Friday, March 31, 2017

This Week in Our Schools: March 27-31, 2017

Select the picture below to be taken to this week's edition of This Week in Our Schools!


Featured this week:


  • District-Wide Elementary: 5th Grade Band Students Attend Solo and Ensemble Contest.
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Hines' Kindergarten Class.
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Carlson's 3rd Grade Gifted and Talented Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: Major Saver Winners!
  • Franklin Elementary: Ms. Holder's Kindergarten Art Classes.
  • Franklin Elementary: Mrs. Schlawin's 3rd Grade Music Classes.
  • Jefferson Elementary: Major Saver Winners!
  • Jefferson Elementary: Mrs. Zitzow's 1st Grade Class.
  • Madison Elementary: PBIS Awards.
  • Madison Elementary: Mrs. Reinier's Reading Class.
  • McKinley Elementary: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
  • McKinley Elementary: Reading Buddies.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Student Leaders Teach Cheer.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Root Beer Float Celebration!
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mr. Carlson's Third Grade Class.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Ms. Meerdink's 4th Grade Class.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. Steele's 5th Grade Class.
  • Central Middle School: Gifted/Talented Students Participate in National History Bee.
  • West Middle School: 6th Graders Meet Quad Cities Mallards!
  • West Middle School: Ms. Matteson's 6th Grade ELA Classes.
  • West Middle School: 8th Graders Visit State Capitol.
  • West Middle School: Ms. Wiebe's 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Ag Classes.
  • Muscatine High School: Fire Island Robotics Team.
  • Muscatine High School: Mr. Klingborg's Welding Classes.
  • Muscatine High School: Ms. Mohapp's Physics Classes.
  • Muscatine High School: Mrs. Kroll's Spanish 3 Class.
  • Muscatine High School: 9th Grade P.E. Classes - 9 Square!
  • East Campus: Mr. Falkena's Science Classes.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Board Briefs for Monday, March 27, 2017 Board Work Session

The Muscatine Community School's Board of Education met in work session on Monday, March 27, 2017 at 6 p.m. at the Administration Center. Those board members present: Bower, Dabeet, Drawbaugh, Finn, Mather, and Naber. Director Wildermuth was absent. Also present: Superintendent Riibe and Director of Finance Tom Anderson.


  1. The board recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
  2. President Drawbaugh welcomed visitors and media representatives.
  3. A public hearing was held for the purpose of certifying the 2017-18 school budget.
    1. There were no written or oral comments.
  4. A public hearing was held on the proposed plans, specifications, proposed form of contract, and the estimated cost of said improvements of the MHS Gymnasium Entrance.
    1. There were no oral or written comments.
    2. Superintendent Riibe noted that the bids came in higher than expected (approximately $1.4 million over budget). He also noted that the district is looking at ways to bring this closer to the budgeted amount.
  5. Two architectural firms were chosen to present information on their firm for the opportunity to serve the district for the MHS Phase III Project (science and industrial tech renovations). (Board action will be taken at the April 10, 2017 meeting.)
    1. Tom Wallon, Vassil Petrov, and Brandon Pierson of FRK Architects and Engineers gave a presentation on their architectural firm.
    2. Andrew Van Leeuwen, Mary Wurst, and Ken Hagen of DLR Group gave a presentation on their architectural firm.
  6. The board approved the certification of the 2017-18 budget, approving a levy rate of $14.85644 and certified budget amount of $​88,324,501 for fiscal year 2017-18.
  7. Director of Teaching and Learning Becky Wichers updated the board on the proposed special education delivery service changes at the elementary level for next school year.
  8. Superintendent Riibe provided information and a suggested timeline for his upcoming evaluation.
  9. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday,  April 10, 2017 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
  10. The meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.

Friday, March 24, 2017

This Week in Our Schools: March 20-24, 2017

Select the image below to see what our students and staff have been doing This Week in Our Schools!


Featured this week:


  • District-Wide: Sarah Prineas - Visiting Author.
  • District-Wide: 5th-8th Grade and the Muskie Way.
  • Parents as Teachers: Muscatine Art Center Event.
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Eserhaut's P.E. Class.
  • Colorado Elementary: Throwing Kindness Like Confetti!
  • Franklin Elementary: Miss Harder's Kindergarten Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: Ms. Holder's 1st Grade Art Class.
  • Grant Elementary: Students Prepare for LIM Lighthouse Event!
  • Jefferson Elementary: Dean Jacobs Visits Jefferson Students.
  • Madison Elementary: Mrs. Poppe's 4th Grade Math Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Ms. Connor's 5th Grade Science Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Mrs. Carlson's 3rd Grade Gifted and Talented Class.
  • McKinley Elementary: Mrs. Strouf's 1st Grade Class.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. Evans' Kindergarten Class.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Students Participate in Fundraiser for MHS' Senior Survivor.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. Mergen's 1st Grade Class.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Finley, Mulberry's Therapy Dog.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. Story's and Mrs. Hill's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Classes.
  • CMS: 6th Grade Students Celebrate Custodian Dave Busch!
  • MHS: Band and Orchestra Visit Los Angeles!
  • MHS: FFA Banquet.

