Thursday, September 28, 2017

This Week in Our Schools: September 18-22, 2017

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

Featured this week:

  • District-Wide Students: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Week.
  • District-Wide Students: Hurricane Harvey Relief Update.
  • Franklin Elementary: Mrs. Week's 5th Grade Class.
  • Grant Elementary: Ms. Wolf's/Mrs. Doane's 4th Grade Class.
  • Grant Elementary: Mrs. Foxen's Art Students.
  • Madison Elementary: Homecoming 2017!
  • Madison Elementary: Student Reader Leaders.
  • Madison Elementary: Ms. Yetter's Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Day of Caring.
  • Madison Elementary: Students Love to Use Technology!
  • McKinley Elementary: Mrs. Hill's Art Classes Celebrating International Day of Peace.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. Gabriel and Mrs. Lowe's Classes.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Kindergarten Classes Celebrate International Day of Peace.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. Mergen's 1st Grade Class.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mr. Carlson's 3rd Grade Class.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. McDonald's 5th Grade Class.
  • Central Middle School: Annual Science Bowl.
  • Central Middle School: 6th Grade Superhero Leaders!
  • Central Middle School: Mrs. Larson-Walgren's 6th Grade Social Studies Class.
  • West Middle School: Mrs. Schroeder's Science Class.
  • West Middle School: 6th Grade Band.
  • West Middle School: Mr. Yerington’s 6th Grade Social Studies Class.
  • West Middle School: Mrs. Bezdek's Pre-AP ELA 8 Classes.
  • Muscatine High School: Ag Classes Corn and Honey Harvest.
  • Muscatine High School: Ms. Phillips' EL Classes.
  • Muscatine High School: Mrs. Rauenbuehler's 1st Period Pre-AP English Class.
  • Muscatine High School: Mr. Kitzmann's Principle of Engineering Class.
  • Muscatine High School: This Week in Sports.
  • District-Wide Staff: Jefferson Teachers on Voice of Muscatine.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

This Week in Our Schools: September 11-15, 2017

Select the image below to see our students and staff in action This Week in Our Schools! It's Muskie Homecoming Week!

Featured this week:

  • District-Wide Students: Hurricane Harvey Relief Effort!
  • Parents as Teachers: Home Visit Fun.
  • Colorado Elementary: Homecoming 2017!
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Hines' Kindergarten Class.
  • Colorado Elementary: Ms. Schumaker's Kindergarten Class.
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Mohror's 3rd Grade Class.
  • Colorado Elementary: 4th Grade Field Trip.
  • Franklin Elementary: Miss Harder's Kindergarten Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: Mrs. Weeks' 5th Grade Class.
  • Grant Elementary: Miss Dindinger's Begindergarten Class.
  • Grant Elementary: Mrs. Paul's 4th Grade Class.
  • Grant Elementary: 4th Grade Field Trip.
  • Grant Elementary: Leadership Lab.
  • Jefferson Elementary: Homecoming 2017!
  • Jefferson Elementary: Mrs. Johnson's Begindergarten Class.
  • Jefferson Elementary: Mr. Loos' 3rd Grade Class.
  • Jefferson Elementary: Mrs. Martin's 4th Grade Math Class.
  • Jefferson Elementary: Mrs. Bryant's 4th Grade Science Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Mrs. Godden-Alloway's Reading Classes.
  • Madison Elementary: Mrs. Willett's 4th Grade Class.
  • McKinley Elementary: Homecoming 2017!
  • McKinley Elementary: Miss Pedersen's 2nd Grade Class.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. Evans' Kindergarten Class.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Homecoming 2017.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mileage Club.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. McDonald's 5th Grade Class.
  • Central Middle School: Ms. Wiebe's 6th Grade Ag Class.
  • Central Middle School: Ms. Wiebe's 7th Grade Ag Class.
  • Central Middle School: Ms. Wiebe's 8th Grade Ag Class.
  • West Middle School: Mrs. Matteson's 6th Grade ELA Class.
  • West Middle School: Mr. Yerington's 6th Grade Science Class.
  • West Middle School: 8th Grade Volunteers.
  • Muscatine High School: Mrs. Rauenbuehler's 2nd Period 9th Grade Pre-AP English.
  • Muscatine High School: Mr. Johnson's Anatomy & Physiology Class.
  • Muscatine High School: Muskie Choirs.
  • Muscatine High School: FFA - Monsanto Day.
  • Muscatine High School: Homecoming 2017!
  • District-Wide Staff: Food and Nutrition Staff.
  • District-Wide Staff: Jefferson Deaf and Hard of Hearing Staff.

