The Board Report

Bobcat marching band vies for spot in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Marshalltown High School Marching Band should know this spring if it’s heading to New York City in 2015. The band is applying to participate in the 2015 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“This band does a wonderful job when they travel of making all of us look good,” said Bret Lee, director of bands. “They have on every trip I’ve been on.”

Lee said the application is due March 1, with notification coming in May. The trip will be 7-9 days. If they aren’t selected for Macy’s the band will be able to participate in the Fiesta Bowl Parade in Arizona over New Year’s 2015-2016.

“We almost have a standing invitation to the Fiesta Bowl thanks to the great tradition started by Jerry Ellingson,” Lee said.

The trip will cost approximately $1,500 per student. There have been two fundraisers already and more will be scheduled between now and the trip. Lee said they have always worked to make sure every student who wants to participate and who participates in fundraising is able to make the trip, even if they are unable to raise the entire amount.
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Tullis shares update on Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative

For the past five years Marshalltown Schools have been part of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative, a $5.6 million Federal grant addressing “social, emotional and behavioral barriers to learning.”  As the District approaches the end of funding June 30, 2014, program director Matt Tullis shared an update with the Board Monday night highlighting the programs and positions funded through SS/HS and District’s next steps.

Since 2009 SS/HS has funded a variety of programs and services focusing on five areas:

• Safe school environments and violence prevention
• Alcohol and drug prevention
• Student behavioral, social, and emotional supports
• Mental health services
• Early childhood social and emotional learning

Among the items were a district-wide security audit and the installation of security cameras at Miller Middle School and Marshalltown High School, 10 full-time Learning Supports Specialists, funding for mental health and substance abuse prevention and counseling, YWCA/YMCA Youth Outreach staff, early childhood PBIS coordinator and life skills curriculum and Aggression Replacement Training. The grant also funded a full-time director and project evaluator.

Tullis said the grant has allowed more students to receive more social and emotional supports, noting that 891 students received school-based mental health services during the 2012-2013 school year. The grant has also strengthened community partnerships and helped put in place support teams, ART teams, and support district initiatives like PBIS.

The District must now determine how these supports and services look after grant funding ends. Tullis noted that some services, like contracting mental health with Center Associates, were in place before the grant period, so it could be a matter of reassessing how much time is funded. It’s also a matter of determining the roles of current staff and how duties are aligned as the funding for the Learning Supports Specialists ends. Dr. Marvin Wade, superintendent of schools, told the Board there were many options they could look at, but the much of it will come down to determine how to use the resources (funds, people, etc.) to meet student needs.
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Board approves continuing Instructional Support Levy

The Board approved continuing the Instructional Support Levy for another year. The levy provides support for general fund programs. In Marshalltown Schools the primary use is for the purchase of textbooks and related instructional materials, funding the student information system, funding building budget allocations, and information technology. The levy is an additional funding amount equal to ten percent of regular program costs (approximately $1.9 million for the 2013-2014 school year).
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Framed copies of U.S. Constitution donated to MHS classroom

The Board accepted three framed copies of the United States Constitution given by Eileen Sudenga. The framed historical documents will be displayed is Mrs. Hovel’s government classroom at Marshalltown High School.
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NOTES FROM THE BOARD

By Sherm Welker, Board President

Tonight the Board started the annual budget process with a work session following our business meeting. We reviewed new data for increased student count, open enrollments, increased State of Iowa per student funding, and our projected costs for the current and next school year.

Property assessments show a significant decrease in property values and will also need to be part of the formula for next year’s funding. Many of the pieces for funding are in place so we can begin the process of negotiating labor contracts, and eventually certifying the budget in April as mandated by Iowa code.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

Monday’s Board of Education meeting included a presentation by Director of Equity and Learning Supports Matt Tullis about the Safe Schools and Healthy Students Initiative Grant.

For the past four years this grant has supported MCSD efforts to remove obstacles that make it difficult for students to learn – barriers such as substance abuse, violence, and unmet mental health needs. The grant allowed us to strengthen our system of learning supports in many ways that will benefit students and families long after the grant goes away, though much remains to be accomplished.

Our Board is concerned about the well-being of all students and is fully aware that many of our students continue to have significant social, emotional and behavioral challenges that impact their ability to learn. With the Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant ending June 30, 2014, Monday’s budget work session was an important first step toward continuation of learning support services within the constraints of a leaner budget – a reality we’ve planned for since the grant was received in 2009.
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POLICY

First Reading

502.9 Gangs, approved.
502.10 Weapons, approved.

Initial Review

503.1 Student Government, mark reviewed.
503.2 Student Organization, will compare with IASB policy.
503.3 School Publications, look into regulations related to this policy.
503.4 Social Events, mark reviewed.
503.5 Intramural Activities, mark reviewed.
503.6 Interscholastic Competition, need to compare with MHS handbook to ensure consistency.
503.7 Attendance at Events Outside of School, bring back for first reading.
503.8 Student Honors and Awards, bring back for first reading.
503.9 Activity Ticket Funds, mark reviewed.
503.11 School Sponsored Camps, mark reviewed.
503.12/R Private Activity Camps, mark reviewed.
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PERSONNEL – Click here and here.
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The next regular meeting will be Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, at Anson Elementary. A tour of the building will begin at 5pm and the meeting will be called to order at 5:30pm.

Board looks at social media policy

The Board looked at a proposed social media policy Monday night, meant to give staff members a better understanding of the impact their online presence can have on their professional lives, as well as outline procedures and protocols for district social media accounts.

Jason Staker, district communications director, told the Board the policy was needed to help educate staff about how what they say and post on social media like Facebook and Twitter can have an impact on their personal and professional lives.

The policy will have three sections: an overall policy, a regulation focused on staff use of social media and electronic communication, and a section about establishing and using district-approved social media sites. The District has official accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Four Square, YouTube and Pinterest, Staker said. The policy, once approved, will provide clear guidance on how to expand the presence to buildings and programs.

Lisa Koester, director of human resources, said the policy is to help protect staff by better defining when items posted on social media are First Amendment protected and when they could have an adverse impact on employment. It also addresses electronic communication between students and staff, including email and text messaging.

“Much of what is put into this policy is common sense,” Staker said. “Social media is such an major part of everyday life now that it’s important to have these things outlined in official board policy.”

Details of the policy are still being developed and will be presented for initial review at the Jan. 6, 2014, Board meeting. Once approved, Staker said the District will need to work on educating staff about the rules and regulations in the policy.
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Support Services Building tech bid approved

Tri-City Electric of Davenport was awarded the technology portion of the Support Services Building project Monday night, saving the district more than $100,000.

