The Board Report

View PDF version here.

K-3 Innovative Grants for At-Risk Students awarded to four schools 

Iowa Department of Education grants totalling $280,736 will assist with funding summer programs and other educational supports at four elementary schools next year.

Anson, Hoglan, Rogers and Woodbury elementary schools will each receive $70,184 in funding. The four buildings were eligible to apply for the K-3 Innovative Grant because of Free and Reduced Meal numbers.

Anson and Hoglan will use the funds to create summer programs similar to Rogers University. Rogers, which has separate grant funding for its university program, will use the Innovative Grant to fund a certified teacher to provide additional literacy support during the school day.

Woodbury Elementary will continue to use grant funding to support bilingual staff in kindergarten and first grades with increased instructional opportunities for Spanish-speaking and English Language Learners.

“Once you have an opportunity to participate in this grant the history would tell us you have a very good opportunity to receive it again,” said Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement.
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Six CTE strands offered at MHS

Marshalltown High School offers six strands of Career and Technical Education (CTE) as defined by the Iowa Department of Education, but the programs and course offerings go far beyond the areas defined by the state.

Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement, reported on CTE programs as part of a Strategic Action Plan update to the Board Monday evening. She told the Board MHS offers a number of courses that fall under some of the CTE departments and designations, but may not fit into a specific strand as defined by the DOE. An example of that is Financial Literacy, a Business Department course that teaches essential 21st Century skills, but doesn’t fit into the defined business strand. Other CTE strands include manufacturing engineering, drafting and design, family and consumer science, construction trades and marketing.

Project Lead the Way, which offers courses in engineering and biomedical studies, also doesn’t fall under the state definition of CTE offerings because the teacher is certified in science, not CTE.

Last year MHS had 454 students considered CTE “concentrators”, meaning they had completed three semesters of coursework in one CTE strand. There were 57 students considered “completers”, meaning they’d completed six semesters of CTE classes.

Pecinovsky said the next steps for the District include clarifying the purpose of the CTE Advisory Committee, which is made up of parents, students, teachers and administrators. The committee will provide recommendations to the Board about CTE programs.
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Strong partnerships evident in MCSD

District administration provided updates on Strategy 4 of the Strategic Action Plan Monday evening.

Strategy 4 focus on strong partnerships, looking to “collaborate with parents, community and business leaders to support increased student achievement.” A collaborative attitude is strong in Marshalltown, according to administrators, who cited many examples including the Teach Them to Swim program with Lenihan Intermediate and the Community Y, work with Iowa State University to develop STEM programming (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), work with the University of Northern Iowa Jacobson Center to improve literacy and create demonstration classrooms in every elementary school, and the continued work of the Marshalltown Business Education Alliance.

Much of this work will continue in 2013-2014, as the MBEA begins examining the Strategic Action Plan for both MCSD and Marshalltown Community College and the STEM implementation gets underway with Project Lead the Way. Other work to begin in 2013-2014 are the demonstration classrooms set up through work with the Jacobson center, investigation into the possibility of online payment and registration systems for families, and the development of a DVD highlighting Marshalltown Schools.
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PLTW classroom bid awarded

The Board voted 5-1 to approve work on Project Lead the Way classrooms at Marshalltown High School.

Hay Construction will complete the project, which will cost $540,600. This was the second time the project has gone to bid. The first time bids returned significantly higher than architect estimates. The project was retooled and sent to bid again, though the second round also produced higher bids than anticipated.

Board Member Jason Jablonski cited concern with these discrepancies, saying he couldn’t vote to approve the project unless he knew money was available to fund it. He also cited concern with the project not being in the District Facilities Plan.

The Board agreed to meet in August to review the Facilities Plan, including updating cost estimates to align with current economic influences.

Substantial completion is slated for mid-October.
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NOTES FROM THE BOARD

By Sherm Welker, Board President

This evening the Board was given the “state of the district transportation department” report. This past year, MCSD operated 95 vehicles, traveled 100,000 miles, performed daily services on 39 different routes, and transported teams, clubs, and field trips for over 2500 special events. We value their experience, professional driving abilities, and thank all of you for the safe transport of our most valuable assets here at MCSD.

In late May of 2013, we experienced flooding events that limited our ability to transport north of the Iowa River. Many of the road and bridge closings were occurring on a daily, hourly, and minute by minute basis and we thank the City, County, and Iowa DOT for helping us keep safe travel at the paramount of our efforts. The staff, students, and families were also very adaptable with each changing condition and notification. We will have an emergency plan ready for the upcoming year should road and bridge closures hamper our bus routes in the future. More details will be announced as the new school term approaches.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

This evening’s meeting included reports about increased opportunities that will be available to our students during the 2013-2014 school year. Project Lead the Way will be expanded into Marshalltown High School and elementary schools will be able to increase services for at-risk students because MCSD was able to obtain over $280,000 in additional grant funding. The Board also heard about a critical component for the success of our students – efforts to increase collaboration between the school district and the Marshalltown community. These efforts -and others that are already underway- will allow us to surpass the successes of 2012-2013 during the coming year. I hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer and look forward to seeing staff and students return in August.
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Contracts approved for paras, B&G

The Board ratified contracts with district paraprofessionals and buildings and grounds Monday evening.

The para contract includes a new wage scale based on job classification and years of service. All existing fringe benefits remain unchanged. The total package increase comes to 3.55 percent, or $108,000.

The B&G contract there will be no regular wage increases, but two additional steps will be added to the wage scale and the amounts of each step will be increased, ranging from 10 cents per hour to 40 cents per hour.

Health insurance will remain the same, with District paying 100 percent of individual and 68 percent of family coverage. The total package increase for the B&G contract is 3.6 percent.
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POLICY

Initial Review

411.1 Definition of Classified Personnel, marked reviewed, mark reviewed
411.2 Classified Employee – Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection, tabled until Aug. 5
411.7 Evaluation, mark as reviewed
411.9 Terms of Employment, mark as reviewed
412.1 Salary Schedule, change to include paraprofessionals and bus drivers/monitors
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PERSONNEL – Click here.
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View PDF version here.

Garza named next Woodbury principal

Anel Garza de Sandoval will be the next principal at Woodbury Elementary beginning July 1, 2013.

Read more about Garza on Bobcats Making Headlines.
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Board approves annual progress goals

The Board approved annual progress goals for 2013-2014 focused on increasing the number of students attaining one year’s growth in one year’s time.

The goals, drafted by the School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC), focus individually on math, science and reading tests on the Iowa Assessment. The 2012-2013 goals focused on increasing the percentage of students attaining proficiency on the text. Goals are measured at fourth, eighth and eleventh grades. The District met the projected gains in all grade levels for reading, in 8th grade for math, and in 11th grade for science (there is no 4th grade science component).

