team Achievement Award. Additionally, Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte was one of just 17 superintendents and chief administrators statewide who qualified for the 2021-22 Award of Honor in the Annual Board Awards program. See more details here!
State lawmakers hear District legislative priorities ahead of session – watch recording
State Sen. Jeff Edler and State Rep. Sue Cahill discussed the District’s legislative priorities for the 2023 Iowa Legislative Session with the board on Monday evening.
Teen Outreach Program (TOP) highlighted – watch recording
Since 2012, the Marshalltown CSD has partnered with Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) to support educational success, healthy behaviors and relationships, and life and leadership skills through the Teen Outreach Program (TOP) and Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP).
Program facilitators Steve Sodders and Jon Rottink, as well as coordinator Jana Larsen, of MICA, presented on both programs at Monday’s meeting.
TOP promotes the positive development of adolescents through an engaging curriculum and community service learning projects. PREP focuses on helping students develop key life skills, as well as educating them on both abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The programs receive state/federal approval and funding, provide evidence-based curriculum, and are supported by independent research reviews.
The programs are offered as electives at Lenihan Intermediate School and Miller Middle School. See the presentation at the link above for more info!
K-12 art curriculum update presented – watch recording
Mentor Program and Specialist Areas Curriculum & Professional Development Leader (CDPL) Julie Thede shared an update on the District’s K-12 art curriculum on Monday.
Since being implemented last school year, the Flex Curriculum Suite has provided consistent, rigorous, and high-quality art education to Bobcat students across grade levels, as well as enhanced professional development tools for art teachers.
Franklin Elementary and Rogers Elementary art teacher Nancy Cross joined Thede for the presentation. She said the platform offers engaging, refreshing options for teaching art while maintaining curricular standards.
Student School Board Representatives’ report – watch recording
Student School Board Representatives Natalie Andrade and Abraham Madrigal Farias shared an update on student activities and events on Monday evening. Along with updates from MHS, the students gave their positive feedback from last week’s IASB Annual Conference, and specifically praised the event’s keynote speaker, Dr. Adolph Brown.
10-year lease agreement approved for Arnold’s Park – watch recording
The board approved a 10-year agreement to lease Arnold Park to the City of Marshalltown after a public hearing on the matter was held on Monday evening. No public comments were shared at that public hearing.
Arnold Park is located at 107 S. 7th Street, and has been leased to the City by the District for several decades.
Board hears Marshalltown Virtual Academy update – watch recording
Marshalltown Virtual Academy (MVA) Principal Eric Goslinga gave an update as the virtual school continues in its second year. He gave an overview of the MVA’s enrollment, graduation data, dual-credit classes, student achievement data, and the tools used to provide a quality online education.
School Budget Review Committee request submissions move forward – watch recording
Four requests for modified allowable growth in supplemental aid will be submitted to the state School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) after board approval on Monday. The requests include:
- Modified allowable growth due to a higher certified student enrollment count for the current school year compared to last school year.
- Modified allowable growth regarding open enrollment out of the District which was not part of the fall 2021 enrollment count.
- Modified allowable growth to support English language learner (ELL) programming beyond five years.
- Modified allowable growth for special education administration costs associated with the River Hills Consortium program for the 2023-24 school year.
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 on Monday, click here.
Policies:
Initial Review –
- 401.14 Employee Expression (amended, second reading waived)
- 402.2 Child Abuse Reporting (amended, second reading waived)
- 408.1 Licensed Employee Professional Development (amended, second reading waived)
- 502.2 Care of School Property-Vandalism (adopted, second reading waived)
- 601.2 School Day (amended, second reading waived)
- 602.1 Curriculum Development (amended, second reading waived)
- 602.2 Curriculum Implementation (amended, second reading waived)
- 602.3 Curriculum Evaluation (amended, second reading waived)
- 605.1 Instructional Materials Selection (amended, second reading waived)
- 605.1-R1 Selection of Instructional Materials (amended, second reading waived)
- 605.2 Instructional Materials Inspection (amended, second reading waived)
- 605.3 Objection to Instructional Materials (amended, second reading waived)
- 605.3-R1 Objection to Instructional and Library Materials – Reconsideration of Instructional Materials Regulation (adopted, second reading waived)
- 605.3-E1 Instructions to the Reconsideration Committee (amended, second reading waived)
- 605.3-E2 Reconsideration of Instructional Materials (amended, second reading waived)
- 605.3-E4 Request to Prohibit a Student from Checking Out Specific Library Materials (adopted, second reading waived)
- 605.4 Technology and Instructional Materials (amended, second reading waived)
- 605.5 School Library/Media Centers (amended, second reading waived)
- 802.4 Capital Assets (amended, second reading waived)
First Reading –
- 502.4 Student Complaints and Grievances (marked as reviewed)
- 502.5 Student Lockers (marked as reviewed)
- 502.6 Weapons (will come back for a first reading)
- 507.5 Emergency Plans and Drills (will come back for a first reading)
- 804.2 District Emergency Operations Plans (will come back for a first reading)
- 804.2-R Warning Systems and Emergency Plans (marked as reviewed)
The next Marshalltown School Board meeting is set for 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022 at the Central Administration Office, 1002 S. 3rd Ave. The meeting will be available to watch via live stream through the MCSD website, Facebook, and Twitter pages.
The Board Report 