Friday, April 28, 2017

This Week in Our Schools: April 24-28, 2017


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


Featured this week:


  • Muscatine Preschool Alliance: Night of the Young Child.
  • District-Wide Students: Iowa Global Issues Problem-Solving State Bowl.
  • Franklin Elementary: Mrs. Henderson's 2nd Grade Class.
  • Jefferson Elementary: Wildly Successful Science Night.
  • Madison Elementary: Mrs. Skidmore's Kindergarten Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Ms. Connor and Mr. Weber's 5th Grade Class.
  • McKinley Elementary: Kindergarteners, 1st Grade, and 2nd Grade with Teacher Library Mrs. Bloomquist.
  • McKinley Elementary: Mrs. Strouf's 1st Grade Class.
  • McKinley Elementary: 4th Grade TRIBES.
  • McKinley Elementary: Mrs. DeVrieze's 4th Grade Class.
  • McKinley Elementary: Mrs. Youngbauer's 5th Grade Class.
  • McKinley Elementary: Administrative Professional's Day.
  • Central Middle School: Gifted and Talented Students.
  • Central Middle School: 6th Grade Monsanto Ag Safety Day.
  • Central Middle School: 7th Grade University of Iowa STEM Day.
  • West Middle School: Mrs. Plemmon's Class.
  • West Middle School: 6th Grade Monsanto Ag Safety Day.
  • West Middle School: Mrs. Matteson's 6th Grade ELA Classes.
  • West Middle School: 7th Graders Participate in Day of Caring.
  • West Middle School: 7th Grade Toured University of Iowa.
  • West Middle School: 8th Grade Chicago Field Trip.
  • West Middle School: 8th Grade Trip to Washington D.C.
  • West Middle School: Mr. Hayes' 8th Grade Artists.
  • Muscatine High School: Future Problem Solving Teams.
  • Muscatine High School: Thoroughly Modern Millie!
  • Muscatine High School: FFA Envirothon.
  • District-Wide Staff: Admin Center Staff's Community Baby Shower.
  • District-Wide Staff: MHS Food Service Workers.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Board Briefs for Monday, April 24, 2017

The Muscatine School's Board of Education met in work session on Monday, April 24, 2017 at 6 p.m. at the high school in the media center. Those present were board members Bower, Dabeet, Drawbaugh, Mather, Naber, and Wildermuth. Director Finn was absent. Also present were Superintendent Jerry Riibe, Assistant Superintendent Mike McGrory, Director of Finance Tom Anderson, High School Principal Jared Smith, High School Athletic/Activities Director Andy Werling, Facilities Supervisor Jeff Miller, phys ed and strength and conditioning teachers Ann Edkin and D.J. Hawkins, and community member and past athletic director/MHS principal Chuck Van Hecke.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the needs of the high school as it pertains to the MHS Phase II Construction Project.

  1. Ann Edkin and D. J. Hawkins spoke of the need for extra gym space for students and athletics as well as extra space needed in the weight room.
  2. Andy Werling shared that one initiative the high school has worked on the past two years is increasing student participation in activities and athletics:
    1. boys and girls soccer, boys golf, and volleyball have nearly doubled their participation numbers since 2012. 
    2. This puts added strain on the current gym space when teams practice year round.
  3. Chuck Van Hecke shared his thoughts on North Scott's stand alone weight room/gymnasium/and conditioning area and how something like this could positively impact our students and community.
  4. Mr. Van Hecke suggested to revitalize the swim entrance for a more handicapped accessible entrance for the community.
  5. Mrs. Edkin also shared as a parent and coach the need to have practices until 9 p.m. due to lack of gym space to accommodate all teams and how this puts a strain on families and students. 
  6. Jeff Miller, Facilities Supervisor, offered two dates for board members to visit North Scott to see their new weight room/gymnasium building. 
    1. Thursday, April 27 at 6 p.m. and Monday, May 1st, also at 6 p.m. 
  7. Mr. Miller shared a document that lists all of the outside organizations that utilize the district's gym facilities.
  8. The board then discussed the various phases of the high school and next steps.
  9. Director of Finance Tom Anderson reviewed the current PPEL budget.
  10. The board will take action to give FEH Architects authority to proceed with the design phase of the project and to schedule a design meeting for board members and staff.
  11. The board went into closed session at 7:40 p.m. to for the superintendent's evaluation.
  12. The board returned to open session at 8:10 p.m.
  13. The board approved to extend the superintendent's contract as per current contract language.
  14. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
  15. Next meeting: Monday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.



Friday, April 21, 2017

This Week in Our Schools: April 17-21, 2017

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

Featured this week:


  • UNITED WAY DAY OF CARING
  • District-Wide Elementary: Gifted and Talented Events.
  • Colorado Elementary: Ms. Schumaker's Kindergarten Class.
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Noll's 1st Grade Class.
  • Colorado Elementary: Ms. Phillips' 2nd Grade Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: Mrs. Holder's Kindergarten Art Students.
  • Franklin Elementary: Mrs. Henderson's 2nd Grade Class.
  • Jefferson Elementary: Mr. Loos' 3rd Grade Class.
  • Jefferson Elementary: Leader in Me Assembly.
  • Grant Elementary: Leadership Day!
  • Grant Elementary: Mrs. Dusenberry's 1st Grade Class.
  • Grant Elementary: UNI Visits Grant.
  • Madison Elementary: Miss Lawrence's Kindergarten Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Mrs. Poppe's 4th Grade Class.
  • McKinley Elementary: Mrs. Strouf's, Mrs. Luna's, and Mrs. Vogeler's 1st Grade Classes.
  • McKinley Elementary: 4th and 5th Grade Leadership Team.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. Story's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Class.
  • West Middle School: Mrs. Stutzel's 6th Grade Math Classes.
  • West Middle School: Ms. Wiebe's 6th Grade Ag Class.
  • West Middle School: Ms. Wiebe's 7th Grade Ag Class.
  • Muscatine High School: Mr. Johnson's Anatomy and Physiology Class.
  • Muscatine High School: MHS Drama Presents: Thoroughly Modern Millie!
  • Muscatine High School: Ms. Christensen's Geometry Classes.
  • District-Wide Staff: Muscatine Preschool Alliance Teachers Meet.
  • District-Wide Staff: Colorado, Grant, and Madison Food Service Ladies.
  • District-Wide Staff: Franklin Teachers Present at ASCD.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