The project was originally bid as part of the overall building renovation and remodeling, but bids at that time came in much higher than budget estimates. The Board elected to remove the technology project and bid it separately. The $118,075 bid from Tri-State Electric brings the cost down significantly.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

Monday’s Board of Education meeting included a vote by the Board to set a public hearing for Jan. 20, 2014 regarding the Instructional Support Program (ISP) for fiscal year 2015. It is proposed that the District continue its current level of ISP participation – making an additional funding amount equal to ten percent of our regular program cost available for instructional needs of MCSD (an amount that was approximately $1.9 million for the 2013-2014 school year).

Setting the public hearing for the Instructional Support Levy has traditionally been the unofficial kick-off of budget preparations for the following fiscal year. We know our student enrollment count and the level of supplemental state aid for next year, the Board will review its budget development parameters in January, and other budgetary considerations (e.g. insurance rates, compensation negotiations) will begin soon thereafter.

With the winter break rapidly approaching, I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you every happiness this holiday season and throughout the coming year.
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NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD

By Sherm Welker, Board President

Tonight the Board approved the revised technology bids for the administration suite at the Support services building. Over the past several years, technology upgrades have been accomplished through out the district at every building and the costs of new technology have escalated. We decided to break out the IT costs on the administration project so we can be better informed of the costs and how we will proceed in the future. In doing so, the District removed $140,000 of cost from the project without compromising the upgrade of the facility. Thanks to staff and our consultants for helping us achieve the goal at a greatly reduced cost.
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POLICY

Initial Review

502.1 Student Behavior and Discipline, mark reviewed
502.8/R Student Expulsion, mark reviewed
502.9/R Gangs, correct minor grammar issues, some clarifications needed on regulations.
502.10 Weapons, change “shall” and “will” to “may” in some parts of the policy.
502.11 Violence, reviewed.
502.12 Smoking, Drinking, Drugs, need to review health policy and student handbook to see what regulations are defined; policy will be refined as necessary.
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PERSONNEL – Click here.
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Students share their experience at Global Youth Institute

Adam Willman and Aleyna Bakirli talk about their experience at the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute Monday.

Marshalltown High School students Adam Willman and Aleyna Bakirli represented their school on a global stage in October as participates in the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute.

Both were on hand at Monday’s Board meeting to discuss their experience at the event, held in Des Moines Oct. 17-19, 2013. The students had the chance to meet international dignitaries, hear from Food Prize laureates and interact students from around the globe, all focused on ways to solve hunger.

Read more about their experience here.
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College-level coursework increasing at MHS

Nearly one out of three Marshalltown High School students were enrolled in college-level coursework last year, a significant increase from the year before.

“We have a multitude of opportunities and outshine other districts,” said Meri Edel, MHS guidance counselor. Edel and Connie Gardalen, Marshalltown Community College dual credit coordinator, told the Board about the four ways MHS students can earn college credit while still in high school.

The most common way to earn credit is through the dual credit system, where students take classes on the MHS campus taught by instructors with a master’s degree in the content area. Students in dual credit courses earn both high school and MCC credit.

“That’s where we have huge opportunities for kids,” Edel said.

Another parthway is Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO), which is for courses not offered at MHS. Students take the course at MCC and again earn both high school and college credit.

Career Academies offer a set of courses in a specific trade. Students take pre-requisites at MHS, then enter the academy at MCC (usually in their senior year), earning both high school and college credit.

“It’s very hands-on opportunities,” Edel said. Some of the Career Academy courses include construction trades and broadcasting. Gardalen said next year MCC will be adding an electrical career pathway as well.

The fourth pathway to college credit is the Advanced Placement course. These rigorous courses are taught at MHS by AP-certified staff. Students complete coursework and take an exam through the College Board, earning college credit if they receive a high enough score. Edel said some AP courses are also offered online, noting the work of Extended Learning Program teacher Susan Fritzell in helping identify courses to meet the needs of talented and gifted students.

Edel said the best part of these programs is the cost. While enrolled at MHS students can take the college coursework without paying for college tuition. While there are some fees for things like AP exams, the majority of costs are covered by the school and not students and their families.

“Having just sent a son to college…it’s just dollars back to us,” Edel said.

Students increasingly taking advantage of dual credit opportunities. In fall 2012 MHS students were enrolled in 794 dual credits. This fall students are taking 1366. A large part of the increase is the addition of Project Lead The Way programming, which offers dual credit in Principles of Engineering and Biomedical Sciences. Edel says as PLTW continues to grow in the coming years the number of students taking college-level coursework will increase as well.
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Support Services technology scope of work approved after re-bid

After re-bidding the technology components of the Support Services Building project, the Board approved the scope of work and project schedule Monday night.

The project consists of the technology cabling associated with the two floors of the Support Services Building which will eventually house district offices. The revised project schedule anticipates bid approval Dec. 16, 2013, with substantial completion May 23, 2014.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

Monday’s Board of Education meeting included a report about progress made during the past year on Indicator 2.3 of the District Strategic Action Plan: Increase the percentage of students enrolled in college level coursework.  During 2012-2013, 20 percent of Marshalltown High School students took college level coursework.  In 2013-2014, that number has grown to 30.7 percent of MHS students.

The increase is due, in part, to introduction of Project Lead The Way courses at MHS – though there are numerous other ways to earn college credits (for example, Advanced Placement courses and Career Academies).  Anyone interested in learning more about these valuable opportunities is encouraged to view the MHS Course Description Manual for 2014-2015 on the district website (click on “Senior High School” and then “Counselor’s Corner”).
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Policy

First Reading
501.5 Resident Students, waive second reading.

Initial Review
502.1 Student Discipline Policy, Attendance policy covers a lot of elementary-level issues related to tardiness – remove it from the discipline policy (Delete 4B); Under section 6, change “will” to “may”; bring back for first reading.
502.2 Search and Seizure, mark reviewed.
502.3 Cooperation with Law Enforcement Officials, will ask the school attorney about language.
502.4 Physical Restraint, mark reviewed.
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Personnel – Click here.
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Four Oaks Consortium contract approved

The Board approved a Four Oaks Consortium contract Monday, allowing outside districts to utilize Four Oaks classroom. The agreement states those districts will then reimburse Marshalltown Schools for the actual costs of serving those students.

Matt Cretsinger, director of special services, told the Board if all the Four Oaks slots are filled and students from within the District are identified for services they will take priority and he would work with the outside districts to find alternatives for their students.

Cretsinger said currently there are six outside districts expressing interest in placing students at Four Oaks.
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MHS medium voltage service upgrade nears completion

The Board approved substantial completion of the medium voltage electrical service project at Marshalltown High School.

The project, which cost about $1.4 million, updates electrical equipment at MHS and removes the risk of power loss at the high school.