Changing the goal focus to growth shifts the goals to encompass all students and aligns with the Strategic Action Plan.
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Board reviews kindergarten readiness data

Pecinovsky

Spring assessment of District preschool students show 93.9 percent met the social-emotional readiness criteria for kindergarten.

The 228 preschoolers were evaluated using the GOLD Assessment, given to preschool students in the fall and spring. Previously the assessment data was calculated manually, but recent changes to the GOLD Assessment have put it online and added more efficient report capabilities.

The spring 2013 data shows 94.7 percent of preschoolers demonstrating kindergarten readiness in physical-fine motor skills, 85.9 percent in language, 89 percent in cognitive abilities, 85.9 percent in literacy and 62.8 percent in mathematics.

Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent of student achievement, said in 2013-2014 preschool educators will have quarterly job-alike meetings and monthly program meetings to allow more time to work together and review the implementation of the Creative Curriculum. There will also be special professional learning geared toward increasing kindergarten readiness among preschoolers.
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Board approves 2013-2014 salaries

The Board approved salary increases for several groups Monday night.

The Board ratified a settlement with the Marshalltown Education Association that adds $675 on the BA base salary, increasing it to $30,815 (a 2.2 percent increase). A new teacher starting at BA Step 5 on the salary schedule will make $35,745, a $783 increase over 2012-2013.

The total package increase for the MEA is 3.59 percent, including mandatory IPERS increases and teachers moving on the salary schedule. The increase will cost $786,600.

The Board also approved a 3 percent salary increase for District administrators and a 3.5 percent increase for district supervisors, Learning Supports Specialists, and those falling into an “other” employment category. Two exceptions were business office manager Jody Brintnall and district server specialist Mark Krukow, who received 5.5 percent and 6 percent respectively.

Six administrators also received one-time salary increases totaling $35,200 in an effort to increase the compensation for the lowest-paid administrators. Vicki Vopava, Tim Holmgren, Amy Williams and Matt Cretsinger will receive $6,000 each and Deb Holsapple and Dr. Liz Jurgensen will receive $5,600 each. Savings from administrator retirements funded these increases.

The total increase to the district for these groups (administrators, supervisors, LSS and other) came to 1.7 percent over 2012-2013 expenditures.

The Board also voted 5-1 to approve a new contract for Superintendent Marvin Wade through June 30, 2015. This included the same 3 percent increase as other District administrators.
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Dairy, produce bids awarded for 2013-2014

The Board approved renewing the bid with Hiland Dairy (formerly Roberts Dairy) to supply milk in the 2013-2014 school year.

In 2011-2012 the District approved a milk bid from Roberts Dairy that included a possible two annual renewals, with the approval Monday night being the second of those renewals.

The contract with Loffredo Fresh Product Company of Des Moines was also renewed.
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PPEL extension slated for Sept. 10 ballot

Extending the District’s Physical Plan and Equipment Levy (PPEL) will head to the voters Sept. 10, 2013.

The current tax levy is $0.67 per one thousand dollars of taxable valuation and will expire June 30, 2016. The Board approved asking voters to extend the PPEL at the current tax rate for another 10 years. PPEL funds can be used for improving grounds, construction of schools and buildings and purchase of transportation equipment.

The question will be on the next regular school board election ballot.
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MHS PLTW remodeling goes to bid

Marshalltown High School’s remodeling for Project Lead the Way is heading to bid for the second time after the initial round of bids came in too high above projections.

The project includes remodeling the existing Student Resource Center into a bio-medical lab and part of an existing area adjacent to the Manual Drafting classroom into an engineering lab.

Total anticipated project costs are $409,317.13.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

During its June 3 meeting, the Board demonstrated fiscal responsibility by rejecting all bids for the MHS Project Lead the Way (PLTW) remodel because the bids came in significantly above anticipated costs.  The Board also directed district staff and the Architect of Record to return later with another plan for PLTW.  This evening, Architect David Schulze presented a new proposal to remodel classroom spaces for PLTW Biomedical and Engineering labs.  The Board approved the revised project and directed Mr. Schulze to proceed with the public bid process.  Mr. Schulze’s aggressive revised project schedule includes a substantial completion date of Oct. 11, 2013, so PLTW is still a course offering for first semester of the 2013-2014 school year – with classes temporarily taught in other MHS spaces until the labs become available mid-October.  These actions demonstrate the Board’s continuing commitment to implementing innovative programs while also maintaining the district’s strong financial standing.
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NOTES FROM THE BOARD

By Sherm Welker, Board President

This evening the Board ratified the negotiated agreements with the MEA (Marshalltown Education Association) aka Teachers Union, and with the Administration group. Both groups received and average pay increase and those increases will be funded with the 2% State funded increase. The settlements were well above the amount of increase we received from the state, but we made cuts in our budget earlier this year to offset the increased costs. Thank you to all parties in reaching an amicable solution.
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POLICY

First Reading

409.3 Licensed Employee Family and Medical Leave, updated legal references, waive second reading

Initial Review

409.7 Licensed Employee Military Service, mark reviewed
409.8 Absence Without Pay – Licensed, mark reviewed
410.1 Substitute Teachers, mark reviewed
410.7 Exchange Teachers, mark reviewed
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PERSONNEL – Click here (PDF) and here (PDF).
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Suspensions, expulsions down in district

Suspensions and expulsions decreased in 2012-2013 according to data compiled after the close of the school year.

Human Resources Director Lisa Koester presented the numbers Monday night as part of a regular report on Strategic Action Plan progress.

In 2012-2013 there were 2,609 in-school suspensions, down from 2,839 in 2011-2012. Out-of-school suspensions decreased from 424 in 2011-2012 to 263 in 2012-2013 and there were no expulsions.

The decreases in these three areas meet and exceed the projected decreases in the district Strategic Action Plan.
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Schools strive to create safe, supportive learning environment

Student Support Teams are just one component of the work district-wide to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.

Tullis

Matt Tullis, director of equity and learning supports, presented an update on this component of the Strategic Action Plan Monday evening. Some of the work related to this strategic was implemented a few years ago, such as a safety and security audit. That initial work at evaluating district needs provided the baseline information to implement future work.

Current work includes Student Support Teams in each building. These teams meet regularly to identify students who are experiencing barriers to learning, communicate with families and connect them with appropriate services. They also follow up with students and monitor progress.

Connection to those services is also a key component of this strategy, which includes maintaining strong partnerships with community-based agencies that provide counseling and mental health services.

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is also being implemented in every building with training and support from Area Education Agency 267. Tullis noted the recent Department of Education site visited cited this as a strength.

Tullis reported results from the Iowa Youth Survey that showed an overall decrease in instances of students being bullied in 2012 compared to 2011.