This Week in Our Schools: April 10-13, 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 Students: 1st Grade Winners of Dental Coloring Contest!
  • Franklin Elementary: Student Leadership Food Drive.
  • Franklin Elementary: EL Students and Staff Celebrate Shine Hat Day!
  • Franklin Elementary: Miss Clemens' and Miss Harder's Kindergarten Classes.
  • Grant Elementary: Student Donates to Domestic Violence Shelter.
  • Grant Elementary: 1st Grade Leaders Present to PTO.
  • Madison Elementary: Kindergarten Students Learn New Vocabulary Words.
  • Madison Elementary: 4th Grade Students.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Person Centered Planning with Mrs. Story's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Student.
  • Central Middle School: Mrs. Beatty's 6th Grade English/Language Arts Class.
  • Central Middle School: Ms. Arnold's 8th Grade Science Class.
  • Muscatine High School: Boy's Soccer.
  • Muscatine High School: FFA Results from the 2017 Iowa FFA Convention and Conference.
  • Muscatine High School: Muskie Boy's Track - Tyler Olsen Breaks Meet Record!
  • Muscatine High School: Mrs. Phillips' EL Classes.
  • Muscatine High School: Mrs. Paulsen's French II Class.
  • District-wide Staff: MHS Math Teachers.
  • District-wide Staff: CMS and WMS Math Teachers.

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Board Briefs for Monday, April 10, 2017 Regular Meeting

The Muscatine Schools' Board of Education met on Monday, April 10, 2017 at 7 p.m. at City Hall: Members present: Bower, Dabeet, Drawbaugh, Finn, Mather, Naber and Wildermuth. Others present: Superintendent Riibe, Assistant Superintendent McGrory, and Director of Finance Anderson.


  1. The board recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
  2. President Drawbaugh welcomed visitors and media.
  3. Megan Custis, Jr. Class Student Council President, provided a student council update to the Board. 
    1. Senior Survivor raised over $33,500!!
    2. Prom is April 22 - they are still in need of chaperones!
  4. Janessa Ford, Tammy Holcomb, Jillian Poppe, Karen Woods, and Amy Danay were honored for receiving the Employee Recognition Award for April.
  5. No one spoke during Citizens Speak.
  6. The consent agenda was approved which included:
    1. Minutes of March 6, 2017 Regular Session and Minutes of March 27, 2017 Work Session.
    2. Employment Recommendations:
      1. New Hires for 2017-18: Sarah Greim - SPED Strategist - District-wide; William Hines - SPED Strat II at MHS; Katie Yetter - SPED Strat II at Madison.
      2. Resignations - Certified Staff: Ashley Alons - 8th Grade ELA at CMS; Madelyn DeSimone (Deuth) - 7th Grade Science/Social Studies at WMS; Holly Hanna - C o-Lead Teacher at East Campus; and Joshua Hanna - Co-Lead Teacher at East Campus.
      3. New Hires - Schedule C: Mindy Stoltzfus - MHS Girls Tennis: Angie Kulland - CMS Track.
      4. Resignations - Schedule C: Sara Alvidrez - MHS Dept Chair - Art; Joni Anderson - MHS Department Chair - Counseling; Gabe McDonald - MHS Department Chair - Math; Dan Ramos - MHS Department Chair - Social Studies; Duane Williams - MHS Assistant Football; Matt Shoultz - MHS Assistant Football.
    3. Bills and Claims against the district dated April 10, 2017.
  7. The board did not approve the Leader in Me contract with Franklin Covey as they felt the contract language regarding cost was misleading. They will consider a revised contract at its next meeting.
  8. Approved two 28E agreements with Louisa-Muscatine for shared counselor and shared family and consumer science teacher for 2017-18.
  9. Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with  Community Action of Eastern Iowa for Head Start.
  10. Approved the following upgrades to transportation software:
    1. Transfinder.
    2. Zonar Systems.
    3. Travel Tracker.
  11. Approved the purchase of four Rational ovens from Wilson Restaurant and Supply.
  12. Declined all bids for MHS Phase II Project.
  13. Reviewed a draft of the School Improvement "Plan on a Page."
  14. Held a first reading on policy 403.19 Notification of Arrest, Criminal Charges, or Child Abuse Complaint.
  15. February and March financials were presented.
  16. The following announcements of upcoming meetings and events were made:
    1. April 14, 2017: No School and Non-contract day for employees.
    2. April 24, 2017: Board Work Session at 6 p.m. at MHS (location to be determined).
    3. April 28, 2017: Kindergarten Visits - No School for current kindergarten, begindergarten, and 4-year old preschool.
    4. May 8, 2017: Board Regular Meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
  17. The meeting adjourned at 10:09 p.m.