The Board Report

View PDF version here.

One million served

Food Service report shows increased meals, expanded programs

No kids will go hungry if Vickie McVey can help it.

The District Director of Food Services leads a crew of 76 who served approximately one million meals during the 2011-2012 school year.

Marshalltown School Food Service served 268,273 breakfasts and 713,535 lunches, an increase of 22 percent and 7.5 percent respectively.

The breakfast increase comes from the addition of Breakfast in the Classroom at Woodbury Elementary. The program began at Anson Elementary in the 2006-2007 school year and has gained popularity, providing free breakfast to every student regardless of family financial status.

McVey says teachers noticed an increased focus among students, and school nurses noted fewer morning stomachaches and headaches.

New to MSFS this year was a fresh fruit and vegetable program which provided a wide variety of snacks to elementary and preschool students. A total of 234,432 snacks were served, including figs, Chinese long beans, star fruit and bok choy among others.

The popular Summer Feeding Program, which runs through the end of July, averaged 698 lunches per day in 2011. The program also offers breakfast and snacks – all at no cost to students.

On the financial side, expenditures were 87 percent of revenues, with food costs at $1.24 per meal. Other costs per meal were labor ($1.39) and miscellaneous supply and equipment expenses ($0.27).

Sixty-eight percent of students qualified for free and reduced meals, with 3,048 students qualified for free meals and 366 for reduced. The negative account balance at the end of the school year was $12,178, a decrease from 2011 and from the all-time high of $26,380 in 2009.

McVey said the MSFS goals for 2012-2013 are to continue expanding food service availability and increasing breakfast participation. MSFS will also integrate with Infinite Campus to allow parents to view account balances through the Parent Portal. McVey says they will also continue to work on compliance with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and on the District Wellness Policy and US Healthier Schools Challenge.
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Board reviews Strategic Action Plan indicators

The Board reviewed Strategic Plan indicators during the first meeting of the 2012-2013 school year.

Indicators are the measures used to track progress toward the Strategic Plan goal and objectives. Data was highlighted according to progress: read meant a target was not reached, green meant it was, and yellow meant there wasn’t enough information yet to make that determination.

Many items remain in the “yellow” range because indicators are based on the Iowa Assessments, which were new this year. With the new assessments, it is hard to measure progress from a previous year when students took different tests.

The district is on track to meet its goal of 95 percent attendance, exceeding the progress indicator set for 2011-2012. The district also met the indicator for decreasing expulsions, though had increases in in-school and out-of-school suspensions.

Several items like graduation rate aren’t available until the state releases the figures in the fall. Superintendent Marvin Wade said the district will continue to track progress and gather data when it’s available so a formal progress report can be made to the community in the fall.
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District-wide initiatives progressing

Five major initiatives are underway in Marshalltown Schools, with each building at different steps on the way to full implementation in four years.

The five initiatives are:

• Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) – a decision-making framework that guides practices for improving academic and behavior outcomes for all students.
• Sheltered Instruction (SIOP) – evidenced-based framework for improving academic achievement of English Language Learners.
• Response to Intervention (RTI) – a process to increase capacity for making decisions matched to student needs.
• Common Unit Design (CUD) – method of designing curriculum by setting goals before choosing activities and content for teach.
• Literacy Framework – implementing the Comprehensive Literacy Model and Comprehensive Intervention Model to increase the number of students who are proficient in reading and writing and to close the achievement gap between diverse groups while accelerating literacy learning for all students.

Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement, showed the Board where each building was implementing these initiatives and the work they would be taking on during the upcoming school year.
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District secretaries receive pay increase

The Board approved a 3.63 percent salary package increase for district secretaries Monday night.

The package reflects similar percentages received by district teachers and administrators. The total budget increase will be $51,837.
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Strategies for parent, community collaboration discussed

District administration updated the Board on work under Strategy 4 of the Strategic Action Plan, which calls for collaboration with parents, community and business leaders to support increased student achievement.

There are five actions tied to the strategy:

1. Identify and promote opportunities for parent engagement.
2. Promote partnerships with community agencies and organizations
3. Promote business and education partnerships.
4. Research, develop and implement educational choice options to meet student and community needs and interests.
5. Implement plan for ongoing communication with internal and external audiences.

District administrators told the Board about numerous projects and initiatives going on under this umbrella, including work with the Business-Education Alliance and the extensive network of partnerships throughout Marshalltown.
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Notes from the Superintendent

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

Tonight’s board meeting provided an excellent transition from last year to the 2012-2013 school year which began July 1, 2012.  Presentations included information about efforts to improve collaboration with community partners, progress toward full implementation of five district initiatives, and data for the ten progress indicators of our Strategic Action Plan. These reports clearly conveyed that major themes of 2011-2012 -higher expectations, narrowed focus, and increased accountability- will remain a driving force for improvements important to us all – increased student attendance, engagement, achievement and graduation.
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Notes from the Board

By Kay Beach, Board President

Our district’s Mission Statement is “To nurture students to become intellectually and personally empowered for citizenship in a changing world;” and we usually think of that “nurturing” as being academic or social in nature.  Tonight we were reminded that our school’s Food Service does a yeoman’s job of nurturing our students’ bodies as well.  And as if serving over a million meals (breakfasts and lunches) weren’t enough, Ms. McVey and her staff are educating our youngsters about different foods and training their palates to enjoy all kinds of different fruits and veggies.  Because of our national concern regarding childhood obesity, the meals are planned with both variety and caloric content in mind.  It is both reassuring and inspiring to learn about the care and concern that is behind this service that many of us just take for granted.
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Personnel – View PDF here.
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Policy

Initial Review

204.1 Regular Meetings, mark reviewed
404.2 Special Meetings, mark reviewed
204.3 Closed Sessions, strike “by the Board Secretary” from the section regarding who takes detailed notes.
204.4 Annual Meeting, strike several sections of redundancy with 201.7
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View PDF version here.

District begins partnership with UNI’s Jacobson Center

The University of Northern Iowa’s Richard O. Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Literacy has selected Marshalltown Schools to take part in its Partnership in Comprehensive Literacy (PCL).

“We’re one of the few districts in the state that’s going to be moving this work forward,” said Dr. Susan Pecinovksy, associate superintendent for student achievement.

Pecinovsky and several principals and literacy coaches traveled to Council Bluffs earlier this year to see the positive impact of the literacy program. Council Bluffs schools, while twice the size of Marshalltown, have similar demographics and were also had several Schools In Need of Assistance (SINA). There, the district partnered with the University of Arkansas to reconfigure literacy instruction. The result was dynamic instruction and student learning that consistently pushed scores up and the buildings off SINA lists.

The research from Arkansas is the foundation of the work at the Jacobson Center. So far Marshalltown has received funding to train three literacy coaches and one district-level coach. The District has applied for funding to train three additional teachers.

The PCL model has 10 distinct features: a framework for literacy, model classrooms, high standards, comprehensive assessment system, system interventions, collaborative learning teams, well-designed literacy plan, technology for learning and spotlighting and advocacy.

This fall the three trained coaches will being working at Hoglan, Anson and Franklin elementary schools, with the goal of adding three more (or one per elementary) by 2013-2014.

More information about the Jacobson Center can be found at http://www.uni.edu/jccl
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New math courses designed for Special Education students

Newly configured math instruction will help meet the diverse needs Special Education students.

Dr. Ken Hayes, associate principal at Marshalltown High School, and Pam Brewer-Michael, MHS chemistry teacher and Common Unit Design facilitator, described the revamped curriculum to the Board. It relies on the use of Wikis, or online sites to allow students with different skill levels in different areas of mathematics to work in the same classroom.

Brewer-Michael said a curriculum team comprised of Special Education teachers from MHS and Miller and math content teachers did lot of research while developing these wikis, including studying district data, examining other models and reading about best practices.

“This new system is going to allow students to start where they need to be and if they can advance quickly through an algebra strand they’ll be able to do that,” Brewer-Michael said.

Students will have online accounts where they can access teacher-created instructional videos designed for specific content and skill-level. Pre- and post-testing will help teacher monitor progress. When students aren’t making the expected progress, small-group and one-on-one teaching will take place in the same classroom.

