Friday, August 26, 2016

This Week in Our Schools: 8/23 - 8/26/16

Featured this week:



  • Colorado Elementary: Grades K-5
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Hines' Kindergarteners
  • Franklin Elementary: Miss Harder's Kindergarteners
  • Franklin Elementary: Miss Week's 5th Graders
  • Jefferson Elementary: Principal Spies and a New Jefferson Bear
  • McKinley Elementary: Mrs. Baars' and Mrs. Axtell's Classes
  • CMS 6th Grade New Muskie Day
  • CMS: Mrs. Randleman's Art Class
  • WMS: Ms. Bezdek's ELA Class
  • WMS: Ms. Matteson's 6th Grade ELA Class
  • East Campus: Mr. Falkena's Class
  • East Campus: Ms. Shepherd's Class
  • MHS: Marching Band at the Fall Kickof
  • MHS: Recycling Crew
  • MHS: FFA - State Fair Students
Click on the image below to see our students engaged in learning this past week.


Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Board Briefs for Monday, August 8, 2016 Board Meeting

Below is a synopsis of the Monday, August 8, 2016 regular board meeting of the Muscatine Schools' Board of Education. The meeting was held at 7 p.m. at City Hall in Council Chambers.

  1. No one spoke during Citizen's Speak.
  2. The consent agenda was approved which included:
    1. Minutes of the July 11, 2016 Regular Meeting.
    2. Employment Recommendations were approved as follows:
      1. Resignations-Certified Staff:
        1. Amanda Roelfs - 1st Grade, McKinley
      2. Resignations-Schedule C:
        1. Heather France - Assistant Girls Cross Country, MHS
        2. Clay Dillon - Assistant Baseball, MHS
      3. New Hires - Certified Staff
        1. Kelsey Hurlbert - SPED BD, Jefferson
        2. Kathleen Haltmeyer - At Risk, WMS
        3. Edward John Kvapil - Computer Science, WMS
        4. Alla Phillips - ELL, MHS
        5. Beth Finn - School Nurse
        6. Kelly Gillespie - School Nurse
      4. New Hires - Schedule C:
        1. Scott Morel - Assistant Girls Basketball, MHS
        2. Katie Golien - MS Volleyball Head Coach/Coordinator
        3. Micaela Haight - Assistant Volleyball, MHS
        4. Jordan Walgren - MS Girls Basketball, CMS
        5. Rayce Miller - Assistant Boys Cross Country, MHS
    3. Student Teaching Agreement with the University of Iowa.
    4. Bills and Claims Against the District dated July 11, 2016.
    1. Approved utilizing the University of Iowa for the district needs assessment. Professor Liz Hollingsworth from the U of I gave a short presentation on their recommended process.
    2. Approved the Muscatine Preschool Alliance Contracts.
    3. Approved the use of the SAI/IASB Superintendent Evaluation Instrument.
    4. Approved the following IASB Legislative Priorities for the 2016-17 school year:
      1. (2) Standards and Accountability
      2. (4) Early Literacy
      3. (8) Mental Health)
      4. (20) School Funding Policy
      5. (28) State Penny
    5. Approved the following policies:
      1. 306.1 Development and Enforcement of Admin Regulations – NEW
      2. 306.2 Monitoring of Admin Regulations – NEW
      3. 401.5 Appointment 
      4. 401.6 Evaluation – Employees
      5. 401.7 Suspension
      6. 401.9 Payroll Periods
      7. 401.10 Payroll Deductions
      8. 401.11 Leaves of Absence – DELETE 
      9. 402.3 Anti-bullying and Harassment – DELETE 
      10. 403.3 Tobacco Free Environment 
      11. 403.4 Communicable Diseases – Employees
      12. 403.7 Other Employment
      13. 403.9 Releases to News Media – Internal Unit News – DELETE
      14. 403.10 Public Service – DELETE
      15. 403.11 Solicitations in School Buildings – DELETE
      16. 403.12 Reimbursement for Loss of Personal Property Resulting from Physical Restraint – DELETE
      17. 403.14 Use of School Owned Equipment and Materials – DELETE 
      18. 404.1 Definition – Certificated Employees
      19. 404.2 Conditions of Instruction – DELETE 
      20. 404.3 Academic Tutoring
      21. 404.4 Discipline of Students – DELETE
      22. 404.6 Substitutes for Teachers
      23. 404.7 Planning Time – DELETE
      24. 404.8 Shared Time Staff – DELETE
      25. 404.9 Staff Development Procedures 
      26. 404.11 Probationary Status- NEW 
      27. 404.12 Resignation- NEW 
      28. 404.13 Reduction in Force- NEW 
      29. 404.14 Publication or Creation of Materials- NEW 
      30. 405.1 Responsibilities & Duties, Non-Certificated 
      31. 405.3 Evaluation – Non-Certificated Employees 
      32. 405.4 Salary Schedule – DELETE
      33. 405.5 Restraint of Students (replaces Discipline of Student by Non-Certified Staff)
      34. 405.6 Custodial/Maintenance/Security – DELETE
      35. 405.7 Food Service Workers/Bakers/Cooks – DELETE
      36. 405.8 Bus Drivers/Mechanics – DELETE
      37. 405.10 Secretarial/Clerical/Aide/Para – DELETE
      38. 405.11 Licensing/Certification- NEW 
      39. 405.12 Wage and Overtime Compensation- NEW 
      40. 406.2 Nepotism- NEW 
      41. 406.3 Employee Complaints- NEW 
      42. 407.1 Release of Credit Information- NEW 
      43. 407.2 Gifts to Employees – NEW 
      44. 403.5 Facilities – Regulatory Issues – DELETE 
    6. Awarded the purchase of 6 copiers to Marco, Inc. in the amount of $43,263.18.
    7. Awarded the purchase of the Food & Nutrition truck bid to Krieger Motor Company in the amount of $40,794 (amount includes the lift-gate for $2,431).
    8. Tabled the bid for laundry products and services for Food & Nutrition to Aramark of East Moline in order to receive further information.
    9. Becky Wichers updated the board on the District Advisory Committee.
    10. Superintendent Riibe provided a staffing report.
    11. Superintendent Riibe announced the following community forum dates and times for the PPEL vote:
      1. September 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Jefferson Elementary in the Commons.
      2. September 6 at 6:30 p.m. at MHS in the new wing.
    12. Director of Finance Tom Anderson provided the year-end financials for the Food and Nutrition Program.
    13. Announcements of Important Dates/Future Meetings:
      1. August 16 - Super Inservice for ALL STAFF.
      2. August 17 - MHS Back-to-School Night: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
      3. August 18 - Middle School Back-to-School Night: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
      4. August 22 - Elementary Back-to-School Night: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
      5. August 22 - New Muskie Day for 6th and 9th Graders - 2 hour early dismissal
      6. August 23 - First Day of School for Grades 1-12 (kindergarten teachers will be conducting home visits)
      7. August 25 & 26 staggered start for PK and Kindergarten students
      8. August 29 - all PK and Kindergarten students attend
      9. September 1 - PPEL Community Forum at 6:30 p.m. at Jefferson Elementary
      10. September 6 - PPEL Community Forum at 6:30 p.m. at MHS in the New Wing
      11. September 12 - Regular Board Meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall
      12. September 13 - Special Vote for PPEL - polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
    14. The meeting adjourned at: 8:19 p.m.
    To see the board book for this meeting, go to: Board Book