Thursday, March 9, 2017

This Week in Our Schools: March 3 - 9, 2017


Select the picture below to be taken to this week's edition of This Week in Our Schools! Check out what our students and staff have been up to!


(Next week: there will be no edition of This Week in Our Schools due to Spring Break.)

Featured this week:


  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Noll's 1st Grade Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: Franklin's Student Leadership Team.
  • Franklin Elementary: Mrs. Henderson's 2nd Grade Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: 5th Graders - Genius Hour Passion Projects.
  • Madison Elementary: Read With the One You Love.
  • McKinley Elementary: Mrs. Strouf's 1st Grade Class.
  • McKinley Elementary: Mrs. Youngbauer's 4th Grade Class.
  • McKinley Elementary: Ms. DeVrieze's 4th Grade Class.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Ms. Story's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Distance Learning.
  • Central Middle School: Suicide Awareness Project.
  • Central Middle School: Student-led Learning Conversations.
  • Central Middle School: 7th Grade Honors English Language Arts Class.
  • Central Middle School: 8th Grade Honors English Language Arts Class.
  • West Middle School: Jazz Band and 7th & 8th Grade Band Concert.
  • West Middle School: Ms. Wiebe's Ag Classes.
  • District-Wide Middle School: Central and West Students Work Together.
  • District-Wide Middle School: Kennedy Honors Orchestra.
  • Muscatine High School: FFA News.
  • Muscatine High Schoo: Talent Show.
  • District-Wide Staff: WMS Teacher Kathy Haltmeyer Recognized at Iowa State Girls Basketball Tournament.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Board Briefs for Monday, March 6, 2017 Regular Board Meeting

The Muscatine School's Board of Education met on Monday, March 6, 2017 at 7 p.m. at  City Hall. Board members present: Bower, Dabeet, Drawbaugh, Finn, Mather, Naber, and Wildermuth. Finn and Bower were present via conference call due to being out-of-town. Also present: Superintendent Riibe, Assistant Superintendent Mike McGrory, and Director of Finance Tom Anderson.