There will be seven sections of the class this fall, with no more than 17 students in a section. Hayes said the structure has made scheduling simpler for these students, since the diversified online instruction allows students at various skill levels to be in the same section.
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Board reviews baseline data on kindergarten readiness

Associate Superintendent Susan Pecinovksy presented baseline information on kindergarten readiness, one of the facets of the Strategic Action Plan.

Objective 1 of the SAP is to improve academic performance, so monitoring kindergarten readiness as defined and measured by the Gold Assessment gives the district a clear picture how students are prepared for learning.

The Gold Assessment is given to all students in the District preschool program and measures age-appropriate skills including social-emotional development, physical/fine motor skills, language, cognitive skills, literacy and mathematics.

Pecinovksy said breaking the Gold Assessment down into these categories allows the District to identify specific areas where more instruction needs to occur.
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Memberships, admin salaries approved

Salary increases for district administrators and the superintendent were approved Monday night, as well as membership in the Urban Education Network and Iowa Association of School Boards.

Administrators were given a 3.63 percent total package increase, which includes a 3.59 percent salary increase and the remainder reflecting mandatory IPERS increases. This package increase was the same as given to the certified teaching staff.

Superintendent Marvin Wade was also given a 3.59 percent salary increase and had his contract extended an additional year to June 30, 2015.

The Board also approved membership in the UEN for $5,000 and IASB for $10,459.
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Fisher change orders approved

The Board approved three change orders on the Fisher Elementary construction project Monday night.

The change orders total $36,400.75 and include some HVAC, masonry work and door transom repairs.

Architect Dave Schulze told the board the change order costs still fall below the 5 percent contingency built into the project budget. The project is slated for completion before school begins this fall.
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PERSONNEL

Resignations

Jennifer Dwyer, Franklin teacher librarian, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.
Brianna Yates, Grade 5-8 vocal music, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.
Kathy Stalzer, Miller paraeducator, effective June 1, 2012.
Wendi Hunt, Woodbury paraeducator, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.
Jim Lewis, Lenihan custodian, effective July 5, 2012.
Blair Benefield, 8th Grade volleyball coach, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.
Tyler Hellmann, 8th Grade assistant volleyball coach, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

Appointments

Mallory Kern, Fisher preschool. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: BA Step 5.
Collette Murphy, Anson 1/2 Special Ed, 1/2 Title I. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: BA+15 Step 5.
Blake Cutright, Hoglan PE (0.5 FTE). Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: BA Step 5.
Jacob Borton, Miller Language Arts. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: BA Step 5.
Jade Musgrave, Franklin Grade 4. Start date: Aug.15, 2012; Salary: BA Step 5.
Tracy Steere, Hoglan Special Ed. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: BA+15, Step 11.
Cheri Bolar, Title I at Hoglan (1/2) and Franklin (1/2). Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: BA Step 7.
Mark Krukow, District Network Specialist. Start date: June 11, 2012; Salary: $51,295.
Craig Luttrell, MHS speech director. Salary: $957/year.
Dana Craft, Anson paraeducator. Start date: Aug. 16, 2012; Salary: $9.48/hour.
Bruce Vopava, 7th grade boys track coach. Salary: $2474/year.

Change of Contract

Debra Christenson, Fisher, Rogers, Woodbury ELP (change from Franklin Grade 4), start date: Aug. 15, 2012.
Cindy Martin, .75 FTE Hoglan Homebound Special Ed Level III (change from Anson Special Ed), start date: Aug. 15, 2012.
Julie Thede, Anson Grade 2 (from Anson Grade 1), start date: Aug. 15, 2012.
Lacie Moore, Hoglan Grade 3 (from Anson Grade 1), start date: Aug. 15, 2012.
Katie Troskey, Franklin Special Ed (from Franklin preschool), start date: Aug. 15, 2012.
Stephanie Goos, Hoglan Kindergarten (from Franklin Special Ed), start date: Aug. 15, 2012.
Gladis Gonzalez, Woodbury Grade 2 Spanish (from Lenihan Grade 6), start date: Aug. 15, 2012.
Maiea Milot, Woodbury paraeducator (from Woodbury bilingual tutor), start date: Aug. 16, 2012.
Martha Munoz, Woodbury paraeducator (from Woodbury bilingual tutor), start date: Aug. 16, 2012.
C’Yanna Ochoa, Fisher paraeducator (from Woodbury paraeducator), start date: Aug. 16, 2012.
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POLICY

First Reading
203.5 School Improvement Advisory Committee, waive second reading.
203.6 Legal Counsel, waive second reading.

Initial Review
203.9 Gifts to Board of Directors, mark reviewed
203.10 Board Self Evaluation, mark reviewed
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View PDF version here.

Summer School underway

Summer school programs are underway across the District in the month of June.

All elementary schools are offering Ladders to Learning, a summer learning program facilitated by Area Education Agency 267. The program offers reading and math instruction, though schools are offering one or both based on student needs.

Lenihan Intermediate and Miller Middle schools are offering summer tutoring sessions for reading, math and academic vocabulary. Marshalltown High School has credit recovery sessions for English, math, science, social studies and English Language Learners.

Rogers Elementary will also host its Rogers University.
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MHS cheerleaders set to perform at Chiefs game

Marshalltown High School Cheerleaders will perform at a Kansas City Chiefs football halftime show Aug. 10. 2012.

Stephanie Farrell, MHS cheerleading coach, said the team will participate in the Chiefs’ Spirit Day halftime. On Aug. 4 the 16 cheerleaders will travel to Kansas City to learn the routine. They will return to Kansas City on Aug. 10, to perform at halftime.

Farrell said the team plans to do some fundraising this summer.
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Board approves MEA contract settlement

The Board approved a settlement with the Marshalltown Education Association for a 3.6 percent total package increase in 2012-2013.

The agreement provides a $605 increase on the base salary, with a new teacher earning a minimum salary of $34,962 (BA Step 5) and continuation of health, dental and vision insurance.

The total increased cost to the district is $756,000.
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Agreement reached with paraeducators

The Board approved an agreement with Local No. 238 of the Teamsters Union representing district paraeducators.

The agreement gives a 2.25 percent increase for 2012-2013. A new longevity pay schedule will also be placed in effect for employees with at least seven years of service. Employees in this category will not receive the 2.25 percent wage increase, but instead receive longevity pay ranging from 35 cents per hour to 80 cents per hour.

The total additional cost to the district is approximately $102,500.
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2013-2014 calendar approved

The Board approved the calendar for the 2013-2014 school year.

School will begin Aug. 20, 2013. Instead of a full week of spring break, there will be an extended break around Easter (April 17 & 18, 2014). One of the in-service days previously held before school starts will be scheduled Jan. 17, 2014. The last day of school will be May 29, 2014.

The district has received an Innovative Calendar Waiver for 2013-2014, so there will be another calendar created later for one or more buildings.

The Board also approved a waiver for an early start for the 2012-2013 school year, which begins Aug. 21, 2012.
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Discipline, attendance data review

The Board reviewed a report on district discipline and attendance Monday night.

Lisa Koester, director of human resources and student issues, presented numbers for the 2011-2012 school year, noting some areas of celebration and some places where more work is needed. Incidents of in-school suspensions decreased from 2010-2011, as did expulsions. Incidents of out-of-school suspensions increased this school year. Koester said part of the reason could be the increased accountability and work to crack down on inappropriate behavior. Board members expressed the desire to see the continued expansion and implementation Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports throughout the district to help decrease incidents of misbehavior.