Much of the work in this area has been facilitated through the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative, a four-year, $5.6 million grant awarded in July 2009. Next year the district will be in a fifth extended year of the grant, which will officially end June 20, 2014. After that time the District will no longer have Learning Supports Specialists employed in every school. Tullis says at that time other District staff will need to take over the work done by LSS. Much of the work completed by LSS through the grant has been establishing the infrastructure for services, which will aid in the transition. The District will continue working with community partners and service providers to make sure student needs are met.
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Board rejects construction bids

The Board rejected several construction bids Monday night that came in significantly higher than expectations.

The cost for re-roofing the Roundhouse received one bid from Academy Roofing and Sheet Metal for $709,000, nearly $300,000 over the estimated budget. The cost for Project Lead the Way classroom remodeling came in near $1 million. Construction estimates were $335,000.

Architect Dave Schulze told the Board he will work on new plans to cut costs and hopes to bring the cost of the PLTW project down to $400,000. The Roundhouse roof will either be packaged with other components of the renovation of simply bid again at a later date.
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NOTES FROM THE BOARD

By Sherm Welker, Board President

Tonight the Board was presented with data for our discipline issues for the past school year. We have achieved the goals outlined in our strategic plan and commend the staff for their diligence. Part of our success must come by having a successful environment for student achievement and discipline is one of the major factors.

Last week we had storm events that caused some of our students and families difficulties due to transportation issues caused by road closures and regional flooding. This has happened 3 times in the last 20 years but twice in the last 5 years. The District will be working on an emergency plan that can be enacted for future events such as this. When this happens in the future, the plan for closures, delays, and instruction on what we will be doing will be posted on the District website, and released to the local radio stations as early as possible. We will also contact the regional TV stations, but have very limited control on how and when they may announce those plans. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Have a great summer!
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Personnel – Click here.

View PDF version here.

Mechdyne Corporation in Marshalltown donated $5,000 toward Project Lead the Way at Marshalltown High School. Representatives presented a check to the Board of Education at Monday’s meeting.

Rogers University returns, expands this summer

Rogers University will begin its third installment in June, this year serving students from the Rogers Elementary neighborhood entering preschool through sixth grade.

“It’s really far more unique than just a summer school,” said Dr. Mick Jurgensen, principal at Rogers Elementary. He said the program takes the idea of the “university” to heart, with teachers known as “professors” and kids having majors and minors.

A 21st Century Learning Center Grant secured by Mid-Iowa Community Action funds Rogers University and a network of community agencies and organizations provide support and enrichment for students. Some of this summer’s activities include programs with SATUCI and the Community Y, the summer reading program at Marshalltown Public Library, and a drama component organized by the Orpheum Theater Center.

“We have a climate where kids are interested and willing to learn,” Jurgensen said.

Preschool students have a two-week program that begins June 10. K-3 students have a six-week program running June 10-July 19. For this first time this year students in grades 4-6 residing in the Rogers neighborhood will participate in a 4-week program June 24-July 19. Students will participate in a variety of activities, including broadcasting and drafting lessons through Marshalltown Community College, service learning at the Iowa Veterans Home and work with Iowa State University.
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Art students find success after MHS

Before she retired, Marshalltown High School art teacher Julie Bousum decided to see how many of her former students she could track down. She wanted to know what they had done with their lives and if their paths included the lessons learned in art classes.

The results were overwhelming.

Bousum shared the results of her search with the Board Monday, which included pages of names of MHS alum in every facet of the art world. Some are art directors, some graphic designers, some art educators. Others were currently enrolled in prestigious art and design programs across the country. All said their time with the MHS art department shaped their personal and professional lives.
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Classroom engagement increases, falls short of Strategic Plan projections

While classroom engagement increased in 2012-2013 compared to the previous school year, the increase didn’t meet the projections in the Strategic Action Plan.

Engagement is measured through Instructional Practices Inventory, a set of strategies for profiling student engagement in six categories, with 1 being “complete disengagement” and 6 being “student active engaged learning”.  This data helps teachers assess and enhance their teaching process to increase engagement and with it student achievement.

In 2011-2012 the district saw 86.46 percent of observations scored in the 3-6 range. In 2012-2013 that number increased to 88.3 percent. While the number increased, it fell short of the 92 percent projection in the Strategic Action Plan.

Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement, told the Board the District will continue organizing IPI data for building-level analysis, as well as building a problem identification and solution process. Dr. Jerry Valentine, the foremost authority on the IPI process, will be conducting training in the District this fall as well.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

Among other things, tonight’s board meeting included review of financial and academic accountability measures. Just as metrics (e.g. Solvency and Day’s Net Cash ratios) convey the financial condition of our district, the Indicators of the Strategic Action Plan allow us to monitor the academic condition of MCSD – recognizing that progress on these ten Indicators is a big deal because attendance, achievement and the other Indicators are important for the success of our students.

While holding us accountable, our Board also acknowledges there is much more to MCSD than the numbers being reported. The Board appreciates the complexity of 21st century education. Each board member understands that every child and adult is unique, and that schools must often address non-academic needs as a precondition for the academic success of many of our students. Just this evening, this “awareness of the bigger picture” was demonstrated through board member comments about a broad array of topics, including Art, Athletics, Band, Healthy US Schools Challenge, World Languages (Chinese), Four Oaks, Project Lead the Way, Rogers University, Promise Neighborhood, Net High, Marshalltown Learning Academy, and Spread the Words – Read by Third!

As mentioned in the last issue of The Board Report, continuous improvement is something all Bobcats can expect to see from your Marshalltown Community School District – knowing that our Board values formal -and informal- indicators that we are meeting the diverse needs of our students, families and community.
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PERSONNEL – Click here.
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View PDF version here.

MHS students heading to international Envirothon

The Board approved sending the MHS Envirothon team to the international Envirothon in Bozeman, Montana, this summer. The MHS team was the state champion and for the seventh time in 14 years will compete at the international competition.

Read more about the Envirothon here.
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Digital Conversion initiative to bring 1500 Chromebooks to District in 2014

Beginning in the second semester of 2013-2014, students in 7-12 science and third and fourth grade will have access to Chromebooks in their classrooms.

This is the first step in the District’s Digital Conversion initiative, integrating technology into daily instruction and teaching students the digital literacy skills needed for success in the 21st Century.

Besides the Samsung Chromebooks, the District is also investing in online learning resources Learning.com and Edgenuity.com, which provide a wide array of content, virtual labs, lesson planning tools, and individualized learning tools for students at all levels.

The District has also invested in a dense wireless network and fiber optic network upgrade that will support this technology, while also increasing overall network speed.

The District will begin training staff this summer, with plans for implementation in second semester. In 2014-2015 the District plans to roll out devices in sixth grade and all other 7-12 grade classrooms, with K-2 and fifth grade rollout in 2015-2016.