“It’s one that makes our district way safer than it was,” said Sherm Welker, board president.
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Marshalltown named ‘Platinum’ district for enrollment reporting

The Iowa Department of Education has named Marshalltown Community School District a “Platinum” district for its timely certified enrollment count.

The DOE recognized 159 districts as being “Gold” level, which means they met three data submission targets set by the state. Districts receiving “Platinum” distinction met those targets for the second consecutive year. Marshalltown is one of 52 districts – or 15 percent of Iowa districts – to meet this standard.

Lisa Koester, director of human resources and student issues, told the Board about this recognition Monday evening. She thanked Sharon Baughman, Stacey Mommer, Keri Ashby and Ginger Jacobson for their work on submitting enrollment data to the state, as well as the numerous others who supported the process.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

During Monday’s meeting the Board of Education approved Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Program policies for Licensed Teaching Staff, Twelve-Month Secretaries, and Administrators (Policies 314.1, 407.7 and 413.7, respectively).  These policies may be viewed on the MCSD website by clicking on the “Staff Resources” tab.

Respecting the November 2012 decision of a previous Board, voluntary early retirement is not an option for the current 2013-2014 school year.  Sometime between July 1 and September 30, 2014, the Board will make a decision about the Program for the 2014-2015 school year.

Thanks go out to everyone who provided input during the recent process of policy revision – your comments were both helpful and appreciated.
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POLICY

First Reading

407.6/314.1/413.7 – Early Retirement Incentive Programs, approved and waived second reading.
500.1 Objectives for Equal Educational Opportunities for Students, changing “buses” to “vehicles” and “legal guardian or custodian” to  “legal custodial guardian”, approved and waived second reading.
501.3 Attendance Center Assignment, last part of first sentence and second paragraph struck from policy, approved and waive second reading.

Initial Reading

501.4 Attendance Records, mark reviewed.
501.5 Resident Students, add “and/or designee” after superintendent.
501.6 Non-Resident Students, mark reviewed.
501.7 Foreign Students, mark reviewed.
501.9/R Open Enrollment – Sending District, mark reviewed.
501.10/R Open Enrollment – Receiving District, mark reviewed.
501.11 Student Transfers In, mark reviewed.
501.16 Homeless Children and Youth, mark reviewed.
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PERSONNEL – Click here.

Enrollment up 75 students

Certified enrollment for Marshalltown Schools shows an increase of 75 students, according to numbers submitted to the Department of Education Oct. 15.

The District has 5,383 students, up from 5308 at this time last year. Lisa Koester, director of human resources and student issues, said the largest class size increase was in kindergarten. This fall the District has 426 students in kindergarten, an increase of 46 students from last year. To accommodate the larger numbers, an additional kindergarten classroom was added to Fisher Elementary.

“I really want to thank Mrs. Vopava for being flexible right at the start of the school year,” Koester said.

The number of open enrolled out students increased as well, though at a slower rate than last year. Open enrolled in students increased slightly and the number of tuition in/tuition out students also decreased.
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Roundhouse bids approved, work to begin next month

Work on the Roundhouse will begin in November now that the Board approved a $7.92 million bid from Dean Snyder Construction of Ankeny.

Five bids came in for the project, with the other for all over $8 million. Snyder’s bid comes in slightly below the architect estimate of $8.2 million.

Snyder has not completed a project for Marshalltown Schools before, but has done a number of projects larger, smaller, and comparable to the Roundhouse for districts such as Ankeny, Des Moines, and Mason City. Rick Simpson, director of buildings and grounds, told the Board Snyder’s references were vetted and those districts reported satisfaction with the work.

The scheduled completion for this phase of the Roundhouse project is Dec. 1, 2014.
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Board approves covering Special Education Deficit

The cost to provide quality education for special needs students far exceeds the amount of funding districts receive for it, which is why the Board approved an application for additional spending authority from the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC).

Marshalltown’s Special Education Fund Deficit is $882,056 – the amount spent on Special Education programming beyond the state allocation. Matt Cretsinger, director of special services, said the deficit is a common problem among districts as the spending formula has not changed since the 1980s, but the needs of students have changed. The way Special Education weighting is calculated has also changed, making it harder in his opinion to designate a student as Level III and therefore eligible for more funding.

Cretsinger noted that a recent conversation with other districts in the Urban Education Network showed districts dealing with $1.5 million to $3.5 million in SpEd deficits.

Board Vice President Jennifer Wilson encouraged the Board to consider pushing for reform of the funding formula during the Iowa Association of School Boards conference. That group lobbies the Iowa Legislature on behalf of school boards across Iowa.
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All elementary schools to be School-wide Title I programs

The three district elementary schools current functioning as Targeted Title I buildings will become School-wide Title I buildings.

Currently Anson, Rogers and Woodbury elementary schools are identified as school-wide programs. Next year Fisher, Frankin and Hoglan elementary schools will be added to that list.

To qualify as a school-wide program an elementary building has to have a poverty level of at least 40 percent. The schools will have to develop a comprehensive plan for reforming the instructional program. This plan will be reviewed and submitted annually to the state Title I office.

Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement, said this process will not be as daunting for these schools as they have the plans from other schools to use as a model. She said the move to school-wide programming allows schools to use Title I funds for all students in a building instead of only those specifically identified for Title I services.

“It’s a big factor in how we can meet the needs and serve the students in Marshalltown,” she said.

School-wide programs also require paraeducators to be deemed “highly qualified”. Pecinovsky said passing the Work KEYS test or taking an AEA 267 certification could achieve this. The District will use Title I funds to support these certification processes.
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District approves bond sales

The Board approved the sale of $10 million in revenue bonds Monday night, approving a bid from Suntrust of Townson, Md., they initially accepted at the Oct. 7 meeting.

Suntrust had the lowest interest rate (2.92 percent) among the bids received. Matt Gillaspie from Piper Jaffray told the Board on Oct. 7 that they received very favorable interest rates and compared Marshalltown’s bond sale to several comparable sales in other Iowa districts.

The $10 million will be used to fund work in the District Facilities Plan, which includes the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse renovation and the Support Services Center remodeling.

The bonds will be paid back over time using future one-cent sale sax revenue.
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Board reviews timeout process

In the wake of the investigation at the Iowa Juvenile Home in Toledo, school districts across Iowa are reviewing the seclusionary timeout processes in their districts. During Monday’s Board meeting Matt Cretsinger, director of special services, reviewed the legal requirements and training related seclusionary timeout.

“[Timeout] can really be any setting,” Cretsinger said. “It doesn’t really have to be a room like you heard about at the Juvenile Home. This room could be a timeout room.”

According to Iowa law, seclusionary timeout means “the student is not allowed to access and is removed from the instructional setting to a designated time out room.” This can mean escorting a student to a room implementing room-clearing procedures where all except the identified student is removed from the classroom. It doesn’t mean asking a student to sit in another part of the classroom, in-school suspension or a student choosing to go into a timeout room.