  1. The board recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
  2. MHS Student Council Representatives Cassie Hendrix and Kate Gabriel provided the student council update.
  3. The March Employees of the Month were recognized. They are: Liz Panther - Instructional Coach at CMS, Michelle Dusenberry - 1st Grade Teacher at Grant; Stephanie Zillig - Instructional Coach at Jefferson; Emily Goddard - English/Language Arts at WMS; and Daphne Donald - Administrative Assistant-Special Programs at the Admin Center. Go to: Employee Recognition Form to nominate an outstanding employee.
  4. The following spoke at Citizens Speak:
    1. Daphne Donald, Muscatine, invited everyone to sign up for the 5th Annual Race for the Schools to be held on May 6, 2017 starting at 8 a.m. at the high school. This year the district will be offering a 50% discount to students in order to encourage more students to participate.
    2. Jackie Petty, West Liberty, spoke about her daughter's positive experience at East Campus and that she feels moving East Campus back to MHS is a mistake.
    3. Kyle Krogman, Muscatine, spoke about her daughter's positive experience at East Campus and that she feels moving East Campus back to MHS is a mistake.
    4. Tommye Petty, Muscatine, a graduate of East Campus, spoke in favor of keeping East Campus as its own building.
  5. The board approved the consent agenda which included:
    1. the Minutes of February 13, 2017 regular meeting and the February 27, 2017 work session.
    2. Employment Recommendations:
      1. New Hires - Certified Staff: Alexandra Walgren - MHS ELA effective 2017-18 school year.
      2. Resignations - Certified Staff: Margaret Stadtwald - CMS 6th Grade ELA/Social Studies effective end of 2016-17; Adam Crews  - MHS Ag (shared position with L&M) effective end of 2016-17.
      3. Resignations - Schedule C: Lindsay Moeller - 7th Gr. Volleyball Head Coach; Shannon Walker - Student Council (effective 2/16/17); Debbi Sulzberger - MHS Color Guard; Dennis Schuur - MS Girls and Boys Basketball.
      4. Resignations - Administration: Mark Olmstead - WMS Assistant Principal.
    3. Field Trips:
      1. MHS Students to Honduras Research Expedition in June 13-27, 2017.
      2. AP Language/Literature Honors English Students to Dublin, London, and Paris in July 2017.
    4. Bills and Claims dated March 6, 2017.
  6. The 2017-18 School Fees were approved.
  7. Approved the Middle School Furniture Project.
  8. Assistant Superintendent Mike McGrory and District Data Specialist Elena Bobay presented information on the Pre-Advanced Placement proposal.
  9. Grant Elementary teachers Gina Schliesman, Leslie Bennett, and Nancy Foxen presented a proposal to make Grant a Leader in Me magnet school beginning 2017-18.
  10. There will be a Public Hearing on the Proposed Plans, Specifications, Proposed Form of Contract, and the Estimated Cost of Said Improvements of the MHS Gymnasium Entrance on Monday, March 27, 2017 at 6 p.m. at the Administration Center Auditorium.
  11. There will be a Public Hearing for the Purpose of Certifying the 2017-18 Budget on Monday, March 27, 2017 at 6 p.m. at the Administration Center Auditorium.
  12. Director of Finance Tom Anderson presented information on the proposed budget for next school year.
  13. The following meetings and events were announced:
    1. March 6-9, 2017: Parent-Teacher Conferences
    2. March 9, 2017: 2-Hour Early Dismissal
    3. March10, 2017: No School - Conference Comp Day
    4. March 13-17, 2017: Spring Break - No School
    5. March 27, 2017: Board Work Session; 6 p.m., Admin Center Auditorium
    6. April 4, 2017: Poverty to Possibility Community Presentation; 6 p.m., MCC Bob Roach Theater
  14. The board went into closed session at 9:20 p.m. per Iowa Code Chapter 21.5(i).
  15. The board returned to open session at 9:32 p.m. 
  16. Approved the termination of middle school activities/athletic director position due to reduction in force based on budget deficit.
  17. The board adjourned at 9:33 p.m.

Friday, March 3, 2017

This Week in Our Schools: February 27, 2017 - March 3, 2017

Select the image below to see what our students and staff have been doing This Week in Our Schools!


Featured this week:


  • Colorado Elementary: Celebrating Dr. Seuss!
  • Colorado Elementary: Ms. Schumaker's Kindergarten Class.
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Hines' Kindergarten Class.
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Noll's 1st Grade Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: Ms. Holder's 1st Grade Art Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: Ms. Machael's Third Grade Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: Mrs. Week's 5th Grade Class.
  • Grant Elementary: Miss Dindinger's Begindergarten Class.
  • Grant Elementary: Muffins with Mom and Donuts with Dad!
  • Jefferson Elementary: Celebrating Dr. Seuss!
  • Jefferson Elementary: Mrs. Zitzow's 1st Grade Class.
  • Jefferson Elementary: Mrs. Hepker's Class and Read Across America!
  • Madison Elementary: Mrs. Swailes' PK Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Mrs. McGill's 3rd Grade Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Students Get Ready for Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowl for Kids' Sake!
  • McKinley Elementary: Family Reading Night!
  • McKinley Elementary: Mrs. Strouf's 1st Grade Class.
  • McKinley Elementary: 1st Grade Boy Scouts Receive Awards!
  • McKinley: 4th and 5th Grade Class with Mrs. Bobay.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. Green's Kindergarten Class.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. Dindinger's 3rd Grade Class.
  • Central Middle School: Ms. Christenson's 7th Grade Honors ELA Class.
  • Central Middle School: Mr. LeClere's PLTW: Design & Modeling Class.
  • Central Middle School: Battle of the Books!
  • Central Middle School: CMS Orchestra Students Team with the MHS Philharmonic Students.
  • West Middle School: WMS Orchestra Teams with MHS Freshman Orchestra.
  • West Middle School: Mr. Kvapil's Computer Science Class.
  • Muscatine High School: Chamber Orchestra.
  • Muscatine High School: Muskie Show Choirs.
  • Muscatine High School: Teen Library Committee Students Visit Elementary Buildings!
  • Muscatine High School: Muscatine Agricultural Program competed at Hawkeye Community College
  • District-Wide Staff: March Employee Awards!
  • District-Wide Staff: Teachers Attend National Association of Bilingual Education Conference.
  • District-Wide Staff: Jefferson Staff Participate in Read Across America.