District attendance rates saw an jump from 2010-2011, going from 93.42 percent last year to 94.37 percent this year. All elementary schools were above the Strategic Action Plan’s overall goal of 95 percent.
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Notes from the Board

By Kay Beach, Board President

Just a few years ago Marshalltown schools were perceived as being unsafe for students.  All kinds of reasons were given for this perception, but the bottom line is that it was believed by a huge number of people in our community.  This was a serious situation for at least two huge reasons:  (1) No one wants children in an unsafe environment, and (2) Parents, consequently, began sending their children out of our district.  Our school leaders realized that this perception/situation required major attention and serious action.  Tonight we received a report that clearly indicates that in the realm of behavior, things are turning around and looking up.  In all our schools children are given clear explanations of the behavior that is expected in the school setting and also a clear explanation of the consequences of unacceptable behaviors.   A positive, safe environment is essential to good learning; and if we are to be a “district of choice” (which is our goal,) we absolutely must provide that kind of environment.  Congratulations and thanks to all of our district administrators, teachers, support staff, and students for making great strides in improving the climate of our schools.  Keep up the good work!
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PERSONNEL

Resignations

Anel Garza de Sandoval, Woodbury kindergarten, effective June 1, 2012.

Kylee Vopava, Lenihan Grade 6 teacher and 7th grade volleyball coach, effective at the end of the school year.

Kelley Dickey, MHS social studies teacher and assistant girls golf coach, effective July 31, 2012.

Eric Hunerdosse, Woodbury Learning Supports Specialist, effective July 20, 2012.

Sara Reed, Miller drama coach, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

Nicole Clark, Franklin paraeducator, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

Alicia Nunez, Lenihan paraeducator, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

Kelsey Sawtelle, MHS paraeducator, effective June 1, 2012.

Jordan Johnson, Franklin paraeducator, effective June 1, 2012.

Terminations

Erin Hoskins, Woodbury paraeducator, effective May 2, 2012.

Appointments

Matt Cretsinger, Director of Special Services. Mr. Cretsinger is currently program assistant for special eduation at Heartland Area Education Agency. He has also been team leader for Behavioral Supports and a school psychologist. Start date: July 1, 2012. Salary: $89,000.

Jacy Large, Miller principal. Mr. Large is currently director of support services in Ankeny. Previously, he was principal of South Hamilton Middle School/High School in Jewell, Iowa. Start date: July 1, 2012. Salary: $99,000.

Mallori Ghent, Franklin Grade 3. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: BA Step 5.

Jhanell AlSamhan, MHS art. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: MA Step 5.

Naomi Terbetski, MHS ESL. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: MA Step 5.

Caitlin Toppler, MHS ESL. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: BA Step 5.

Natalie Elliot, Franklin Grade 1. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: BA Step 5.

Morgan Boehmer, Miller Grade 7 Reading/Language Arts. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: BA Step 5.

Stacey Tool-Crawford, Rogers school nurse. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: 3 year Step 11.

Diane Peden, MHS 10-month counseling secretary. Start date: Aug. 13, 2012; Salary: $9.65/hour.

Alicia Nunez, Lenihan 10-month secretary. Start date: July 25, 2012; Salary: $9.65/hour.

Change of Contract

Susan Baker, Special Education Level II LD/BD. Change from Miller to Rogers Aug. 15, 2012.

Jessica Cakrasenjaya, change from MHS ELL to English/Language Arts Aug. 15, 2012.

Karen Roessler, change from Lenihan ELP to Woodbury/MACS Title I Aug. 15, 2012.

Pam Atcher, change from 10-month vault secretary to 10-month counseling secretary at MHS, Aug. 9, 2012.

POLICY

Second Reading: 701.5 Post-Issuance Compliance Policy for Tax-Exempt Obligations approved as presented

First Reading: 203.1 two sentences added, waive second reading

Initial Review: 203.5 School Improvement Advisory Committee, make it comply with Iowa Code 280.12, change to say final selection shall be approved by the Board and superintendent shall appoint an administrative representative; 203.6 Legal Counsel, mark reviewed; 203.7 Administration in Absence of Policy, mark reviewed.

View PDF version here.

New K-6 literacy program purchased

A new K-6 elementary literacy curriculum is headed to Marshalltown this fall.

The board approved purchasing Treasures, a literacy curriculum from McGraw-Hill Companies. The new curriculum will replace materials from 2003.

Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement, says benefits of Treasures include online materials for teachers and online learning opportunitites for students. Treasures also has specific materials for Special Education and English Language Learners.

“This will be an opportunity for a seamless system for instruction [with Special Education, ELL, and core instruction materials],” Pecinovsky said.

The purchase price for the new materials is $497,608.
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Federal program supports migrant student education

Approximately 280 migrant students are enrolled in Marshalltown Schools and Monday night the Board learned more about them and the Federal program  designed to help them succeed.

MCSD received $276,400 in Title I – Part C Federal funding this school year for the education of “migratory children”. This funding provides supplemental education and support services for eligible children face the challenges of disrupted education.

Rachel Inks, district English Language Learneing coordinator, reviewed the migrant program for the Board and the Federal eligibility requirements. Students must be under 22 years of age without a high school deploma or GED. His or her parent, spouse, or guardian must be a migrant agricultural worker and the child must have moved in the last 36 months to accompany them to seek temporary or seasonal work. The work must be with raw agricultural product and be the primary means of livelihood.

Iowa has nine school districts with migrant programs, each one in a community with a meat processing or packing plant.

Migrant students are identified at registration. Families are asked if they recently moved to Marshalltown seeking work in agriculture, food processing, etc. If yes, the District Migrant Recruiter interviews the family and completes a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE). This is reviewed by the District Migrant Coordinator and submitted to the Iowa Migrant Coordinator for approval.

The Federal program has “priority for service” guidelines to identify students with the most pressing needs. These include an interruption to education in the previous 12 months and if a student is failing or at risk of failing.

Funds received through the Migrant Program pay part of the salaries of some employees and provide supplemental services like tutoring, after school programs, ESL services, credit recovery, preschool and other instructional resources. Migrant students also receive free school meals and are eligible for translation and interpretation services and some supportive health services in cooperation with other agencies.
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Franklin Field Gateway project, MHS classroom addition finished

The Board closed out two projects Monday night, approving the resolution of substantial completion for the Franklin Field Gateway Project and the Marshalltown High School second floor classroom addition.

The Franklin Field Gateway project was funded by community donations. Buildings & Grounds Director Rick Simpson told the Board the community volunteers had recently completed the landscaping for the project and had plans to supervise upkeep.

Both projects were completed by Hay Construction Services.
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IPI measures student, teacher engagement

The spring Instructional Practices Inventory (IPI) data collection is complete, and the results are consistent with fall collections.

The IPI process is a set of strategies for profiling student engagement on six categories. This data helps teachers assess and enhance their teaching process to increase engagement and with it student achievement.

The District worked with consultants from Area Education Agency 267, which sent a team of certified trainers to collect the first baseline information in the fall. District staff members were then trained and conducted a spring collection.

The fall collection showed 86.43 percent of observations scored in the 3-6 range. The spring collection showed 87 percent.

Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement, said this information will be used as the baseline to measure future progress in student engagement as part of the district Strategic Action Plan.
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Notes from the Board

By Kay Beach, Board President

Whenever I am asked to list my hobbies, one of the activities that is high on my list is reading.  Reading is truly a passion of mine; being stuck somewhere with time on my hands and nothing to read is my idea of torture.  I remember clearly the hours I spent in first grade, looking at the alphabet letters along the top of the blackboard and repeating over and over their initial sounds; and I remember, too, the seemingly endless repetition of long and short vowel sounds.  When I was six years old my burning ambition was to be able to read (for myself!) the Sunday comics—“Lulu,” “Henry,” “Little Orphan Annie,” “Popeye,” etc.  Learning to read unlocked the doors to unlimited realms:  nature, the universe, fantasy, foreign lands, the past, the future….and the Sunday comics.  Today, reading remains the key to all other learning.  So, tonight, when the Board voted to spend nearly half a million dollars on pre-K through sixth grade literacy materials specifically designed to help all students, it was one of the most significant votes that we, as Board members, will ever make.
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Notes from the Superintendent

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Pecinovsky’s report on student classroom engagement included data from observations conducted as part of our commitment to the use of the Instructional Practices Inventory.  Trained observers go classroom to classroom making determinations about the extent to which students are actively engaged in the learning process. Observations conducted during the current school year resulted in a district baseline of 86 percent engagement. Knowing that engagement is a crucial component for higher levels of learning, engagement targets have been set for the next three years.  District engagement targets for 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 are 92 percent, 97 percent and 100 percent classroom engagement respectively.