The intent of timeout rooms is to provide a setting that minimizes opportunity for injury withholds all environmental stimuli from the child so they can de-escalate. It is not intended to serve as a disciplinary setting, a deterrent for inappropriate behavior, or for students who have not undergone extensive functional behavior assessment.

The rules and regulations for timeout rooms are detailed in Chapter 281-103 of the Iowa Code. At the start of each school year all school staff must complete Chapter 103 training through Area Education Agency 267’s online service. Each building also has a team of staff members who annually complete the nonviolent crisis intervention program (CPI) training.

Board member Bea Niblock suggested the District examine a different form of Chapter 103 training, citing concern that online training doesn’t provide enough guidance for staff. Cretsinger and Superintendent Marvin Wade said that was something the district could examine for next year.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

With only one month in office, our new school board members have already received considerable training in governance – with more to occur during the month of November. Following their swearing in on September 23rd, an orientation to the responsibilities of the Board was provided by former and current board members. The Iowa Association of School Boards then provided three hours of training on October 2nd that included topics such as policy development, open meetings law, and the difference between board and administrative roles. Near the conclusion of Monday’s board meeting, there was a review of MCSD’s Strategic Action Plan, Organizational Chart, and Central Office Duties and Responsibilities Chart. New board members have also attended meetings of the Teacher Quality Committee and School Improvement Advisory Committee. Our veteran board members have been involved in all these learning opportunities, as well as meetings of the Business Education Alliance, Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, Design Advisory Committee, and the Marshalltown Auditorium Foundation Partnership. In November, the Board will participate in training from the Urban Education Network and the Iowa Association of School Boards, and will receive an orientation to school finance provided by MCSD Director of Business Operations Kevin Posekany.

I mention all of these events so people can better understand that successful governance of our district requires many hours of behind-the-scenes work in addition to the 5-10 hours per month of board meetings.  As unpaid elected officials, school board members give generously for the benefit of our children and community.
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NOTES FROM THE BOARD

By Sherm Welker, Board President

Tonight the Board approved the sale of a $10m revenue bond to continue our capital improvement projects. The terms of bond quotes we received were very favorable at 2.92 percent interest and we will exclusively use sales tax revenues for payments.

The capital improvement plan is a long term investment in our district and keeps our facilities competitive with the ever changing technology of advanced education. We appreciate the planning and thought from the Boards of past for their insight. Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of our parents, and the tax payers of our district.
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Policy

First Reading

Early Retirement Policies – Changes made based on suggestions from Marshalltown Education Association; Change retirement notice deadline to first working day in February, will come back as first reading again.

To review the policy changes, visit the Staff Resources section of the district website.
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Personnel – Click here.

District moves forward with bond sale process

The Board took the next step toward selling $10 million in revenue bonds Monday night, accepting a bid from Suntrust of Townson, Md., and slating final approval of the sale for the Oct. 21 meeting.

Suntrust had the lowest interest rate (2.92 percent) among the bids received. Matt Gillaspie from Piper Jaffray told the Board they received very favorable interest rates and compared Marshalltown’s bond sale to several comparable sales in other Iowa districts.

The $10 million will be used to fund work in the District Facilities Plan, which includes the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse renovation and the Support Services Center remodeling.

The bonds will be paid back over time using future one-cent sale sax revenue.
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Marshalltown Schools receive PE, nutrition grant

Marshalltown Community School District is the recipient of one of 60 grants under the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP).

Marshalltown Schools will receive $494,201 in year one of the three-year grant out of the combined $32 million awarded Monday by the U.S. Department of Education. Funding is intended to assist with initiating, expanding, or enhancing physical education and nutrition education programs, including after-school programs, for students in grades K-12. The PEP program is aligned with and supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Active Schools initiative to get kids moving before, during and after school.

“Through the collaborative effort of the Healthier Communities Coalition in Marshalltown, we have laid the groundwork toward educating students and families about the benefits of physical activity and healthy eating habits,” said Matt Tullis, director of equity and learning supports and coordinator of the district Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative. “We know there is a direct link between physical fitness and student achievement. This project will move us toward our goals and will certainly benefit all of Marshalltown.”

In 2013, PEP applicants were invited to align their proposals with seven “design filters” for creating engaging, high-quality physical activity programs. Applicants could also receive points for focusing their efforts on the persistently lowest-achieving schools in their area. More than half of awardees chose to address one or both of these two new priority areas for the PEP program.

“Healthy, active students do better in school and in life,” said Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education. “These grants will help schools and communities educate students on the value of healthy lifestyles through programs that get kids moving and teach lifelong healthy habits.”

All PEP grant recipients must implement programs that help students make progress toward meeting their state standards for physical education. In addition, these programs must undertake 1) instruction in healthy eating habits and good nutrition, and 2) physical fitness activities that include at least one of the following:

• Fitness education and assessment to help students understand, improve, or maintain their physical well-being
• Instruction in a variety of motor skills and physical activities designed to enhance the physical, mental, and social or emotional development of every student
• Development of and instruction in cognitive concepts about motor skills and physical fitness that support a lifelong healthy lifestyle
• Opportunities to develop positive social and cooperative skills through physical activity participation and
• Opportunities for professional development for physical education teachers to stay abreast of the latest research, issues, and trends in the field of physical education.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students manages the PEP grants and supports efforts to create safe schools, ensure the health and well-being of students, teach students good citizenship and character, respond to crises, and prevent drug and alcohol abuse.

For additional information on the PEP grant program, visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/whitephysed/index.html
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Board receives annual secretary/treasurer’s report

Marshalltown Schools has a strong general fund balance according to a report from Kevin Posekany, director of business operations and Board secretary.  There was caution that the fund balance declined in 12-13 and the solvency ratio fell slightly below the acceptable level.

Posekany gave the annual secretary/treasurer’s report to the Board Monday evening, showing fund balances, revenues and expenditures over the last three years. He also reported on Days Net Cash and Solvency Ratio, both of which have fiscal goals set forth in a new board policy developed last year.

Days Net Cash is the total cash and receivables divided by the value of total expenditures divided by 365 days. Board policy sets a goal of 60-75 days. The district met the goal, having 66 days net cash.

Solvency ratio is the assigned and unassigned fund balance divided by the actual general fund revenues minus AEA flow-through dollars. It means what percentage of revenue would be left over of the District closed its doors on June 30 of the fiscal year and ceased to exist. Board Policy sets 8-10 percent as the annual goal, which the District missed by 0.41 percent (2013 solvency ratio was 7.59 percent).
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Roundhouse gift made in honor of longtime Bobcat coach

A pair of Marshalltown High School alumni and their family are making a generous donation to the Roundhouse renovation project in honor of longtime coach George Funk.

