Friday, November 18, 2016

This Week in Our Schools: 11/14 - 11/18/16

Scroll down and select the picture to see our students and staff in action This Week in Our Schools!


Featured this week:

  • Franklin: Mrs. Hawkins' 4th Grade Class.
  • Grant: Girl Scouts.
  • Grant: Mrs. Sitzmann's Kindergarten Class.
  • Grant: Staff and Families at China Garden.
  • Grant: Mrs. Morton's 2nd Grade and Mr. Valenzuela's 5th Grade Classes
  • Jefferson: Mrs. Zitzow's 1st Grade Class
  • McKinley: Veteran's Day Assembly.
  • Mulberry: Mrs. Green's Kindergarten Class.
  • CMS: Ms. Walgren's 7th Grade Math Class.
  • CMS: Chinese Artists Visit CMS Students.
  • WMS: Mrs. Plemmons' and Mrs. Ortega's Science Classes.
  • WMS: Mr. Yerington's 6th Grade Science Class.
  • MHS: Mr. Schmelzer's Work Experience Class.
  • MHS: Mr. Klingborg's Advanced Welding Class.
  • MHS: 11th Grade Students Visit Grinnell College.
  • East Campus: Ms. Sheperd's Service Learning Class.
  • District-wide Staff: Jefferson Elementary Staff.
  • District-wide Staff: Admin Center Staff.

Monday, November 14, 2016

Board Briefs for Monday, November 14, 2016 Regular Board Meeting

The Muscatine Schools' Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, November 14, 2016 at 7 PM at City Hall in Council Chambers. Those members present: Tim Bower, John Dabeet, Tammi Drawbaugh, Aaron Finn, Nathan Mather, Randy Naber, and Mary Wildermuth. Also present: Superintendent Jerry Riibe and Director of Finance Tom Anderson.
  1. Shawn Larson-Walgren, Jan Hoffman, Shannon Walker, Robin Graettinger, and Kathi Eichelberger were honored with November's Employee Recognition Awards. They were nominated by their peers for going above and beyond on a continual basis for students, staff, and parents. 
  2. No one spoke during Citizens Speak.
  3. The consent agenda was approved which included:
    1. Minutes of October 10, 2016 Regular Session and the October 24, 2016 Work Session.
    2. Employment Recommendations
      1. New Hires - Certified Staff: Courtney Eikenberry - Reading Interventionist at Grant Elementary.
      2. Resignations - Certified Staff: Jeannette Thompson - Special Education at Grant Elementary.
      3. New Hires - Schedule C: Joshua Falk - Assistant Girls Cross Country; Lindsay Reed - Assistant Cheer; Mike Truitt i- Assistant Football; Ron Kiser - Head Tennis; Michaela Geertsema - Model U.N.
      4. Resignations - Schedule C: Spencer Lloyd - Boys Basketball; Ron Kiser - Assistant Tennis.
    3. Student Teaching Agreements with Liberty University and Iowa State University.
    4. Bills and Claims against the district dated 11/14/16.
  4. The board reviewed and approved modification to Administrative Regulations for Policy 501.2R Attendance Policies.
  5. The Early Retirement Incentive Program for FY17 was approved.
  6. Approved administration to seek modification of supplemental amounts from the School Budget Review Committee for actual cost of ELL program instruction, on-time funding of open enrolled out students, and cost of LEP instruction beyond 5 years.
  7. Approved a Resolution for Public Hearing for the sale of Washington Elementary, 610 Maiden Lane for Monday, December 12, 2016 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
  8. Approved the district's participation in the Community Marketing Initiative.
  9. Awarded purchase of 5 Blue Bird propane buses from School Bus Sales and one van from Mincer Ford.
  10. Approved the contract with Bush Construction for Construction Manager Services for the MHS Gym Addition and Renovation Project.
  11. Heard a second reading on the following policies:
    1. 501.5 Elementary and Middle School Transfers
    2. 501.6 Non-resident Tuition
    3. 501.9 Approval of Open Enrollment Transfers – DELETE
    4. 501.11 Private Instruction
    5. 501.12 Dual Enrollment
    6. 501.13 Student Transfers In
    7. 501.14 Student Transfers Out or Withdrawals – NEW
    8. 501.15 Resident Students – NEW
    9. 501.16 Pregnant Students – NEW
    10. 501.17 Students of Legal Age – NEW
    11. 502.6 Student Drug, Tobacco, Alcohol Offenses
    12. 502.7 Search and Seizure
    13. 503.1 Non-discrimination Students – DELETE
    14. 503.10 Care of School Property – NEW
    15. 503.4 Interviews with Students 
  12. Director of Finance Tom Anderson reviewed the financials for the month of October.
  13. Announcements/Meetings/Events:
    1. November 16-17, 2016 - IASB Annual Convention in Des Moines.
    2. November 23, 2016 - 2 hour early dismissal
    3. November 24, 2016 - Happy Thanksgiving!
    4. November 25, 2016 - No School - Thanksgiving Holiday
    5. December 12, 2106 - Regular Board Meeting, 7 p.m., City Hall
  14. The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m.