To view the PowerPoint from the Board presentation, click here.
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Meal prices increased by 10 cents

School meal prices will increase by 10 cents for 2013-2014.

The Board approved increasing K-4 breakfast and lunch to $1.15 and $2.15 respectively and 5-12 breakfast and lunch to $1.20 and $2.30 respectively. Adult breakfast and lunch increase to $1.55 and $3.20 respectively. Milk and reduced-price breakfast and lunch costs will remain the same.
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Buses purchased from Hoglund

The District is purchasing two new school buses from Hoglund Bus Sales in Marshalltown.

Transportation Director Don Meyer said the buses were part of the routine replacement schedule. Three buses are being traded in for a net gain of $4,050. The Buses, purchased in 1992, 1994 and 1999, are worn out from use and their bodies have begun to deteriorate from salt erosion related to winter driving.

The new buses are 2014 models. One is 35-passenger and the other 65-passenger.

The District purchased a used bus earlier this spring as well.
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District realigns At-Risk programming

To best serve the needs of all students services must be consistently aligned across the District at all grade levels. That was the message Matt Cretsinger, director of special services, brought to the Board as he outlined plans to realign District At-Risk programming.

Cretsinger says the District is creating a systemic approach to meet student needs, including a central contact point at each building and clear guidelines on how to access resources. Penny Duer, who currently serves as K-4 At-Risk coordinator, will remain in that role and Eric Goslinga will become Secondary Coordinator of At-Risk Services in addition to serving as administrator of Marshalltown Learning Academy.

The realigned services will allow for an expanded continuum of services and allow student access earlier than ninth grade. Competency-based instruction and online resources such as Edgenuity.com will allow for students to complete coursework and gain necessary skills without necessarily repeating courses.

At-Risk students are identified by the following criteria: attendance, behavior, failing grades, Iowa Assessments scores, English Language Learner status and Low Socioeconomic status.

To view the PowerPoint of the Board presentation, click here.
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Elementary schedules discussed by Board

The Board discussed proposed changes to elementary daily schedules for 2013-2014 at Monday’s meeting.

Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement, said they plan to change the first bell to 8:15am for breakfast at the elementary schools, with the tardy bell at 8:30am. Buildings will have 30 minutes of recess time a day and 90 minutes of Physical Education time in a 6-day cycle.

Several parents and teachers spoke to the Board and expressed concern about changes, saying it will reduce the amount of recess time and the quality of physical activity. They also said they didn’t see a correlation between reducing recess time and increasing test scores.

The plan to change schedules came after a Department of Education site visit in January 2013 recommended increasing instructional minutes for elementary students by 1,300 minutes a year.

Dr. Pecinovsky said elementary principals are still working out the details of their schedules for 2013-2014 and aligning them so students across the district receive the same amount of instruction and physical activity regardless of school building.
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Asbestos abatement contract awarded to Abatement Specialties, LLC

Abatement Specialties, LLC, of Cedar Rapids will conduct an asbestos abatement at Miller Middle School.

The company had the low bid of $68,580, with an alternate bid option added for a total of $70,080. The abatement is part of the work to remodel the 1957 classroom section of the middle school.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

With 2012-2013 rapidly coming to an end, I want to thank everyone for making this such a memorable year for the students of MCSD. I hope you’ll be able to celebrate the end of the school year by attending upcoming events like the MEA/MCSD Spring Recognition Tea (May 15), Science Bound Spring Honors Banquet (May 17), MHS Commencement (May 26), and picnics at numerous schools.

Looking ahead, the summer months seem to go quickly and there is always much to be accomplished, so tonight’s board meeting included several topics for the 2013-2014 school year – handbooks, schedules, construction, bus purchases, food service prices, technology and at-risk service delivery. This enthusiasm to get a “jump start” on next year is just one indicator that continuous (accelerated) improvement is something all Bobcats can expect to see from your Marshalltown Community School District. I look forward to a strong finish to 2012-2013 and getting to work on making 2013-2014 even better.
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NOTES FROM THE BOARD

By Sherm Welker, Board President

The technology department has recommended purchasing 1500 new Chromebooks for use in all of our 3-4 grade classrooms and in science and math classroom for grades 7-12. This mission also includes rewiring and upgrading our internet and district infrastructure to high speed fiber optics which boost our performance by over 200 times current access speed and capacity.

This is the first year of a 3-year plan to put 30 wireless computers in every classroom here at MCSD. The district will begin training this summer, upgrade the infrastructure, and put many of the supporting systems and policies in place. The new notebooks will be in the classrooms by second semester (January 2014). This will change the way we approach learning, instruction, and will prepare our students for our changing world.
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POLICY

Initial Review

405.11 Teachers – Functions, mark reviewed.
405.12 School Nurse – Functions, mark reviewed.
406.1 Salary Schedule, mark reviewed.
406.3 Licensed Employees – Professional Growth, mark reviewed.
406.4 Licensed Employees – Compensation for Extra Duty, mark reviewed.
406.5 Licensed Employees – Group Insurance Benefits, bring back for first reading.
406.6 Annuities – Licensed, mark reviewed.
406.7 Prior Service, define “placement” as on the salary schedule.
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PERSONNEL – Click here.

View the PDF version here.

Five new HP laptops are heading to the Miller Middle School language arts department thanks to a grant from the EMC Insurance Foundation. Representatives from EMC were on hand Monday night to present the laptops to the district and be recognized for their contribution.

Forensics students heading to nationals

For the fifth consecutive year, Marshalltown High School is sending students to the National Forensics League national championship.

MHS juniors Abby Snyder and Ilene Finn will represent MHS and Iowa in Birmingham, Alabama, this June. Both will compete in Legislative Debate. This is Finn’s first year qualifying for nationals, while Snyder’s third – she has qualified each year she’s been in high school.

Dr. Janelle Hawk, who leads the forensics program, said they are actively fundraising to support the trip. She said there are many students active in the program and there are many young students who are showing promise.

Read more about Abby and Ilene’s road to nationals here.
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MHS band plans trip to Kansas City

The Marshalltown High School concert bands will compete in the 2014 Worlds of Fun Festival of Bands held in Kansas City, Mo.

Bret Lee, director of bands, told the Board the band likes to take a regional trip in between the major national trips every four years. He said they like to make sure the trip is for a competition and is within driving distance.

Students will need to pay a $50 deposit by early June for the trip, with the remainder of funds coming from the annual pasta dinner, fruit sales and other fundraisers. He said they always make provisions for students who work hard at fundraising but fall short, so no one is unable to go because of lack of funds.

At the Festival of Bands MHS will have two concert bands compete.
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Board takes first look at Iowa Assessments results

Results from the 2013 Iowa Assessments are in and the scores show both progress and areas for improvement.

Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement, said the District received the results about a week ago and is in the preliminary stages of analyzing them. She presented District-level scores to the Board according to the reporting calendar in the Strategic Action Plan.

In reading, fourth, eighth and eleventh grade all saw growth from 2011-2012, though only fourth grade met the projected gains in the SAP. In math, eighth grade met the projections.

Among students scoring in the “advanced” range on the Iowa Assessments, the District saw gains in reading at all levels, meeting all SAP projections. Projections were not met in math. The District also met the projection for college and career readiness in reading, but not in math.

“In reading we seem to be on a more positive trend than in math,” Pecinovsky said.

Pecinovsky also noted the District is starting to see more English Language Learners scoring in the “advanced” range.

In the area of non-proficient students making more than a year’s growth in a year’s time, the 2012-2013 scores are baseline. Since the new Iowa Assessments were only implemented last year, growth projections couldn’t be made until after this year.

Pecinovsky said the next steps are to delve into the data and determine what areas are lacking and how the District can continue growth where it is seen and improve it where it’s missing. This may involve a work session with the Board at a later date.
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Roundhouse roof replacement enters bidding process

The first step of the Roundhouse renovation will be replacing the roof.

The project, which will cost an estimated $475,000, will go to bid in May, with formal bid awards on June 3. The substantial completion date of the project is Aug. 20, 2013.
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Garling Construction to oversee Miller 1957 classroom remodeling

Garling Construction of Belle Plaine will complete the Miller Middle School 1957 classroom remodeling.

Garling’s bid of $1,711,000 includes three alternates: added fire membrane, air conditioning and vinyl composition flooring. Substantial completion date for the classrooms and lower level restrooms is Aug. 16, 2013. Completion date for thee main and upper level restrooms is Jan. 4, 2014.
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MHS electrical upgrade awarded

Price Industrial Electrical, Inc., from Hiawatha will complete the medium voltage electrical upgrades at Marshalltown High School.

Price was the only company to submit a bid for the project, which came in $400,000 over architect estimates at $1,428,605. With the addition of an alternate for an information technology generator, the project with cost $1,494,330.

Several Board members were concerned with the high cost compared to architect estimates. Board president Sherm Welker said the Design Advisory Committee had the same concerns, but felt waiting another year to do the bid process would not result in substantial savings.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

To monitor the quality of education provided to our students MSCD collects data on a number of indicators including the percent of high school students taking college level coursework, attendance and graduation rates, and Iowa Assessments results (as reported during the board meeting).

Our 2013 Iowa Assessments results provide us with reason to celebrate and cause for concern. Analysis of the results should also contribute to better alignment of curriculum, instruction and assessment that will ultimately benefit students. I am confident our attention-to-detail in this analysis/adjustment process will lead to continued increases in student achievement.
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NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD

By Sherm Welker, Board President

Tonight the Board moved forward on several new building projects. We have much to do, as Miller will be undergoing new restrooms and classroom renovations to the 1957 wing (above the cafeteria). Support Services (old Anson Middle School) will have the upper floors remodeled to further the move of our District Administration to this new location. Marshalltown High School will start new lab classrooms for Project Lead the Way, roofing on the Roundhouse, high voltage power renovations for the entire campus, and the start of the major Roundhouse renovations this fall.

Most of these projects have been on the capital improvement plan for many years back to “pre-bond issue” dates of the late 1990s and early 2000s. These building needs were assessed and listed long before the terms of the current Board members, much of the Administration team, and many of the MCSD staff. It is reassuring to know that we are continuing to building our district as those before us had planned, and all share the responsibility of providing excellence in building environments and programs, opportunities for our students and staff, and pride in our community.

Thank you for your support and encouragement.
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POLICY

First Reading

405.8 Evaluation, rewritten according to IASB policy, waive second reading.

405.10 Access to Buildings, added keycards to language, waive second reading.
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PERSONNEL – Click here (PDF).
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View PDF version here.

Celebrate School Library Month

April is School Library Month, so the teacher librarians of Marshalltown Community School District came to the Board meeting Monday to share some of the ways they connect students with books, learning and the larger community.

In just the first semester students visited the school libraries 40,000 times, checking out 91,000 items. Teacher librarians have started before and after school reading programs, held library sleep-overs, and helped students use technology in learning. Each librarian told the board about specific events and programs started at their schools.

Marshalltown’s teacher librarians are Sue Inhelder (MHS), David Stanfield (Miller), Erin Feingold (Lenihan), Jeni Sloan (Hoglan), Beth Steffa (Anson), Alicia Patten (Fisher), John Fritz (Franklin), Ellen Youds (Rogers) and Sue Cahill (Woodbury).
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Manis named next Anson principal 

Ronnie Manis will be the next principal at Anson Elementary School starting July 1, 2013.

Read more here.
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Positive feedback from Dept. of Ed site visit

The report from the Department of Education is overwhelmingly positive after a Site Visit Jan. 15-17, 2013.

Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement, presented a summary of the formal Site Visit report, which noted strengths and recommendations in seven categories: Vision, Mission & Goals; Leadership; Collaborative Relationships; Learning Environment; Curriculum & Instruction; Professional Development; Monitoring and Accountability.

The district had three areas of non-compliance, which have been corrected and submitted to the Department of Education. Dr. Pecinovsky said as of the Board meeting Monday the District was in complete compliance.

To view the Site Visit Summary presentation, click here.
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Board approves 2013-14 budget 

The Board approved the District budget for 2013-2014 Monday.

The budget is based on zero percent allowable growth and the 1 percent budget guarantee. Since the state legislature has not set allowable growth for the next year, the budget is based on “worst case scenario”. Finance Director Kevin Posekany told the Board this uncertainty was also the reason for a 30-cent increase per $1000 valuation in property taxes to $17.84. He said the Board could always go back and reduce the tax levy after the state sets allowable growth, but they cannot go back and increase them, which is why it is set higher to start. He told the Board once allowable growth is set they should be able to reduce the tax levy back to 2012-2013 levels.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

The Board of Education’s approval of the fiscal year 2014 budget was another step in the process of clarifying how monies to be received during the 2013-2014 school year will be spent. Among the factors included in these allocation decisions are district priorities, board policy, and current knowledge of federal and state funding levels.

Now that the budget has been adopted, the next step is to align expenditures with district priorities, without changing the total to be expended. These adjustments will be made between now and the end of June based upon factors such as curricular needs, compensation packages and operational costs (e.g. utilities and transportation fuel).  Reports will be made about these adjustments as additional information becomes available regarding changes in state revenue and district commitments for 2013-2014.
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NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD

By Sherm Welker, Board President

Tonight we formally reviewed the Site Visit Report from the Iowa Department of Education. The report summarized the findings of the inspection team that came here in January of this year. The team interviewed staff, administration, students, parents, and community members while looking through our procedures, plans, training, credentials, curriculum, testing scores, policies, and reviewing the quality of service we are achieving in our school district. (Sounds almost like an IRS audit or visit to the Dentist if you ask me.)