The donation from Bob and Sally Becker (’47) and their family will be above the “Diamond Level” of $25,000. The family requests a photo and plaque displayed near the new athletic offices or the Hall of Pride recognizing Coach Funk for his contributions as a MHS coach and athletic director.
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Asbestos removal quote approved

Controlled Asbestos Inc. of Ankeny will complete asbestos removal in the Support Services Center remodeling areas.

The asbestos in contained in ceiling tile glue in the upper levels. Removal will cost $40,000.
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Project Lead the Way change order approved

The Board approved change orders for the Project Lead the Way renovations at Marshalltown High School totaling $9,994.

The change orders include a combination of additional costs and cost reductions. The largest additions included a drainpipe rerouting, mechanical changes, and the rebuilding of an office space.

Work is scheduled for substantial completion at the end of this month.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

During Monday’s meeting the Board of Education did a First Reading of the Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Program for Licensed Teaching Staff, Twelve-Month Secretaries, and Administrators (Policies 314.1, 407.7 and 413.7, respectively).  The Board requested changes be made to clarify deadlines (e.g. “by September 30” instead of “in the first quarter”) and the default status of the program if the Board does not take action by the deadline stated in policy.

All three Early Retirement policies have been rewritten and will return for another First Reading during the Oct. 21 board meeting. First Reading means the policies could be approved that evening if the Board chooses to waive a Second Reading, so individuals wanting to comment on Voluntary Early Retirement are strongly encouraged to attend the Oct. 21 board meeting at 317 Columbus Drive.

The newly revised policies may be viewed on the MCSD website by clicking on the “Staff Resources” tab. Questions about the policies should be directed to Director of Human Resources Lisa Koester, Director of Business Operations Kevin Posekanyor Superintendent of Schools Marvin Wade.
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PERSONNEL – Click here.

New school board seated, officers elected

Kendall Derby and Bea Niblock are the newest members of the Marshalltown School Board and began their tenure Monday evening.

Derby and Niblock were elected Sept. 10 to fill four-year terms. Jennifer Wilson was reelected to serve four years as well. All three were sworn in Monday.

Sherm Welker was reelected as Board president for another year. Wilson was reelected as vice president.

The board also approved appointments for 2013-2014:

• Secretary/Treasurer: Kevin Posekany
• School Attorney: Rex Ryden, Cartright, Druker & Ryden
• Additional Legal Counsel: Ahlers & Cooney, PC
• Architect of Record: TSP, Inc.

Board members will chose their committee assignments at the next meeting.
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Facilities Plan approved

The Board approved the updated District Facilities Plan Monday night.

The plan, which outlines construction projects in the district over the next four years, was updated by the Design Advisory Committee to account for projects added after the original plan was written (e.g. Project Lead the Way), add new projects that have since been identified, and amend cost estimates and budgets.

The updated plan totals $26,815,443 in projects, an increase of $9.4 million from the original document. Half of increase comes from new projects, while the other half comes from increased scope of work on current projects.
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Board looks to sell bonds to fund facilities plan

The Board approved a bid package to sell $10 million in bonds to fund the District facilities plan.

Matt Gillaspie, Senior VP of Piper Jaffray, explained the process to the Board Monday. Because of the current bond market, Gillaspie recommends the District look at a private bank loan. School districts in Iowa can have a long-term debt no larger than 5 percent of the total property valuation. The January 2012 valuation for Marshalltown Community School District was $1.6 billion, making the total allowable debt $82 million. Marshalltown Schools currently have approximately $28 million in long-term debt, leaving a $54 million capacity.

Bids are due by Oct. 7. Since the bank loan option is something new for the district, if they bids that come back are undesirable the early October deadline allows the district time to re-bid through the traditional process before the close of the calendar year.
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Evirothon team discusses trip to North American contest

MHS Envirothon Team (L to R): Sean Finn, Wynn Tan, Joe Metzger, Adam Willman, Abby Snyder.

The Marshalltown High School Envirothon team has a long history of state and national accolades. During Monday’s School Board meeting four members of the 2013 state champion team told of their latest experience on an international stage, competing in the North American Envirothon in Bozeman, Montana.

“If they become future leaders of the world we’ll have no wars – everyone will be happy.” said Susan Fritzell, MHS Extended Learning Program teacher. “They’re a real testament to the students in Marshalltown Schools.”

The team, comprised of Joe Metzger, Abby Snyder, Wynn Tan, Sean Finn and Adam Willman, placed 11th in the North American competition held Aug. 4-9 at Montana State University. All team members were present at Monday’s meeting except Metzger, who graduated from MHS last May and is now studying at the University of Iowa.

“You know once you hit the top 15 you’re part of an elite group,” Snyder said. The MHS team was among 57 teams from 47 states and 10 Canadian provinces.

To get to the competition, the team drove from Marshalltown in a school van, camping in national parks along the way. They stopped in the Badlands of South Dakota, Big Horn Mountains and Yellowstone in Wyoming before making their way to Bozeman, Montana. The team had spent the year training, studying, and preparing for the competition, which focused on aquatics, forestry, soil, wildlife and the “current events” topic: rangeland management.

“I don’t know how many of you are familiar with rangeland management, but it’s very different from Iowa,” Snyder told the Board.

During their travels the team took time to meet with experts on the topic, as well as hone their skills in the national parks.

“While other people were rushing through the park…we always managed to find the small, secluded area to find what more we could learn from the area,” Willman said.

The actual contest was divided into two sections: a written exam and an oral presentation. The written exam consisted of 50-minute tests with 10-minute breaks in between. The team had to work collaboratively to answer all the questions as thoroughly as possible.

“It’s a very intense 50 minutes,” Snyder said.

The last part of competition is a 20-minute oral presentation. The team works for 8 hours developing a plan to address sustainable rangeland management. They had to design the best plan and make it unique, including an outline, research, implementation, action necessary and timeline.

“We had been training for the past year – if not three for our high school careers,” Snyder said.

In the end their hard work paid off, as the team took first place in the current events exam, fifth place in the oral presentation and fourth place in forestry.

Each team member won a Canon Powershot Camera for placing in the top 15.
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Support Services remodel bids tabled

The Board voted to table action on the Support Services remodeling after bids for the project came in higher than architect estimates.

The low bid on the project came from Garling Construction and totaled $2,834,000. The architect estimate was $2,592,755, leaving the actual costs 9.3 percent higher than anticipated. Board members noted a trend on recent projects to have these discrepancies. Board President Sherm Welker said technology is the area where the costs most often exceed estimates. He told architect Dave Schulze to talk to district information technology director Jeff Weinberg to figure out how this could be remedied.