We look forward using IPI to gauge our progess as we work to make sure students and teachers are engaged in the learning process.
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PERSONNEL

Resignations

Teresa VandeLune Steensma, Miller 7th Grade Science teacher, effective at the end of the school year.
Daniel Lovell, MHS Special Education teacher, effective at the end of the school year.
Paula Pisney, Rogers ELL teacher/SIOP coach, effective at the end of the school year.
Carla Goettsch, B&G secretary, effective May 28, 2012.
Doug Bacon, MHS Boys Track Coach, effective at the end of the school year.
Sherry Glenney, Substitute Bus Driver, effective May 9, 2012.

Appointments

Lisa Schneck, Miller Grade 7 math teacher. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012. Salary: BA Step 5.
Stephanie Lase, Miller Grade 7 Art teacher. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012. Salary: BA Step 5.
Lindsay Delagardelle, Miller Grade 8 Art teacher. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012. Salary: MA Step 5.
Caira Young, Miller Learning Supports Specialist. Start date: June 1, 2012. Salary: $35,000/year.
Michael Britt, computer tech/auditorium assistant. Start date: May 21, 2012. Salary: $30,000/year.
Carla Goettsch, B&G warehouse/receiving. Start date: May 29, 2012. Salary: $16.73/hour.
Mark Bohan, MHS assistant football coach. Start date: 2012-2013 school year. Salary: TBD.
Matthew Butler, MHS assistant boys basketball coach. Start date: 2012-2013 school year. Salary: TBD.

Change of Contract

Sara Reed, Special Ed Level II teacher. Start date: 2012-2013 school year. Change from Miller to MHS.
Kayleen Schwartzenburg, MHS paraeducator. Start date: 2012-2013 school year. Change of assignment at same position level.
Caitlin Ellis, Anson general education paraeducator. Start date: 2012-2013 school year. Change from Special Ed Level III paraeducator at Hoglan.
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POLICY

First Reading
201.8 Vacancies, major revision based on IASB policy, waive second reading
202.1 Code of Ethics, major revision based on updates to Iowa Code, waive second reading
701.5 Post-Issuance Compliance Policy for Tax-Exempt Obligations, new policy required for bond refinancing

Initial Review
202.5 Board of Directors’ Conflict of Interest, return for first reading
202.7 Individual Board Members, return for first reading
203.1 Formulation, Review & Revision of Policy, return for first reading
203.2 Adoption of Administration Rules & Regulations, mark reviewed
203.4 Ad Hoc Committees, mark reviewed
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View the PDF version here.

District to save $1.7 million through bond refinancing

The Board approved the sale of two bonds Monday night, which will save the district nearly $1.7 million over the life of the bonds.

The district received bids Monday afternoon. Matthew Gillaspie from Piper Jaffray & Co. in Des Moines told the Board the district received an A+ rating from Standard & Poors, which made the bonds a desirable investment.

The first bond for $870,000 was sold to United Missouri Bank of Kansas City, Mo. The new interest rate of 1.86 percent will calculate to a $10,000-$20,000 savings each fiscal year, totally approximately $178,000 in total.

The second bond for $16.99 million was sold to Bankers Trust & Company in Des Moines. Since the bond is not eligible to be paid off for two years, the money is put in an escrow account for two years. The new interest rate is 2.55 percent, which will represent a savings of $1.5 million over the life of the bond.
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MHS sending students to 5 national contests

Students representing five different groups came before the Board for two reasons Monday night. One was to ask permission for out-of-state travel. The other was to celebrate the reason for these trips: to represent Marshalltown on a national and international stage in five separate competitions.

Students from Envirothon, Poetry Out Loud, Math Team, National Forensics League and National History Day are heading to contests around the country soon after winning state and regional honors.

Envirothon students Molly Finn, Adam Willman, Brennan Goodman, Abby Snyder and Joe Metzger were state champions of the environmental competition and will compete at the Canon International Envirothon at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Penn., June 22-28, 2012.

Finn and Snyder will also represent MHS at two other contests. Finn is the part of the MHS Math Team with XingXing Duan, Jaleb Jay, Nicole Lacina, Sumeet Panchal, Chandler Schmidt, James Talbert and Ben Anzis. The team qualified for the Great Plains Math League Regional contest May 18, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo.

Snyder is advancing to the National Speech & Debate Tournament June 10-15, 2012, in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is Snyder’s second year of qualifying for nationals in Legislative Debate.

Susie Pratt, Ellen Podhajsky and Hannah Stone are heading to the National History Day contest June 10-14, 2012, in College Park, Md. The trio qualified their group performance, “Carrie Chapman Catt: Leading the Woman’s Rights Revolution”, at Iowa National History Day April 30.

Gwen Morrison will travel to Washington, D.C., May 13-15 to compete in the National Poetry Out Loud contest. She was named state champion March 3, 2012.
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New math curriculum for MHS

Marshalltown High School will implement a new math curriculum this fall.

The Pearson Series math curriculum was selected after a formal needs assessment in the fall of 2011. Members of the MHS Math Dept. reviewed the Common Core standards and benchmarks and looked at different options for good readability, differentiation and online support for students and teachers.

Angela Pierce, a high school math teacher who presented the curriculum to the Board, said the implantation will be gradual, with Pre-Algebra and Algebra classes for freshmen added in the fall. This way students who are already in the Integrated Math series can complete it.

The cost of the new math curriculum is approximately $100,000.
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Board looks at Iowa Assessments

The Board reviewed the new Iowa Assessments Monday night, looking at both district results and how the new tests differ from the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS).

This is the first major change in Iowa standardized testing in approximately 15 years. The Iowa Assessments are more rigorous than previous tests, said District Applications Specialist Ronnie Manis. The Iowa Assessments have new questions and new points of comparison. They are aligned to the Common Core standards and are reported using National Standards Scores (NSS).

NSS describe performance on a continuum from kindergarten through high school. The continuum is based on scores from testing thousands of students and determining where students at certain grade levels fall within a range.

The achievement continuum connected with the Iowa Assessments is divided into three categories: Non Proficient, Proficient, and Advanced. Using these scores allows teachers, parents and students to track not only proficiency at a test time, but year-to-year growth.

Manis and Dr. Susan Pecinovksy, associate superintendent for student achievement, told the Board the conversations with colleagues across Iowa show similar result trends as seen in Marshalltown: a decrease in scores in lower grades, with increased scores at the high school level.

Since this is the first year for the Iowa Assessments the district will use the results as baseline data in the Strategic Action Plan.  Scores will be sent home with students the week of May 14.
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Garling  Construction selected for Support Services project

Garling Construction Company from Belle Plaine had the low bid for the Support Services Building addition and site development.

District architect Dave Schulze says all the bids came in higher than estimated, but the District was able to work with Garling to find $101,493 in cost-reducing items in the project. The cost for demolishing the 1925 portion of the old Anson Middle School was also below estimates, which helps offset costs.

The project cost is $1,603,507. The work prepare the former middle school for use as district offices, Board room, and meeting rooms.
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Brycon, LLC, selected for west bus barn demo

Brycon, LLC, will tear down the west bus barn. The project will prepare the area for extra bus parking and include added security fences and lighting.

Total cost is $90,100.
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Notes from the Superintendent

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

May 7-11 is a week for recognizing a number of groups within the school district. At tonight’s Board meeting we kicked off School Board Recognition Week by presenting each Board member with a certificate of recognition in appreciation of their service to the students, parents and staff of MCSD. Serving on the Board requires each board member to work hundreds of hours every year without pay; to attend many meetings and school functions; to study a large number of agendas, proposals and reports; and to have ongoing discussions with members of our community.

May 7-11 also marks Teacher Appreciation Week. MCSD has many dedicated teachers who work hard every day to help our students achieve. While it may just be one week named “Teacher Appreciation Week”, their tireless efforts are valued year-round.

This is also National Nurse’s Week. Wednesday is National School Nurse Day, so make sure to thank your school nurses and health aides.

I hope others will join me in thanking our teachers, nurses and board members for their valuable contribution to the children and youth of our community.