This Week in Our Schools: September 5-8, 2017

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

Featured this week:

  • District-Wide Students: 5th Grade/MHS Band Orchestra Assembly.
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Yahn's 3rd Grade Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: Mrs. Week's 5th Grade Class.
  • Grant Elementary: Students Give to Hurricane Harvey Relief.
  • Jefferson Elementary: Mrs. Waltert Stansbery's 3rd Grade Art Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Breakfast Time!
  • Madison Elementary: Mrs. McGill's 3rd Grade Class.
  • Madison Elementary: 5th Grade Leaders.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. Green's and Mrs. Evans' Kindergarten Classes.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. Haag's 3rd Grade and Mrs. Evans' Kindergarten Classes.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Ms. Blaesing's 4th Grade Class.
  • Central Middle School: Mrs. Larson-Walgren's 6th Grade Social Studies Class.
  • Central Middle School: Mrs. Larson-Walgren's 6th Grade ELA Class.
  • Muscatine High School: Ms. Brown's Journalism Class.
  • Muscatine High School: Mrs. Coffman's AP and AP Prep Biology Classes.
  • Muscatine High School: Muskie Boys' Cross Country News.
  • District-Wide Staff: WMS Food and Nutrition Staff.
  • District-Wide Staff: MHS Food and Nutrition Staff.

This Week in Our Schools: August 28 - September 1, 2017

Welcome to the Back-to-School edition of This Week in Our Schools! Select the image below to see our students and staff in action!

Featured this week:
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Hines' Kindergarten Class.
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Mohror's 3rd Grade Class.
  • Colorado Elementary: Breakfast Time!
  • Franklin Elementary: Mrs. Harder's Kindergarten Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: Franklin's Makerspace.
  • Grant Elementary: Breakfast Time!
  • Grant Elementary: Mrs. Sitzmann's Kindergarten Classes.
  • Grant Elementary: Mrs. Abbott's 1st Grade Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Morning Meetings.
  • Madison Elementary: Mrs. Skidmore's Kindergarten Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Ms. Yetter's Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Mrs. Poppe's 4th Grade Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Ms. Willett's 4th Grade Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Ms. Shepherd's 5th Grade Class.
  • McKinley Elementary: Mrs. Spratt's Kindergarten Class.
  • Central Middle School: Mrs. Larson-Walgren's 6th Grade Reading Class.
  • West Middle School: Ms. Bezdek's 8th Grade Pre-AP ELA and 8th Grade ELA Classes.
  • Muscatine High School: FFA Livestock and Meat Judging Teams.
  • District-Wide Staff: Food and Nutrition Workers.
  • Shout Out! MHS Special Education Receives Award!
  • Shout Out! Stanley Foundation Supports MHS Social Studies!

Board Briefs for Monday, September 18, 2017 Regular and Organizational/Annual Meeting

Regular Session of the Retiring Board

The Muscatine Schools Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, September 18, 2017 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Those members present were: President Tammi Drawbaugh, Vice President Mary Wildermuth, Directors Tim Bower, John Dabeet, Aaron Finn, Nathan Mather, and Randy Naber. Also present were Superintendent Jerry Riibe and Director of Finance Tom Anderson.