Since the District has 30 days to accept or reject a bid, the Board tabled action until the meeting.
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Change orders approved for Miller project

Change orders totally $4,992 were approved for the Miller Middle School 1957 wing remodeling.

The total sum was actually a total of numerous smaller change orders throughout the project, some adding costs and some deducting costs.
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NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD

By Sherm Welker, President

Tonight our MHS Envirothon team gave a presentation to the Board of their trip this summer to Montana where they competed with 57 teams from across the US and Canada. We are please that our team had a great experience while they camped, hiked, and toured to the event and then presented range management plans and presentations at the event. We are pleased to congratulate our team on an 11th place finish. This is another example of how well prepared our students are here at MHS for life and work in our world. Thank you to the team and staff for your effort to be excellent!
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

During Monday’s meeting the Board of Education completed an Initial Review of the Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Program for Licensed Teaching Staff, Twelve-Month Secretaries, and Administrators (Policies 314.1, 407.7 and 413.7, respectively).  Board discussion focused solely on reactivation of the Program for the 2014-2015 school year; voluntary early retirement continues to not be an option for the current 2013-2014 school year.

All three Early Retirement policies are scheduled for First Reading during the October 7 board meeting. First Reading means the policies could be approved that evening if the Board chooses to waive a Second Reading, so individuals wanting to comment on Voluntary Early Retirement are strongly encouraged to attend the October 7 board meeting at Fisher Elementary School.

Proposed changes may be viewed on the MCSD website by clicking on the “Staff Resources” tab. Questions about the policies should be directed to Director of Human Resources Lisa Koester, Director of Business Operations Kevin Posekany or Superintendent of Schools Marvin Wade.
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POLICY

Second Reading

412.3 – Insurance, added paraeducator contract, approved.

First Reading

414.2 – Personal illness, added paraeducator contract, waive second reading.
414.4 – Funerals, added paraeducator contract, waive second reading.
414.8 – Absence Without Pay – Classified, added paraeducator contract, waive second reading.
414.10 – Immediate Family Illness, added paraeducator contract, waive second reading.
414.11 – Personal Leave, added paraeducator contract, waive second reading.

Initial Review

414.12 – Temporary Disability, mark reviewed.
415.1 – Drug and Alcohol Testing Program, mark reviewed.
415.3 – Relations to Pupils and Public, mark reviewed.
415.4 – Classified Staff-Professional Development, mark reviewed.
415.5 – Classified Substitutes, mark reviewed.
407.6, 314.1, 413.7 – Early Retirement policies, proposed changes follow requirements in Iowa Code and would mean the policy is approved in September of a given school year for retirement at the end of the same school year. Changes would take effect for the 2014-2015 school year. Policy will come back for first reading.
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PERSONNEL – Click here.

Roundhouse project enters bidding process

The Roundhouse renovation project is entering the bid phase as plans move forward for a $9.9 million renovation of the iconic structure.

Representatives from RDG, the architectural firm heading up the project, presented drawings and bid documents to the Board Monday night. Joe Benesh from RDG said drawings are complete and are being printed for contractors.

Plans include remodeling current locker rooms, as well as adding new locker rooms, a team room, conference rooms, offices, a Hall of Pride and additional storage. There will also be a training area, 5,000 square foot fitness area, additional bathrooms, and seating for 3,000 Bobcat fans. New floors, roof, HVAC and electrical infrastructure will also be part of the overall project.

The timeline put forth by CPMI, the firm acting as project manager, aims for exterior work to begin in November of this year. Substantial completion of exterior additions will be completed in May 2014, with the Roundhouse being closed for interior work in June (after graduation). Substantial completion of interior renovations is slated for Nov. 1, 2014, with project completion Dec. 1, 2014.

Bids are expected Oct. 10, 2013, with the Board considering them at its Oct. 21 meeting.
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Revised AYP figures show progress in schools

The Iowa Department of Education has amended its Adequate Yearly Progress decisions for Marshalltown Schools, resulting in several schools meeting AYP.

Fisher, Hoglan and Rogers elementary schools all met AYP for 2012-2013 according to the updated DOE data released Sept. 5. This change means all elementary schools met AYP mathematics.

“This demonstrates that the work we’re doing is paying off,” said Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement. Pecinovsky presented the updated AYP to the Board, as well as a timeline from when the first data was received (Aug. 4) to when the district was informed there could be changes (Aug. 28).
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Special Education Service Delivery Plan approved

The Board approved the Special Education Service Delivery Plan, which governs services provided Sept. 15, 2013 to Sept. 15, 2018.

Matt Cretsinger, director of special services, presented the updated plan, which is being reviewed as part of a 5-year cycle required by the Iowa Department of Education. The plan, drafted by a representative committee of parents, administrators, teachers and Area Education Agency staff, was posted on the district website before being approved by Mary Stevens, AEA 267 director of special education.

Changes to the delivery plan include a realignment of the continuum of services to have a single continuum for students ages 3 to 21. There is also an added category for “Early Childhood Services” and addition of special education teachers working with general education teachers through consultation to provide services in the general education classroom. There is also a rubric to evaluate a teacher’s time and efforts in supporting a student with special needs in all settings, a procedure to resolve caseload concerns and details of the evaluation process regarding how often data is shared with teachers and building administrators.
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Board reviews revised facilities plan

The Board reviewed an update District Facilities Plan Monday night, with plans to bring it back for approval on Sept. 23.

The plan, which outlines construction projects in the district over the next four years, was updated by the Design Advisory Committee to account for projects added after the original plan was written (e.g. Project Lead the Way), add new projects that have since been identified, and amend cost estimates and budgets.

The updated plan totals $26,815,443 in projects, an increase of $9.4 million from the original document. Half of increase comes from new projects, while the other half comes from increased scope of work on current projects.
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Spread the Words campaign focusing on attendance

In honor of Attendance Awareness Month, Lindsey Upah and Arlene McAtee from Mid-Iowa Community Action came before the Board to discuss the “Every Day Counts” campaign, an initiative of Spread the Words – Read by 3rd focusing on chronic absenteeism in the schools.

Chronic absence is defined as missing 10 percent or 18 days of the school year. Upah and McAtee said their work over the next school year will be focused on reducing the number of students missing 18 days or more through parent education and recognition programs for students. This year the group will continue with its quarterly attendance recognition activities at the elementary schools, which proved popular last year. There are also plans to train preschool classrooms for a Perfectly Punctual Campaign and a presence and school events like conferences, parent nights and registration.