We had been given a verbal report when the team completed the inspection and all of the points were confirmed by the written report. It is my privilege to summarize the results and say the Marshalltown School District passed with flying colors! The inspection team remarked that all members of our team know and understand the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan and the measurements that enable the Board, administration, and staff to monitor our progress. There are many facets to encourage and motivate student achievement, and the SAP identifies our plan and our results. We are very pleased that only a few minor paperwork / policy issues were needing adjustment as a result of the inspection and those items were all corrected in February after they were identified. Marshalltown is in full compliance and ready to grow and advance as we have planned.

Thank you to all parties involved with the Site Visit and our progress. We look forward to all of the opportunities the future will bring here in Marshalltown.
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POLICY

First Reading

405.3 Licensed Employee Individual Contracts, waive second reading.

Initial Review

405.6 Certification, mark reviewed with citation of Iowa Code.

405.7 Assignment and Transfer, mark reviewed with citation of Iowa Code.

405.8 Evaluation, bring back revisions based on IASB policy.

405.10 Access to Buildings, rewrite to align with current practices.
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PERSONNEL – Click here.
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View PDF version here.

R.S. Stover presented the District with a check for $5,000 Monday to support the implementation of Project Lead the Way at Marshalltown High School.

Huegel next MHS activities director

Craig Huegel will be the next activities director at Marshalltown High School.

Read more here.
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Board reviews proposed budget

The Board reviewed the proposed district budget for 2013-2014 Monday.

The budget is based on zero percent allowable growth and the 1 percent budget guarantee. Since the state legislature has not set allowable growth for the next year, the budget is based on “worst case scenario”. Finance Director Kevin Posekany told the Board this uncertainty was also the reason for a 30-cent increase per $1000 valuation in property taxes to $17.84. He said the Board could always go back and reduce the tax levy after the state sets allowable growth, but they cannot go back and increase them, which is why it is set higher to start. He told the Board once allowable growth is set they should be able to reduce the tax levy back to 2012-2013 levels.

The Board will vote on adopting the budget at the April 1 meeting.
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Four Oaks to provide intensive services for At-Risk students 

Four Oaks, a non-profit organization that provides a variety of educational and therapeutic services to At-Risk youth, will house three classrooms at Marshalltown Learning Academy beginning next year.

Matt Cretsinger, director of special services, told the Board about this partnership, which will include two conduct disorder settings and one therapeutic classroom to serve up to 35 students.

“It’s the best way to support our students,” Cretsinger said of the partnership. “They’re willing to adjust to what our needs are.”

Currently the District sends six students out of the district to receive the services Four Oaks can provide, the cost of which is $55,000 to $105,000 per student. Cretsinger noted that with outside placement the District has no say in the education provided and it makes for successful transition back into the regular school setting difficult. Many outside service providers are also closing or changing the scope of their services. Bringing Four Oaks to classrooms within the district means the students will receive the services they need using district curriculum and without the need for extended daily travel.

“[Students] have to be set up for success in an environment where they can learn,” Cretsinger said.

Four Oaks will provide three Special Education teachers, six youth counselors and one program coordinator. Cretsinger will oversee the program for the district. He says having the classrooms at MLA will also provide more opportunities for district staff to learn about intensive instruction.

“They want to be a partner to our district,” he said. “They want to meet our needs.”

The contract with Four Oaks is for one year, with the potential to review up to three years. The cost for the first year is $571,000, which will be covered by funds previously needed to enroll and transport students with outside service providers.

Superintendent Marvin Wade said having Four Oaks in district allows all students to receive services they need.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

The Board’s approval of a contract with Four Oaks will allow MCSD to provide specialized services to a select group of high need students within our District. Four Oaks will be housed in the same building as Marshalltown Learning Academy, but will serve a different group of students than MLA. MLA will continue its focus on assisting students who are at-risk of not graduating, while Four Oaks will serve up to 35 students who have conduct disorders or mental health therapeutic needs, and some students who are at-risk of expulsion. The addition of this program is one of many steps taken by MCSD to meet our objective of “providing a safe and supportive environment for learning.” I look forward to future reports about the success of Four Oaks and MLA in meeting this objective.
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NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD

By Sherm Welker, Board President

Tonight we met our new Activity Director, Craig Huegel and family: wife, Jen; son, Andrew (6); and daughter, Kerigan (20 months).

Craig will be taking the lead of Athletics during a very critical time in our district as the new Roundhouse project starts this summer. He is highly qualified and will have full support of the administration and staff as he begins a new legacy here in Marshalltown. Many thanks to Tim Bell for his long and successful tenure here in Marshalltown with students, athletics, coaching and programs. As with all of the of the retirees, we attempt to replace their skills and abilities, and know that we create challenges and possibilities for new people to come here to our community and educational programs. Welcome to Craig and family!

The budget remains a big topic of our work on the Board. As many know, the legislature and Governor’s office have been debating education finding policy for over a year without much success. We are negotiating with our employees, setting budgets for expenses all without knowing if we will get any additional funding from the state. We all agree that education funding needs to be changed, but lack of action and disagreement will not help us get where we need to be anytime soon. We will keep you posted on our plan as this continues.
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MHS activity ticket price raised

The Board approved increasing the price of high school activity passes for 2013-2014.

All season adult activity passes will increase $10 to $90. Senior citizen passes (age 62 and up) will also increase $10 to $50. The cost for employee and employee spouse passes increases $5 to $20. High school student passes will increase $5 to $45. Middle school student passes will increase to $40.

Passes for students in grades K-6, as well as district retirees will remain free.
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Food service truck purchased

Food Service will purchase a new truck from O’Halloran’s in Altoona for $80,570.

Two bids were received for the truck. A second bid, from Freightliner, was $1,801 less than O’Halloran’s, but did not meet the specifications needed. The O’Halloran’s truck can also be serviced in Marshalltown.

Food service will sell its 1996 truck and use its 2000 truck as a backup. The new truck will be used for delivering breakfast and lunch to the elementary schools from the satellite kitchen at Marshalltown High School. Food Service Director Vickie McVey told the Board the truck delivers about 2,400 lunches daily.
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Bus purchased from Hoglund

The District will purchase a 2004 32-passenger bus from Hoglund Bus Company for $22,000.

Transportation Director Don Meyer said the buss needed two thermal window panes replaced, but otherwise was in good working order and had been inspected by the district mechanic.

Purchase of the used bus saves $50,000-$60,000. The regular replacement schedule had plans to replace one preschool/special education bus and two 65-passenger buses 2013-2014, but there was a need for two of the smaller 32-passenger uses.