I also want to remind everyone about the Marshalltown Education Association/Board Recognition Tea that will be held from 4:00-6:00 pm on Wednesday, May 16. I hope you will join us at Dejardin Hall on the Marshalltown Community College campus to honor retirees, MEA scholarship winners, the Friend of Education Recipient, and staff with 35 and 25 years of service.
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Notes from the School Board

By Kay Beach, Board president

This evening’s group of young people who sought the Board’s blessing for their trips to various national competitions was certainly occasion for button-popping chests swollen with pride!  Theirs was one long

parade of bright, hard-working students who have earned the opportunity to continue their quests for excellence on the broader stage of “nationals.”  As Board members we wrestle constantly with the challenge of improving the quality of education in our community, and much of our focus is on ways to help those students who struggle to achieve even minimum competencies.  So, it is especially uplifting to be able to celebrate both the opportunities for students on the upper end of the competency scale and the successes of those who seize those opportunities and run with them.  Congratulations to the students (who have done the work), their teachers and mentors (who challenged them), and their parents (who supported and encouraged them)—we eagerly await the reports of your performances on that broader stage!
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Personnel

Retirements

Vicki McKibbin, Hoglan Grade 3 teacher, effective at the end of the school year; has taught in MCSD 13 years.
Janice Dehrkoop, Woodbury LI Tutor, effective June 1, 2012; has worked in MCSD for 19 years.

Resignations

Sharon McKimpson, Miller principal, effective June 30, 2012.
Sierra Herring, Hoglan kindergarten teacher, effective at the end of the school year.
Michelle Ritter, Rogers Special Ed teacher, effective at the end of the school year.
Luisa Rumero, Woodbury Grade 2 teacher, effective at the end of the school year.
Josh Russell, MHS art teacher, effective at the end of the school year.
Brian Bown, MHS Special Ed teacher, effective at the end of the school year.
Tayler Bovenmyer, MHS paraeducator, effective May 31, 2012.
Morgan Ellis, Anson paraeducator, effective at the end of the school year.
Joshua Menuey, Fisher paraeducator, effective April 16, 2012.
Brittany Peters, Franklin paraeducator, effective at the end of the school year.
Kayla Tate, Lenihan paraeducator, effective at the end of the school year.
Jennifer Witte, Lenihan food service, effective May 25, 2012.
Patty Nevarez, Franklin paraeducator, effective April 9, 2012.

Appointments

Kathryn Jimenez, Anson Kindergarten. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: BA Step 11.
Lydia Arevalo, MHS Guidance Counselor. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: MA Step 5.
Sabrina Russell, Elementary Instructional Coach. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: MA Step 7.
Mary Brown, Fisher Preschool teacher. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012; Salary: BA Step 6.
Fred Fehrman, Substitute Bus Driver. Start date: Feb. 15, 2012; Salary determined by route.
Kevin Goodman, MHS assistant softball coach. Start date: April 9, 2012. Salary: $3,190/year.

Change of Contract

Jennifer August, change from Franklin Grade 1 teacher to Elementary Instructional Coach. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012.
Kim Hurley, change from Anson Grade 4 teacher to Elementary Instructional Coach. Start date: Aug. 15, 2012.
Cedra Baccam, change from Special Ed Level I paraeducator to Special Ed Level II paraeducator at MHS. Salary: $9.48/hour.
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Policy

701.5 Post-Issuance Compliance Policy for Tax-Exempt Obligations, initial review of new policy, will return for first reading.
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View PDF version.

‘Team Genius’ leads state in First in Math competition

Skyler Rush, 5,955 points; Austin Shomo, 6,664 points; Lily Martin, 6,902 points; Alonzo Ceren, 7,370 points; Seth Derby, 7,790 points (8th in state); Jay Drummer, 12,548 points (2nd in state).

Six students from Fisher, Rogers and Woodbury elementary schools are leading the state in the online math competition First in Math, a lead they have held for most of the school year.

Marcia Plett, who facilitates the Extended Learning Program in those schools, brought Skyler Rush, Austin Shomo, Lily Martin, Alonzo Ceren, Seth Derby and Jay Drummer to the Board meeting Monday night to be recognized for their success in First in Math.

First in Math is an online program that allows students to complete math problems and earn points according to varying degrees of difficulty. Students can access the program from any computer with Internet access. Plett said students spend a lot of time out of the classroom working on problems and improving their skills.

Besides being the top team in the state, two students are among the top 10 individuals in First in Math. Seth Derby from Rogers Elementary is 8th in Iowa and Jay Drummer from Woodbury Elementary is ranked second.
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Board approves 2011 audit report

View PDF version.

Project Lead the Way coming to Marshalltown

Middle school students next year will have new opportunities for learning about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through Project Lead the Way.

Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is a non-profit organization and the nation’s leading provider of “rigorous and innovative” STEM curriculum.

“We want to be part of what’s happening out in the educational community that’s cutting edge,” said Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement. “This is a chance for our students to be a part of the work that’s being spoken about nationally.”

Pecinovsky and other administrators attended a PTLW conference last fall and visited Franklin Middle School and Jefferson High School, both in Cedar Rapids, where PTLW programs are being implemented.

This fall Miller Middle School will replace its current Mod Tech curriculum with Gateway To Technology, which includes “independent, nine-week units that explore aerospace, energy, the environment, green architecture, modeling, robotics, technology and other STEM-related topics.” This will include foundation courses Automation & Robotics and Design & Modeling.

“Miller welcomes the opportunity to launch PLTW, giving students a solid foundation in engineering, technology, communication, and problem solving before broadening the experiences at MHS,” said Sharon McKimpson, Miller principal. “We also appreciate the opportunity to work with local business enterprises to strengthen the success of the PLTW endeavors.”

Marshalltown High School will use 2012-2013 as a planning year before launching the Pathway To Engineering curriculum, which “explores the design process and links STEM principles to relevant problem-solving activities.” Foundation courses will be Introduction to Design and Principles of Engineering.

“The rigorous and hands-on academic programming in pre-engineering will afford our students a competitive edge that they need in the future,” said MHS Principal Aiddy Phomvisay. “We are hoping to partner with MCC to offer these courses to be dual college enrolled courses so our students may take them for college credit.”

PLTW offers grants through its STEM Education Fund. Miller was not funded, though MHS is still waiting to hear about funding status.

“We’re going to go ahead and move forward because this is the right work to be doing,” Pecinovsky said.

All students at Miller next year will take part in the foundation courses. After that, Pecinovsky says they will look at student interests to determine additional coursework.
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Preschool continues to grow

Since receiving the state voluntary preschool grant in fall 2007, Marshalltown Schools have continued to add classrooms across Marshalltown. Now, the District is preparing to open preschool at Fisher Elementary in the fall, bringing classes to every elementary in Marshalltown.

Lisa Glenn, director of special services, told the Board the district has served 238 preschool students this year and will have a projected 280 spaces available in 2012-2013.

Glenn said future projects for preschool include adding preschool appropriate playgrounds, increasing the capacity for preschool on the north side of Marshalltown, and continuing to study transportation issues.

Preschool Early Registration for 2012-2013 is Saturday, April 14, 10am-12:30pm in the Lenihan Intermediate School commons.
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2012-2013 budget approved, includes tax rate decrease

The Board approved the $83.2 million budget for 2012-2013 Monday night.

The budget includes a tax rate of 17.47178 per thousand taxable valuation, which is an 18 cent decrease from 2011-2012.
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Company picked for 1927 Anson demo

D.W. Zinser Co., Inc., from Walford, Iowa, will proceed with demolishing the 1927 portion of the former Anson Middle School.

D.W. Zinser had the low bid of $368,000. There is also an alternate that leaves the boiler room floor and footings, a reduction of $10,000. This puts the total cost at $358,000.

Most of the demolition work will be done during the summer, which interior work beginning this spring.
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West bus barn demo proceeds to bid

The Board approved seeking bids for the demolition of the west bus barn and site paving.

The estimated cost of the project is $172,250. There is a $140,000 base bid, with alternates for security lighting and chain link fence. The proposal given to the Board by buildings and grounds sought bids to place a chain link fence along one side of the property. The Board approved seeking bids based on the cost of chain link fence per foot, in case they decided to put in more fencing.
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Board looks at bond refinancing

The Board is looking at refinancing bonds to reduce interest costs.