There are also plans to work with parents on understanding the importance of coming to school every day – especially among preschool and kindergarten parents. McAtee says there is often a perception among parents that kindergarten and preschool are just “play time” and not really learning. She says they will work to combat that image.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

The September 9 board meeting included a report about Attendance Awareness Month from Spread the Words – Read by Third Project Coordinator Lindsey Upah and Mid-Iowa Community Action Executive Director Arlene McAtee. Ms. Upah and Ms. McAtee provided statistics about the impact of chronic absenteeism on achievement and explained the Perfectly Punctual Campaign developed to improve attendance. Marshalltown Schools appreciate Spread the Words – Read by Third for not only addressing issues of school attendance, but also summer learning loss and readiness for kindergarten.
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NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD

By Sherm Welker, Board President

Tonight the Board reviewed the updated facilities plan for 2013-2018. With cost increases of materials and labor, along with more scope in many of these projects our funding will be stretched over the next five years and fewer new projects were added to the list of authorized upgrades. As always, we thank the fundraisers for helping expand the funding steam for our projects.

We have many more needs and wants than we have ability to fund them so priorities are given each project by staff, administration, the board, and by the public. We encourage all of you to review the plans for our district and provide feedback on your needs and wants.
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POLICY

First Reading

411.2 – Classified Employee – Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection, changed to reflect our current procedures, waive second reading.
412.3 – Insurance, paraeducator contract Section 8 needs added.
413.2 – Retirement, mark reviewed.
413.3/E/R – Termination or Suspension of Classified Employees, mark reviewed.

Initial Review

413.6 – Classified Employee Retirement, mark reviewed.
414.1 – Vacation – Classified, mark reviewed.
414.2 – Personal Illness, add paraeducator contract reference.
414.3/E1/E2/R1/R2 – Classified Employee Family and Medical Leave, mark reviewed.
414.4 – Funerals, add paraeducator contract references.
414.6 – Jury Duty, mark reviewed.
414.7 – Military Service, mark reviewed.
414.8 – Absence Without Pay – Classified, add paraeducator contract references.
414.10 – Immediate Family Illness, add paraeducator contract references.
414.11 – Personal Leave, add paraeducator contract references.
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PERSONNEL – Click here.
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Rigorous cleaning schedule prepares buildings for school

After several months, 550 gallons of floor wax, and even more elbow grease, 925,460 square feet of school facilities are cleaned ready for the school year.

Pat Hemming, building operations supervisor, gave a status report to the Board Monday night. He said 68 personnel worked from June 3 until Aug. 18 to complete the summer cleaning schedule, the work beginning and ending at Miller Middle School as the 1957 wing was prepared for renovation in June, then prepared for students in August.

Besides the work at Miller, other major summer projects included polishing the terrazzo floors in Anson and Woodbury elementary school hallways and sanding and repainting the Rogers Elementary gym floor.
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Average Daily Attendance on track with Strategic Action Plan projections

Average daily attendance in 2012-2013 was 94.32 percent, meeting the 94.1 percent target in the Strategic Action Plan.

Lisa Koester, director of human resources and student issues, reported on attendance, noting all six elementary buildings and Lenihan had attendance above 95 percent. Marshalltown High School had attendance at 92.12 percent, while Miller Middle School was at 93.67 percent.

The five-year target in the Strategic Action Plan is 95 percent by the end of the 2014-2015 school year.
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Board reviews Adequate Yearly Progress report

Initial analysis of Adequate Yearly Progress shows areas of growth and areas that need more focus.

“Yes, we’re making progress,” Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement, told the Board Monday. “We have some areas that need attention. That will be drilled down at the building level with the principals.”

AYP is based on Iowa Assessments scores and is used to identify Schools and Districts In Need of Assistance (SINA, DINA) as part of No Child Left Behind. NCLB legislation requires 100 percent of students nationwide are proficient by 2015. Pecinovsky said steeply increasing requirements in NCLB are pushing more and more schools into SINA and DINA designations. She reported that Area Education Agency 267 saw twice as many schools designated as SINA this year.

Even with increasing requirements in NCLB Marshalltown schools are seeing progress. Several schools are off the SINA list in math. Anson, Fisher and Franklin elementary schools are on the “watch list” in math, meaning they have only missed AYP one year and are not designated as SINA. Hoglan Elementary met AYP in math last year and has been removed from SINA in that category.

“I think we’re doing the right work to continue moving the math progress forward,” Pecinovsky said.

Woodbury Elementary is also on watch for math and met AYP in reading, meaning it is no longer a SINA building.

Pecinovksy said the next steps will be delving deeper into the subgroup identifications and working with principals at the building level to determine what work needs to be done.
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Work moves forward with district-wide initiatives

All Marshalltown schools are involved in five district initiatives geared toward increasing student achievement and Monday night the Board heard and update on the work in each.

The five initiatives are Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP), Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Response To Intervention and Instruction (RTI), Language/Literacy Framework (LLF) and Common Unit Design (CUD). Buildings are at different levels of implementation for each initiative, though all are in at least year two or three of each, with some in year four of their work.

Elementary buildings and Lenihan are also in year one or two of the Comprehensive Literacy Model (CLM) that fits with the LLF initiative.  This year these buildings will have pilot classrooms and all buildings will have professional earning about CLM structures.

See a full list of the work planned for 2013-2014 in each initiative here.
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PPEL information meetings scheduled at Miller, MHS

Information sessions about the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) are scheduled Monday, Aug. 26, in the Marshalltown High School library and Thursday, Aug. 29, in the Miller Middle School Library. Both sessions will begin at 5:30pm.

On Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, voters in the Marshalltown Community School District will be asked to vote on the renewal (whether to renew) the PPEL program which allows school district across Iowa to collect revenue for specific uses within their district.

In MCSD, PPEL has been used for a number of projects over the course of the years, including:

• Playground resurfacing
• Bobcat Boulevard
• Roof replacements
• Parking lot improvements
• Bus replacements
• Technology infrastructure upgrades
• Classroom remodeling

The levy cannot be used for staff salaries or supplies.

Renewal of the PPEL will not increase property taxes. The district is asking for approval to continue the voter-approved rate that has been in place for the past 10 years so that we may continue to fund maintenance and upgrades to district facilities. The question on the ballot is whether to continue the approved rate that has been in place for the past 10 years.  The funds will be used for maintenance and upgrades to district facilities.  The current rate is $0.67 per $1,000 of taxable property valuation.

The current levy expires June 30, 2016. The voter-approved PPEL program provides approximately $676,000 per year for district upgrades and maintenance.
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Board maintains previous stance on buses from outside districts

The Board voted down a request from a family wanting buses from another district to enter Marshalltown district boundaries by a vote of 5-2.

The family, who lives on the southwest edge of the Marshalltown district, was seeking allowance for a bus from the Baxter School District to enter Marshalltown boundaries and pick up their two children. They said their reason for requesting it was convenience as both parents worked out of town and Baxter was geographically closer to their new home than Marshalltown.