Purchasing the used bus now means the district will purchase one 65-passenger bus and an additional preschool/special education bus after July 1, 2013.
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Two projects move into bid process

The District will send to bid two projects – an electrical upgrade at Marshalltown High School and the 1957 wing remodel at Miller Middle School.

The electrical upgrade includes underground conduit and conductors, new transformers and new secondary service and electrical panel boards. Work on this project is some of the infrastructure required to begin the Roundhouse renovation.

The Miller project includes remodeling 9,258 square feet on two floors, including classrooms and restrooms. The project will also add air conditioning to the 1957 classroom addition.

Both projects are part of the District Facilities Plan and will no go to the bidding process. Both are scheduled for completion before the start of the 2013-2014 school year.
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Personnel – Click here.
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Policy

Initial Review

405.2 Licensed Employee Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection, mark reviewed.

405.3 Licensed Employee Individual Contracts, modify to say contracts will be not more than one year.

405.4 Licensed Employee Continuing Contracts, mark reviewed.

405.5 Licensed Employee Work Day, mark reviewed.
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View the PDF version here.

MMSC supports Project Lead the Way at MHS

Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center donated $30,000 toward implementation of Project Lead the Way at Marshalltown High School.

Dr. Terry Briggs, chairman of the MMSC Board of Trustees, presented a check to School Board President Sherm Welker Monday night. Funds will go to support the implementation of a Biomedical Sciences program at MHS.
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Graduation rate increases 8% 

The Marshalltown Community School District graduation rate increased nearly 8 percent from 2011 to 2012 according to figures released by the Iowa Department of Education this week.

Read the full story on on our news blog, Bobcats Making Headlines.
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District looks at updating safety procedures 

Marshalltown Schools are partnering with the Marshalltown Police Department to review safety policies and train staff in new approaches to school safety.

Police Chief Mike Tupper and high school associate principal Deb Holsapple told the Board about training held with district administration Saturday, March 2, on ALICE: Alert Lockdown Inform Counter Evacuate.

ALICE is a system to respond to an active shooter threat inside an office, school, etc. Tupper said it’s a system many in law enforcement have believed in for years and it’s now gaining momentum across the country.

Instead of the traditional lockdown model, where students and teachers hide in a classroom, ALICE encourages people to evacuate as soon as possible, as well as fight back if necessary by throwing chairs, barricading doors, etc.

“These are things I’ve been teaching my kids for 20 years,” Tupper said. He was adamant ALICE was not about teaching children to fight armed gunmen. Instead, it was about teaching staff how to be alert and letting children know it’s okay to escape, even if it means breaking windows.

“It’s important to arm your staff with options beyond lockdown,” he said. “If we don’t teach people that there are options, they won’t know.”

Lisa Koester, director of human resources, said the next step for the district is to review the district safety plans. These were developed in 2000 and are reviewed annually by schools, but the district will now do a more comprehensive review with the MPD.

Buildings and Grounds director Rick Simpson also noted some safety upgrades across the district that have already been implemented in recent years, such as security cameras at the high school and more secure entrances at several buildings.
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Pedro Gomez, who won the Class 3A 285-pound state wrestling title, was recognized in front of the School Board Monday night, along with his coach, Mike Mann. Gomez plans to attend Ellsworth Community College after graduating from Marshalltown High School, where he will play football and wrestle. Gomez is the first Bobcat to claim a state wrestling title since 2003.

Board approves 2012 audit report

Mary Babinat from accounting firm Nolte, Cornman & Johnson presented the 2012 district audit report Monday night.

The report showed General Fund revenues increased by $2.67 million in fiscal year 2012 and expenditures increased by $2.55 million. The district solvency ration, which is the unassigned fund balance divided by revenues (minus AEA flow-through funds) increased to 6.94 percent from 6.21 percent in 2011. Board President Sherm Welker noted the Board’s new financial planning committee has set a goal of increasing the solvency ratio to between 8 and 10 percent.

The audit had some recommendations for the district, including segregation of duties, making sure all contract changes and fundraisers are approved by the board and the Board president signs all contracts.
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NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD

By Sherm Welker, Board President

Tonight the MCSD Board had a safety and security briefing from staff and Chief Tupper on our district buildings and policies. We will continue to train and educate our staff and students on the latest standards being developed on violent intruder procedures. As Chief Tupper stated, we have fire and tornado drills even though the last loss of life for fire in a school happened in 1958, and tornado loss in in 1978. We need to actively train for violent attacks as they are predominately a much larger threat in today’s world. We will continue to coordinate our procedures with local law enforcement so they will know what we are doing should they be called to respond. We are encouraged that our local officials have our security at the paramount of their thoughts and actions.

We are very fortunate to live here in Marshalltown and for years have seen living in the Midwest as a “safe haven” free from the tragedies we see in the news. We can no longer depend on the safety of our location and must prepare for the worst case. While the district has always had a plan for such an occurrence, many thoughts and procedures have changed since the latest tragedies have taken place.

As always, this is a great place to live and raise our families. We will strive to keep our policies strict to the possibilities, but gentle to those we are privileged to educate and serve.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

While Federal and State officials publicly grapple over issues such as sequestration and allowable growth, our local Board of Education has diligently focused on developing a budget for the 2013-2014 school year. Instructional Support Levy and Budget Guarantee resolutions have been approved, the budget will be presented as an informational item on March 18, and both Public Hearing and Budget Adoption will occur April 1. As other elected officials struggle for control, it is reassuring to see MCSD board members work closely together to provide the best possible education for the students and families of our community.

I encourage everyone to attend the Marshalltown High School Community Open House on Thursday, March 7, from 5:00-8:00 pm. The fourth annual MHS Community Open House is a project of MHS Parent Networking to showcase our great students and school to community members – especially those who may have limited contact with Marshalltown High School.
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POLICY

Second Reading

703.4/E – Fiscal Management – Performance Measures, adopted as amended.

First Reading

403.1 – Employee Physical Examinations, add paragraph on blood-borne pathogens, waive second reading.

403.4 – Hazardous Chemical Right to Know, add “or designee” after superintendent, waive second reading.

403.5 – Harassment – Employees, add “or designee” after superintendent, waive second reading.

703.5 – Finance Committee, waive second reading.

Initial Review

403.6/E/R – Substance-Free Workplace, mark reviewed.

404.1/R – Employee Appearance, mark reviewed.
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PERSONNEL – Click here.
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View PDF version here.

Interest in Project Lead the Way growing

Emerson Process Management – Fisher Division pledged $75,000 over three years to PLTW.

Iowa Veterans Home donated $2,500 in support of PLTW.

Lennox Industries pledged $30,000 over three years to PLTW.