This Week in Our Schools: 11/7 - 11/11/16

Select the image below to see our students and staff in action This Week in Our Schools!

Featured this week:


  • Colorado Elementary: Leadership Assembly.
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Phillips' 2nd Grade Class.
  • Grant Elementary: Mrs. Kulland's Kindergarten Physical Education Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Mrs. Poppe's 4th Grade Class.
  • Madison: Veteran's Day Celebration.
  • Mulberry: Mrs. Evans' Kindergarten Class.
  • Mulberry: Mrs. Kulland's 4th Grade P.E. Class.
  • CMS: Mrs. Beale's 7th Grade Science Class with Jefferson's Mrs. Manjoine's 5th Grade Class!
  • CMS: Mr. Evans' 8th Grade Social Studies Class.
  • CMS: Ms. Wiebe's Ag Students.
  • CMS: PBIS Celebration.
  • CMS: Mr. Havemann's Special Education Class.
  • WMS: Future Problem Solving Writers Group.
  • WMS: Mrs. Ralston and Mrs. Lopez's 8th Grade Math Class.
  • WMS: Mrs. Ortega's and Mrs. Plemmons' Special Education Classes.
  • WMS: Mr. Rivera's 8th Grade Social Studies Class.
  • WMS: Mrs. Hillman's Class.
  • WMS: Veteran's Day Celebration - Color Guard.
  • MHS: 2017 National Merit Scholarship Commended Student!
  • MHS: Mrs. Reade's World Language Classes.
  • East Campus: Mr. Woodward's Algebra 2 Class.
  • District-Wide Staff: Live United!
  • Veteran's Day: Honoring MCSD Veterans!

Friday, November 4, 2016

This Week in Our Schools - 10/31 - 11/4/16

Select the image below to see our students and staff in action This Week in Our Schools!

Featured this week:
  • Colorado: Mrs. Hines' Kindergarten and Mrs. Yahn's 3rd Grade Classes.
  • Colorado: Mrs. Schumaker's Kindergarten Class.
  • Franklin: Miss Harder's Kindergarten Class.
  • Franklin: Mrs. Henderson's 3rd Grade Class.
  • Franklin: Mrs. Calderon's English Learning Class.
  • Franklin: SHINE Students.
  • Grant: Miss Dindinger's/Mrs. Minder's Begindergarten Class.
  • Jefferson: Fall Apple Festival - 3rd Grade Leaders.
  • Jefferson: STEM Day at the Ag Learning Center.
  • Madison: Miss Lawrence's Kindergarten Class.
  • Madison: 5th Grade Student Lighthouse Team.
  • Madison: Halloween Fun!
  • Madison: Mrs. Skidmore's Kindergarten Class.
  • McKinley: Mrs. Strouf's 1st Grade Class.
  • McKinley: Mrs. Youngbauer's 5th Grade Class.
  • Mulberry: Halloween!
  • Mulberry: Mrs. Steele's 5th Grade Class.
  • Mulberry: Bullying Prevention Week.
  • Mulberry: Morning Dance and Community Giving.
  • CMS: Ms. Acker's English Learning Class.
  • CMS: 8th Grade Gifted & Talented Students and English Learning Students.
  • WMS: Mrs. Matteson's #ChooseKindInitiative Interest Group.
  • WMS: Mrs. Plemmons' and Mrs. Ortega's Special Education Classes.
  • WMS: Mr. Yerington's 6th Grade Science Class.
  • East Campus: Mr. Falkena's Science Classes.
  • MHS: Mrs. Coffman's AP Biology Class.
  • MHS: All-State Music Festival Participants.
  • MHS: Hy-Vee Students & School Service Leaders of the Quarter
  • District-Wide Staff: Franklin Cafeteria Workers.
  • District-Wide Staff: Live United!!