Matthew Gillaspie from Piper Jaffray & Co. in Des Moines told the Board the options for refinancing two bonds – from 2004 and 2006.

Refinancing the 2006 bond (approximately $870,000) could save the district $185,000 for the life of the bond. The interest rate would be reduced from 4.65 percent to approximately 1.8 percent.

The 2004 bond (approximately $16,990,000) is not eligible to be paid off for two years. Refinancing would mean selling a new bond, putting the money in escrow, and paying the bond off in two years. The estimated cost savings is $2,200,000 for the life of the bond. The interest is currently at 5 percent and could be reduced to approximately 2 percent.

The board gave its informal approval to go forward with the process
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District receives innovative calendar waiver

The 2012-2013 school year will be spent planning a pilot program using the innovative calendar waiver Marshalltown Community School District received from the Department of Education.

Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement, said the goal is to implement a pilot program at Rogers Elementary in the 2013-2014 school year, looking at the successes of the current Rogers University.

The waiver allows school districts to no longer stick to the 180 day requirement in Iowa Code 279.10. Schools can’t have less than 180 days, but they can add more days and be flexible with how days are structured.

“It doesn’t mean we have to add time, it means we can reconfigure time,” Pecinovsky said.
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Three buses purchased

The district purchased three buses from Hogland Bus Company in Marshalltown.

One 77-passenger bus, one 65-passenger bus, and one 53-passenger bus was purchased for a cost of $236,524.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

During tonight’s meeting, Board of Education members agreed to identify four evenings in April and May for work sessions with representatives of every school in Marshalltown Community School District. Each school will present the multi-year Attendance Center Plan it developed after studying data, reviewing school improvement research, setting goals, and identifying timelines, action steps and areas of responsibility for goal attainment.  A considerable amount of effort has been devoted to creating Attendance Center Plans that focus our energy and resources on a few areas that will have the greatest influence on the success of our students. I look forward to the presentation of these plans to the Board – knowing they will better enable us to achieve the results we desire and expect for all of our students.
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NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD

By Kay Beach, Board President

It’s very exciting for me to learn that MCSD will begin next fall to implement a program known as “Project Lead the Way.”  At School Board conventions for the last two years I have personally watched students demonstrate the technical knowledge that they have gained through this program—and I’ve been very impressed with the total engagement that they have in their learning.  It’s particularly pleasing for me to see the investigation that has gone into the decision to initiate this rather broad program in our schools—this is NOT just a whim that has caught some administrator’s fancy and is now being “tried” in our system. PLTW has been used in schools nation-wide and there is ample evidence that it can result in higher student achievement in the critical STEM areas.  This is a win for the district (higher achievement), for our students (greater knowledge in these critical areas), and for the business community (students better prepared for the work force.)  And isn’t that what we all want?
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PERSONNEL

Resignations

Sarah Dier, Hoglan Special Education teacher, effective at the end of the school year.
Glenda Baker, Rogers food service, effective March 20, 2012.
Roger Taylor, Jr., MHS head bowling coach, effective March 27, 2012.

Appointments

Lucas Johnson, Miller language arts teacher. Start date: 2012-2013 school year; Salary: MA Step 9 (TBD).
Tanya Gaffney, Lenihan 6th Grade Language Arts/Reading/Social Studies teacher. Start date: 2012-2013 school year; Salary: BA Step 6 (TBD).
Michelle Beals, Hoglan paraeducator. Start date: March 20, 2012. Salary: $9.48/hour.
Erin Hoskins, Woodbury paraeducator. Start date: April 9, 2012. Salary: $8.47/hour.
Michelle Warbier, Woodbury paraeducator. Start date: April 9, 2012. Salary: $9.48/hour.
Jessica Cakrasenjaya, MHS head cheerleading coach. Start date: 2012-2013 school year. Salary: TBD.

Change of Contract

Sally Jansen, Miller 7th Grade math teacher. Start date: 2012-2013 school year. Change to 5th/6th grade language arts/reading/social studies teacher at Lenihan.
Michael Awes, Hoglan paraeducator. Start date: Feb. 1, 2012. Change to 6.5 hours/day (5.5 hours on Wednesday).
Melissa Marks, Hoglan paraeducator. Start date: Feb. 1, 2012. Change to 7.5 hours/day (6.5 hours on Wednesday).
Diane Heinzer, Lenihan paraeducator. Start date: March 6, 2012. Change to 7.25 hours/day (6.25 hours on Wednesday).
Cindy Bills, bus driver. Start date: March 22, 2012. Change from sub to regular bus driver. Salary: $478.35/month.
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POLICY

Second Reading: 101.1, 101.1-R1, 101.1-R2 Long-Range Needs Assessment, approve as presented.
First Reading: 201.7 Organization of the Board, return for second reading.
Initial Reading: 201.8 Board Vacancies; 202.1 Code of Ethics.
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Rogers second-grader Owen Vybiral Stewart gives a presentation on good citizenship to the Board.

View PDF version.

Rogers student demonstrates PBIS at home

At Rogers Elementary, positive behavior and good citizenship are part of every school day through Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). To teach families how PBIS could be used at home, Mark Church, Rogers guidance counselor and PBIS coordinator, sought help from someone with proven success using PBIS outside of the classroom.

Enter second-grader Owen Vybiral Stewart.

Owen, with the help of his mom, created a PowerPoint presentation about how he learns to make positive choices and be a good citizen as part of his family. He gave this presentation to a large crowd at a recent Rogers Family Learning Center event, and gave it again Monday night to the Board.

Owen told the Board about being a respectful, caring member of his family. He discussed learning how to manage money by saving his allowance and budgeting for things he wants (like a new toy helicopter). He also demonstrated how to be a good citizen, with examples including volunteering with the Animal Rescue League and shoveling a neighbor’s sidewalk without being asked.
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Miller launches Manner Up! video series

On Monday afternoons everyone at Miller Middle School can expect “Mama Cat” and “Bob Cat” to appear on their television screens. The duo star in Manner Up!, a new video series produced by and starring Miller staff and students with messages about good manners and respect.

Language arts teacher Mary Fitzgerald portrays “Mama Cat”, while “Bob Cat” is social studies teacher Bob Gilbertson. Media specialist Dave Stanfield is in charge of filming the videos, which along with Fitzgerald and Gilbertson will feature a variety of Miller students and staff.

The first video – “Dare Not to Swear” – premiered Monday, March 12. Following the 11-minute video, classrooms had discussions about behavior expectations and being held accountable for them.

“I am very excited about this initiative to improve our climate at Miller regarding respect and manners,” Principal Sharon McKimpson said. “Many talented hands are helping with Manner Up!.”

A new video will premiere every Monday afternoon for the rest of the school year.
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Meal prices increasing 10 cents

School breakfast and lunch prices will increase 10 cents in 2012-2013.

According to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, food service programs with an average lunch cost of less than $2.46 must increase costs a minimum of 5 cents and no more than 10 cents in any year. In 2011-2012 Marshalltown Community School District’s average lunch cost was $2.02.

For 2012-2013 K-4 breakfast will be $1.05 and lunch will be $2.05. For grades 5-12 breakfast will be $1.10 and lunch will be $2.20. Adult breakfast will be $1.45 and lunch will be $3.10.

Individual milk costs will remain 30 cents. There is no change in the cost for reduced-price meals as those are set by Federal guidelines.
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Health Careers Club to visit Mayo Clinic

The Marshalltown Area Health Careers Club will tour Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., on Friday, March 23.

The Board approved the out-of-state trip, which includes 28 students from Marshalltown High School and other area schools.

The club began last year and includes monthly activities for students. This trip is being sponsored and financed by Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center, Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates, Marshalltown Area Health Careers Club fundraisers, and Gear Up.
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Support Services addition begins bid process

The Board approved an addition project at the Support Services Building.

The three-story addition will add a stairwell and elevators to the building, as long as parking, creating an entrance that will eventually serve as the main entrance for district offices.