The Marshalltown Economic Development Impact Committee (MEDIC) donated $60,000 toward PLTW.

Interest in Project Lead the Way is high among students, parents, and community leaders, says Aiddy Phomvisay, principal at Marshalltown High School.

Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is “the leading provider of rigorous and applied science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum in the United States”. Gateway to Technology (GTT), the middle school component of PLTW, began at Miller last fall, replacing the old Modular Tech curriculum. In GTT, students participate in eight independent units focused on design and modeling, automation and design, and other STEM areas.

PLTW expands to Marshalltown High School in fall 2013, with the introduction of the Pathway To Engineering (PTE) and Biomedical Sciences Program (BMS).

Course offerings at MHS will include Principles of Biomedical Science, Introduction to Engineering, and Principles of Engineering. Each course in the PLTW program will earn students college credit.

“These are the things the kids are interested in and want to be involved in,” Phomvisay said.

To prepare for PLTW courses, MHS will receive two new state-of-the-art computer labs with the latest in software and technology. The school has received a $35,000 grant to start the PLTW program at the high school level and at Monday’s Board meeting accepted checks from a number of local business and organizations to support PLTW implementation.

Emerson Process Management – Fisher Division has pledged $75,000 over three years to PLTW. The Marshalltown Economic Development Committee (MEDIC) is giving $60,000. Lennox Industries has pledged $30,000 over three years and the Iowa Veterans Home is giving $2,500.

Phomvisay said Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center has also pledged support, though the amount has not been finalized. There is also a partnership with Marshalltown Community College to provide college credit for the PLTW courses.

Students are in the process of signing up for fall 2013 courses at MHS right now and Phomvisay says interest in both Pathways to Engineering and Biomedical Sciences is great.
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Anzis a US Presidential Scholar candidate 

Marshalltown High School senior Ben Anzis is a candidate for the prestigious US Presidential Scholars program.

Established in 1964 by presidential order, the program honors the nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors. Anzis is currently among a pool of elite high school students who will vie for one of 560 semifinalist positions. Each year up to 141 students are named Presidential Scholars.

In order to be eligible for this recognition, students must be high school seniors who “score exceptionally well on either the SAT of the College Board or the ACT of the American College Testing Program or be nominated by their Chief State School Officer (CSSO) based on outstanding scholarship.”

Semifinalists will be announced in early April, with the Presidential Scholars being named in May.

Anzis was recognized before the School Board at Monday night’s meeting. He told the Board he plans to attend MIT or Cal Tech after grauating from MHS.

“I just want to say a big thank you to everyone here for supporting me and students like me in our academic endeavors,” Anzis told the Board.
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Board looks at needs assessment results

Results of the Community Needs Assessment show nearly 85 percent of people feel Marshalltown Schools provide a safe learning environment.

The survey, conducted last fall in the months leading up to the Department of Education Site Visit, had 928 responses, with 85 percent being parents of current MCSD students.

Jason Staker, director of communications for Marshalltown Schools, shared the survey results with the Board during Monday’s regular meeting. The survey gauged opinions on academic programs, special programs, supplemental programs and environment, as well as learning about how and where people like to receive information about schools.

In almost every category the majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed Marshalltown Schools were providing good academic programs, extra-curricular activities, etc. In the category of supplemental programs more responses were in the “Don’t Know” category. Staker told the Board this was probably due to the fact these specific programs – like English Language Learner services and At-Risk programming – were not experienced by some of the individuals answering the survey.

Several themes emerged from among the comments on the survey. First was the positive changes being seen at Marshalltown High School. Staker said numerous comments noted parents and students noticing a positive environment and an appreciation for the dedication and enthusiasm of principal Aiddy Phomvisay. Other comments suggested looking at more times and opportunities for parent involvement and ways to connect families with community resources.

Staker said the next step is to examine current district practices to determine how they can be altered to meet the needs addressed in the survey. Feedback from the Site Visit report will also factor in to this process. Staker also said he plans to create a shorter version of the needs assessment to complete annually in order to track progress.
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Art Club traveling to Chicago March 16

The Board approved a trip to Chicago for the Marshalltown High School Art Club Saturday, March 16.

Students will visit the Art Institute to see a Picasso exhibit and see the National Museum of Mexican Art. Some funding for the trip will be from Art Club fundraising, while some will be from students. Cost will be $50-75 per passenger.
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Health Careers Club plans trip

The Marshalltown Area Health Careers Club will visit the Robert Lurie Cancer Treatment Center at Northwestern University March 8-9, 2013.

The Board approved the trip Monday night, which includes a half day with doctors, nurses, students and others who are responsible for the care and treatment of patients with cancer. Thirty-two MHS students will participate, as well as two from South Tama.

Chaperones will be Dan Terrones and Lisa Wunn, MHS Deans of Students, Erin Weatherly, MHS Teacher, and John Hughes, CEO at MMSC.

Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center will sponsor this trip. GEAR UP funds will also be used to cover some of the costs for 11th grade students. Students will provide money for eating and any shopping expenses they may incur.
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NOTES FROM THE BOARD

By Sherm Welker, Board President

Tonight the Board was asked to expand our curriculum at MHS to include Engineering and Health Science electives that will provide added opportunities for college credits. This new program, called “Project Lead the Way,” is centered on Engineering and Health Sciences that are vital to our local economy and fully supported by our partner business leaders. We also accepted major donations from Emerson Process Management – Fisher Division, MEDIC, Lennox and the Iowa Veterans home. These partners and others, including Marshalltown Community College and Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center, will help support and fund this program for the next three years and beyond. This is just another factor that make Marshalltown a great place to live and educate our students. Thank you again to our business partners for your trust and support!
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

Last month’s site visit by the Iowa Department of Education provided feedback to the district from educational experts from across the state. Monday evening’s presentation of the 2012 Community Needs Assessment provided us with additional input from 928 residents of our community. We greatly appreciate the individuals who contributed to these efforts – the compliments and concerns from both sources are important to the continuous improvement effort of our district.

It is always great to have one or more of our outstanding students at a board meeting, so the recognition of MHS senior Ben Anzis was a highlight of the evening. His nomination for the prestigious US Presidential Scholars program is a great honor and we wish him much continued success.
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POLICY

First Reading

402.2 Child Abuse Reporting, waive second reading

703.4/703.4-E Fiscal Management – Performance Measures, return for second reading

Initial Review

403.1 Employee Physical Examinations

403.3 Communicable Diseases – Employees, mark reviewed

403.4 Hazardous Chemical Right to Know

403.5 Harassment – Employees, change that superintendent or designee shall develop a schedule for annual ongoing training.

703.5 Finance Committee, change portion about casualty and worker’s comp insurance section so it states the board acts on a recommendation made by administration.
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PERSONNEL – Click here to view.