Several years ago a group open-enrolled to East Marshall requested a similar allowance. State law dictates it’s at the discretion of the local school board to determine if buses from outside districts are allowed. At that time the Board determined it would not allow it.

Two Board members, Jason Jablonski and John Johnson, voted to allow the buses, saying they felt it was in the best interest of the kids. Board President Sherm Welker encouraged the family to consider enrolling in Marshalltown, stating the District offered opportunities for diverse education.
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NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD

By Sherm Welker, Board President

Tonight the staff reported to the Board on the some education indicators that show our district is advancing as planned. The business plan sets goals for each of the next 3 years so that we can monitor progress and move resources where they will can have the largest impact on student achievement here in Marshalltown.

We all know and expect that students in the classrooms achieve at a higher rate than do those that are absent from class. Our attendance last year was 94.32 percent and our goal was 94.1 percent. Our goal for attendance this next school year (2013/14) is at 94.5 percent and the following year (2014/15) is 95 percent

We also have an increase in the number of areas where adequate yearly progress was achieved in our district. This measure is from the No Child Left Behind legislation and tracks each district and buildings progress. While many districts saw an increase in the number of areas of concern, Marshalltown has decreased the number of concerns and will continue to move forward for our students.

We can accomplish our mutual goals with a good plan, use of data on progress, and being excellent in our pursuit of the goals. We have 5 district Initiatives that are in various stages of implementation throughout MCSD and are on track to complete the full measure as scheduled by 2015.

Thank you for your support for our administration, staff and students. We are dedicated to continual improvement and make Marshalltown, “the district of choice.”
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

With school starting Aug. 20, a significant portion of the August 19 board meeting was devoted to a discussion about facilities. The Board of Education expressed appreciation for the large number of certified, classified and contracted staff who worked tirelessly to get the schools ready for the first day of school. It was also reported that the electric service upgrade work at Marshalltown High School continues and will not interfere with the start of school, the remodeled portion of Miller Middle School may now be used, and Project Lead the Way classes will be taught beginning the first day of school (though the Biomedical and Engineering labs will not be available until Oct. 11).

Also during the meeting, the Board of Education made plans to have one board meeting per month in the schools, as per the following schedule:

• Oct. 7, 2013 – Fisher Elementary School
• Nov. 4, 2013 – Franklin Elementary School
• Dec. 2, 2013 – Hoglan Elementary School
• Jan. 6, 2014 – Rogers Elementary School
• Feb. 3, 2014 – Anson Elementary School
• March 3, 2014 – Woodbury Elementary School
• April 7, 2014 – Lenihan Intermediate School
• May 5, 2014 – Miller Middle School
• June 2, 2014 – Marshalltown High School

Finally, The Board of Education scheduled meetings to explain the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) that is on the September 10 election ballot. These information meetings will be Monday, Aug. 26, in the Marshalltown High School library and Thursday, Aug. 29, in the  Miller Middle School Library. Both sessions will begin at 5:30pm.
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PERSONNEL – Click here.
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Digital Conversion on schedule

The District is moving forward with its Digital Conversion initiative and the work continues to gain momentum.

Digital Conversion is the initiative to bring Samsung Chromebooks into classrooms and integrate technology into learning. In January 2014 all Grade 7-12 science classrooms and all third and fourth grade classrooms will be outfitted with Chromebooks for students, with access to a wide variety of learning tools.

Jeff Weinberg, director of information technology, told the board the infrastructure necessary to make Digital Conversion possible is nearly complete, with the new fiber optic network in place since February and work on the dense wireless network 95 percent complete.

Weinberg reported that Monday afternoon the District increased its Internet capacity from 60MB to 200MB.

“It grows year-to-year anyway, but this is a big jump,” Weinberg said.

The District purchased 1,500 Chromebooks and will spend the first semester training staff and preparing for implementation in second semester. Dr. Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement, said if teachers feel prepared for early implementation they’ll have the opportunity to do so.

“We can use technology as a way to personalize learning,” said Superintendent Marvin Wade. He told the Board the District is continuing to explore options for funding more technology and increasing access, including a possible application for Race to the Top funding.
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Special Education Committee approved

The Board approved a committee of teachers, AEA 267 representatives, and parents to provide feedback on the District Special Education Service Delivery Plan.

The plan, which is reviewed every five years, will be later posted online for a period of public comment before the committee makes final recommendations to the Board.
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Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL)

On Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, voters in the Marshalltown Community School District will be asked to vote on the renewal of the PPEL program which allows school district across Iowa to collect revenue for specific uses within their district.

In MCSD, PPEL has been used for a number of projects over the course of the years, including:

–       Playground resurfacing

–       Bobcat Boulevard

–       Roof replacements

–       Parking lot improvements

–       Bus replacements

–       Technology infrastructure upgrades

–       Classroom remodeling

The levy cannot be used for staff salaries or supplies.

Renewal of the PPEL will not increase property taxes. The district is asking for approval to continue the voter-approved rate that has been in place for the past 10 years so that we may continue to fund maintenance and upgrades to district facilities. The current rate is $0.67 per $1,000 of taxable property valuation.

The current levy expires June 30, 2016. The voter-approved PPEL program provides approximately $676,000 per year for district upgrades and maintenance.
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NOTES FROM THE BOARD

By Sherm Welker, president

MCSD has requested a vote on renewal of the PPEL for 2016-2026 during our upcoming school district board election. The PPEL (Physical Plant Equipment Levy) has been in place for many years and allows the district to purchase buses, equipment, and pay for building maintenance and improvements (such as new roofs, door replacement, window repairs, etc). Currently the district receives 67 cents per $1000 of valuation on property within the district. We are requesting the same amount of PPEL be extended so that we can provide quality facilities / equipment and continue with district improvements. The election and vote is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2013, and MCSD will have several information meetings to discuss the district plan for physical improvements at those meetings. We will announce the location and schedule at a later date and appreciate the feedback and comments from the constituents that can attend.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

The board meeting included a discussion about conducting a review of MCSD facilities to ensure highest priority needs will be met in the near future and that cost estimates are updated to current market rates.  It is anticipated that this review/revision can be completed quickly (by Sept. 23, 2013) because a great deal of work was already done for the long-term Capital Improvement Project List in July 2012 and the short-term Facilities Plan approved by the Board on Oct. 15, 2012. We look forward to this “management audit” as an important component of our overall strategy for continuous facility improvement.
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Policy

First Reading

412.1 Salary Schedule, changed to add paraprofessional, approved.

Initial Review

411.2 Classified Employee – Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection, change to say all applications are made online.
412.3 Insurance, initial review.
412.4 Annuities – Classified, mark reviewed.
413.2 Retirement, correct policy reference numbers.
413.3/E/R Termination or Suspension of Classified Employees, include paraeducator contract.
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Personnel – Click here.