A future project will be the renovation of upper floors to move the district central office and board room from the 317 Columbus Drive Location.

The addition will be built at the location of the 1927 Anson Middle School building, which is slated for demolition.

Total anticipated project costs are $1.5 million.
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NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD

By Kay Beach, Board President

The entire district is working very hard on improving student behaviors, and tonight’s Board meeting included two really neat examples of how PBIS is playing out in two of our schools.  Rogers second- grader Owen Vybiral Stewart gave a power-point presentation which he had created.  In it he explained how his weekly allowance is based on his behaviors, giving concrete examples of how positive behaviors increase his allowance and how poor choices made “when my brain is tired” result in decreases.   This young man has internalized valuable information and then shared it; I was impressed! The second example came from Miller Middle School.  Two teachers have teamed up to create weekly videos featuring “Mama Cat” and “Bob Cat” who use humor to illustrate different positive behaviors.  The videos are clever and entertaining while strongly emphasizing their message.   After each video is shown, classes have the opportunity to discuss the week’s featured behavior, and then it is strongly emphasized throughout the building during the week.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

This evening the Board of Education approved Policy 100 (District Philosophy, Mission, Beliefs, and Expectations). Strategy 5 that accompanies this policy states, “MCSD will improve student achievement through efficient stewardship of district resources.” One way this stewardship can be demonstrated is by systematically planning for current and future facility needs of the district.

Tonight’s meeting included discussion about plans to update the District Capital Improvement Project List. This document is different than the MCSD Facilities Plan frequently mentioned during board meetings.

The Facilities Plan, presented to the Board in March 2010, contains rationale and design information for 10 projects between 2010 and 2015, including Fisher Elementary, preschool classrooms, MHS second floor classrooms, and the MHS Roundhouse renovation.

The Capital Improvement Project List is much broader in scope. This document contains a comprehensive list of buildings and grounds improvements recommended for every District facility, compiled from numerous sources, including staff, community members, and external inspectors such as the Fire Marshall or Office of Civil Rights.

This list hasn’t been recently reviewed, so seven steps will be taken to update the document: 1) remove everything from the current list that’s no longer relevant (e.g. completed projects or outdated cost estimates); 2) seek widespread input from district staff and community users of MCSD facilities; 3) create one list that contains all recommended projects; 4) administrative staff identify priority projects; 5) present documents from steps 3 and 4 to the MCSD Design Advisory Committee for its review and possible revision; 6) present Design Advisory Committee recommendations to the Board; and, 7) present an updated Capital Improvement Project List to the Board every spring.

District administrators and the Board look forward to receiving suggestions for the Capital Improvement Project List during the coming months. This is an important step toward ensuring that taxpayer dollars continue to be invested in a manner consistent with the priorities of the district and the community it serves.
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PERSONNEL

Resignations

Pete Drury, MHS counselor and head 7th grade boys track coach, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.
Laurie Muilenburg, Woodbury paraeducator, effective March 23, 2012.
Gail Snyder, MHS food service, effective March 16, 2012.

Retirement

Rich Collins, school bus driver, effective March 12, 2012.

Appointments

Susan O’Neill, Woodbury Title I teacher. Start date: 2012-2013 school year. Salary: MA Step 5.
Amy Troup, MHS paraeducator. Start date: March 20, 2012. Salary: $9.48/hour.
Micah Donelson, Miller food service. Start date: March 6, 2012. Salary: $9.58/hour.
Melinda Burton, Rogers food service. Start date: March 7, 2012. Salary: $9.84/hour.
Dana Craft, Anson food service. Start date: March 8, 2012. Salary: $9.84/hour.
David Case, Jr., MHS assistant girls track coach. Start date: Jan. 16, 2012. Salary: $3,190/year.

Change of Contract

Sharon Baughman, administrative assistant to the associate superintendent. Start date: July 1, 2012. Change from administrative assistant for technology.
Renae Devenney, 12-month secretary at Lenihan. Start date: July 1, 2012. Change from 10-month secretary at Lenihan.
Jasmine Hazen, Woodbury Title I teacher. Start date: 2012-2013 school year. Change from Title I teacher at MACS and Woodbury.
Shelly Seymour, MHS paraeducator. Start date: Feb. 28, 2012. Change from Level III Special Ed to Level I, from $9.63/hour to $8.63/hour.
Kerri Rubenbauer, Woodbury Literacy Intervention Tutor. Start date: Feb. 6, 2012. Change from 6 hours/day to 7 hours/day (extra hour at Fisher Elementary).
John Saunders, bus driver. Start date: Jan. 30, 2012. Salary :$637.80/month. Change from substitute to regular route.
James Johnson, bus driver. Start date: Feb. 7, 2012. Salary: $637.80/month. Change from substitute to regular route.
Jean Wilkens, MHS food service. Start date: Jan. 4, 2012. Salary: $11.73/hour. Change from Grade 3, Step 2 to Grade 4, Step 2.
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POLICY

100 District Philosophy, Mission, Beliefs, and Expectations, approved.
101.1 Long-Range Needs Assessments, will return as a Second Reading.
200 Statement of Guiding Principles, 201.2 Legal Status of the Board of Directors, 201.3 Responsibilities of the Board of Directors, 201.4 Elections, 201.5 Membership, and 201.6 Term of Office were marked as reviewed.
201.7 Organization of the Board, will return as a First Reading.
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View the PDF version here.

Business, education leaders partner to create Marshalltown Business-Education Alliance

Representatives from the Marshalltown Business-Education Alliance share their mission and goals with the Board of Education (L to R): Terry Buzbee, Fisher Controls (co-chair); Dr. Chris Duree, Iowa Valley Community College District (co-chair); Mike McQuade, JBS.

The Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce, Marshalltown Community School District (MCSD), and Iowa Valley Community College District (IVCCD) and area business leaders are excited to announce the creation of the Marshalltown Business-Education Alliance.

The mission of the Alliance is to drive the successful execution of the partners’ strategic plans, achieve measurable results, and be the education system of choice.  During an extensive strategic planning process, the group identified five goals:

• Remove barriers and expand educational opportunities and career pathways for students
• Actively engage business leaders and educators to determine the skills needed in the workplace.
• Improve community perceptions and attitudes about education.
• Develop a unified front to ensure parents recognize the value of education.
• Provide “one voice advocacy” for policies and issues affecting education excellence.

The Alliance includes several area business leaders, representatives from MCSD, IVCCD, the Chamber and the Marshalltown Education Association, who have worked together since October 2011 to identify common focus areas above and will continue working to strengthen connections between business and education, and engage key stakeholders in the fulfilling the mission.

During the month of March representatives from the Alliance will be visiting with various stakeholders in the area to talk about the mission and goals of the group. The Alliance is chaired by Terry Buzbee from Fisher Controls/Emerson and Dr. Chris Duree from IVCCD.
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BLITS focuses on leadership, school pride

BLITS members (L to R) Kyle Carnahan, Paul Fienup, Connor Ruddick and Austin Hauser tell the Board about their activities.

Students from BLITS (Bobcat Leaders Influencing Their School) came before the Board Monday night to be recognized for their positive impact on Marshalltown High School.

BLITS began last year with a small group of male student athletes meeting at Scott Carnahan’s home, talking about what it means to be a good leader. The group held dances and fund-raisers to add $6,000 in improvements to the MHS weight room.

This year there are about 40 members of BLITS. They are currently raising money to purchase a new scoreboard for the Roundhouse.
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Hoglan Playground project approved

A new rubber tile surface will be installed on the Hoglan Elementary intermediate playground, funded in part by the school, the Parent-Teacher Organization, and PERL funds (Public Education Recreation Levy).

The same project was done on the primary playground during summer 2009. The rubber tiles, which are made from recycled materials, provide a better cushion for falls and have less long-term maintenance costs than traditional gravel and mulch.

Team Hoglan, the elementary’s PTO, has raised $13,000 for the project, with Hoglan Elementary contributing an additional $10,500. The remaining $24,369 will be allocated from district PERL funds.

The project should be completed by the 2012-2013 school year.
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Smaller tax levy part of proposed budget

The school tax rate per $1,000 valuation will decrease 18 cents in the proposed 2012-2013 budget.

The new tax rate of $17.47 won’t necessarily equate to lower taxes, however, as property valuations are increasing in the district. Kevin Poskeany, director of business operations, said the new numbers will equate to less than a 1.5 percent increase in taxes.
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Plans to demolish 1925 portion of former Anson Middle School go forward

The Board approved seeking bids to demolish the 1925 building at the former Anson Middle School.

The project will cost approximately $600,000.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

This evening, the Board of Education passed a resolution supporting the Marshalltown Business-Education Alliance. During the March 19 meeting, the Board is expected to approve Policy 100. A key element of both actions is an expectation for significant academic gains, as well as support for making these expectations a reality:

• Policy 100 contains primary components of the District’s four-year Strategic Action Plan, including Mission, Vision, Beliefs, Goals, Objectives, Strategies, and measurable Indicators of success. Policy 100 tells us where we are to be going, when we should get there, and what criteria will be used to determine if our efforts are successful.
• The Marshalltown Business-Education Alliance is a partnership between the Marshalltown Community School District, Iowa Valley Community College District, and the local business community committed to drive the successful execution of the partners’ strategic plans, achieve measurable results, and be the education system of choice. This Mission states that business and education will work together to attain the goal and objectives of the strategic plan (as outlined in Policy 100). MCSD is not alone – Iowa Valley Community College District and the local business community are strong and supportive partners of our continuous improvement efforts.

As mentioned following our last board meeting, I look forward to reporting the progress our students will make over the next several years – and to celebrating the success that will result from the collaborative effort of dedicated students, parents, staff, and community partners.
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NOTES FROM THE BOARD

By Kay Beach, Board President

This evening’s Board meeting began with a presentation that really underscored for me, once again, what an impact a few determined young people can have.  Bobcat Leaders Influencing Their Schools (BLITS) is a sizeable self-organized group of male athletes who meet regularly to focus on leadership development and on ways in which they can bring about positive changes in their school environment.  Yes, their projects have focused on athletic facilities; athletics are a huge part of their world. The point is that they have chosen to become actively involved in school leadership and in providing solutions to needs that they identify in their world.  They do the fund-raising (sizeable amounts, too!), they are the organizers, and they contribute their own “sweat equity” to their projects.  They truly get what “citizenship in a changing world” means.  Hats off to these young leaders!
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PERSONNEL

Resignations

Sadrac Aleman, Fisher/Woodbury ELL Teacher, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Has taught in the district for 1 year.
Matt Moffitt, MHS Chemistry Teacher, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Has taught in the district for 3 years.
James Bennett, computer tech/auditorium assistant, effective March 2, 2012.
Kathleen Ohrt, Franklin/Rogers Literacy Intervention Tutor, effective Feb. 28, 2012.
Susan Nugent, MHS cheerleading coach, effective March 31, 2012.

Terminations

Armando Torres, Lenihan bilingual tutor, effective Feb. 29, 2012.

Appointments

Sherry Glenney, substitute bus driver.
Wilma Perkins, bus monitor, salary: $9.35/hour.
Pete Drury, head 7th grade boys track coach. Start date: March 5, 2012. Salary: $2424/year.
Scott Smith, MHS assistant boys tennis coach. Start date: March 5, 2012. Salary: $1914/year.
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Download the PDF version.

Board reviews Strategic Action Plan

The Board reviewed the District Strategic Action Plan Monday night, examining the goal, objectives and indicators that will measure success.

The Strategic Action Plan if focused on one goal: Increasing student achievement.

There are three main objectives tied to this goal, each one with measurable indicators the District will use to monitor progress:
• Improve academic performance
• Increase readiness for further education and employment
• Ensure schools are safe and organized to promote student achievement

District administrators reviewed the strategies and actions needed to meet the plan goal, describing the work as “reasonable, attainable and aggressive”.

The Board also reviewed a calendar for reporting on progress under different areas of the plan, including a community-wide report on progress each October.

The Strategic Plan was incorporated into Policy 100 of the Board policies, which outline district philosophy, mission, beliefs and expectations.
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Board approves B&G contract

The Board approved a wage and benefits package for district buildings and grounds employees Monday night.]

The new package changes from a two-tier wage schedule to a 5-step program based on labor grade and years of service. The new package increase will cost the district about $68,000, which represents a 3.01 percent increase. The settlement will cover July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2014.

The district currently employs 47 buildings and grounds employees.
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Art dept. plans trip to Chicago

A group of high school and middle school art students will be spending a day in Chicago March 24.

The Board approved plans for a trip to visit the Chicago Art Institute Museum and the Art Museum at Northwestern University. A total of 34 high school students, eight middle school students and 12 adult chaperones will attend.

Art Club fundraising proceeds are helping to defray some of the costs.
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NOTES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools

This evening, the Board of Education heard an administrative report about the district’s Strategic Action Plan. Board members then completed the First Reading of Policy 100: District Philosophy, Mission, Beliefs, and Expectations. Throughout tonight’s discussion, the Board conveyed a commitment to ensuring all students receive a high quality education in a compassionate and engaging environment of high expectations and accountability. I look forward to reporting the progress our students will make over the next several years – and to celebrating the success that will result from the work of dedicated students, parents and staff.
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NOTES FROM THE BOARD

By Jennifer Wilson, Board Vice President

The Marshalltown Community School Administration has been working hard to update the 1994 District Philosophy, Mission, Belief, and Expectations policy.

This comes at a time where the strategic agenda has been defined as the “road map” towards meeting the goal of the district, which is “To increase student achievement”.  Every decision made within the district has to answer the question, “Will this increase student achievement”?   If it doesn’t then we shouldn’t be doing it!  Whether at the board, administrative, building, maintenance, or support services level we, as an organization, will continually ask ourselves to relate all decisions back to our goal in the strategic agenda.

Policy 100 will be a fundamental tool to engage all staff, teachers, students, and administrators towards a common goal. Decisions made throughout each department will be expected to correspond with one of three objectives: improvement of academic performance, increase readiness for further education or employment, or to ensure that our schools are safe and organized to promote student achievement.    At the beginning of every board meeting the district’s mission statement is read; “To nurture students to become intellectually and personally empowered for citizenship in a changing world”.  I believe the strategic action plan will give district employees, students, parents, business leaders, and community members the opportunity to embrace the changes that will come through the numerous actions steps and ultimately lead MCSD towards becoming central Iowa’s district of choice.
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PERSONNEL

Resignations
Vance Turner, MHS vocational skills teacher, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Has taught in district for 11 years.
Amy Stepec, Lenihan Grade 5, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Has taught in district for 6 years.
Disa Benefield, Franklin Grade 3, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Has taught in district for 7.5 years.
Todd Reed, 8th Grade Boys Basketball Coach, effective Feb. 17, 2012.
Melissa Seltman, Fisher LI Tutor, effective Jan. 19, 2012.
William Bucklin, Bus Driver, effective Feb. 29, 2012.
David Case, 7th Grade Boys Track Coach, effective Jan. 15, 2012.
Nicole Jones, Lenihan paraeducator, effective Feb. 23, 2012.

Retirement
Betty Hayek, Rogers School Nurse, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year; has been employed with district for 15 years.

Voluntary Retirement Incentive
Nancy Klar, administrative assistant to Associate Superintendent, effective June 30, 2012; has worked for MCSD for 34 years.
Kathryn Elsberry, administrative assistant at Lenihan Intermediate, effective June 30, 2012; has worked for MCSD for 20 years.

Appointments
Rod Hassler, substitute bus driver. Start date: Feb. 2, 2012. Salary determined by route.

Change of Contract
Sue Crawford, Lenihan LI Tutor. Start date: Feb. 21, 2012. Change from 6 hours/day to 7 hours/day.
Pamela Sowers, Lenihan LI Tutor. Start date: Feb. 21, 2012. Change from 4 hours/day to 7 hours/day.
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POLICY

100, District Philosophy, Mission, Beliefs, and Expectations will return as a Second Reading; 100.2, Equal Educational Opportunity, waive second reading; 101.1, Long-Range Needs Assessment, will return as a First Reading.