  1. The board recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
  2. Visitors and media representatives were welcomed.
  3. A public hearing was held for the proposed plans, specifications, proposed form of contract and the estimated cost of said improvements for the MHS Physical Education Facility.
  4. No one spoke during Citizens Speak.
  5. A student council update was given.
  6. The consent agenda was approved which included: the minutes of the August 10, 2017 Work Session and the August 14, 2017 Regular Session and the bills and claims against the district dated September 18, 2017.
  7. The board accepted the Official Report of Votes from the Muscatine County Auditor. 
  8. Approved the following policies:
    1. 600.2 School Calendar 
    2. 600.3 School Year 
    3. 600.4 Scheduling Activities 
    4. 600.5  Conditions of Instruction 
    5. 600.6 Class Sizes (DELETE) 
    6. 601.2 Curriculum Adoption and Evaluation 
    7. 601.3 Basic Instructional Program (Kindergarten) (DELETE)
    8. 601.4 Elementary Curriculum (DELETE) 
    9. 601.5 Middle School Curriculum (DELETE) 
    10. 601.6 High School Curriculum (DELETE) 
    11. 601.7 Talented and Gifted 
    12. 601.8 Summer School 
    13. 601.9 Health Education 
    14. 601.10 Physical Education 
    15. 601.13 Career Education 
    16. 601.18 Teaching About Religion 
    17. 601.21 Alternative Programs (DELETE)
    18. 601.23 Special Education Programs and Services 
    19. 601.26 Student Health Services 
    20. 601.30 Virtual On-Line Courses (DELETE) 
    21. 601.32 School Ceremonies and Observances (NEW) 
    22. 601.33 Animals in the Classroom (NEW) 
    23. 601.34 Student Production of Materials and Services (NEW) 
    24. 602.1 Selection of Instructional Materials (DELETE) 
    25. 603.1 Student Testing Program
    26. 603.2 Progress Report to Students (DELETE) 
    27. 603.3 Permanent Records (DELETE) 
    28. 603.4 Accountability Test Integrity/Test Preparation (DELETE) 
  9. The updated year-end financials dated June 30, 2017 were reviewed.
  10. The retiring board adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

Organizational/Annual Meeting of the Board
  1. The Organizational and Annual Meeting was called to order at 7:27 p.m.
  2. The oath of office was administered to new and re-elected board members: Tim Bower, Tammi Drawbaugh, and Toby McCarter.
  3. Tammi Drawbaugh was nominated and approved as board president and Oath of Office given.
  4. Mary Wildermuth was nominated and approved as board vice president and Oath of Office given.
  5. The following annual meeting transactions were approved:
    1.  Appointed Lisa Mosier Bunn as Board Secretary.
    2.  Appointed Tom Anderson as Board Treasurer.
    3. Designated First National Bank, CBI Bank & Trust, and Community Bank, all of Muscatine, as official depositories of district funds in the amount of $20 million each.
    4. Appointed Stanley, Lande, and Hunter, Ahlers Law Firm and Lynch Dallas P.C. as counsels to represent the school district in legal matters on a time basis.
    5. Designated the Muscatine Journal as publication of record.
    6. Designated Bohnsack & Frommelt as auditor of record.
    7. Approved the Statement of the Board’s Review and Support:
      1. Discipline policies.
      2. Co-curricular and extra-curricular programs – the board annual reviews and approves the district’s discipline policies and their support for co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
    8. Appointed district compliance officers.
  6. The 2017-18 Board Meeting Schedule was shared.
  7. President Drawbaugh will represent the board as its Delegate to the IASB Convention.
  8. Director Dabeet was approved to the County Conference Board. 
  9. Director Bower was approved to the Ag Learning Center Board.
  10. The consent agenda was approved:
    1.  Student Teaching Agreements with Morningside College and Upper Iowa University.
    2. Agreement with Mississippi Bend AEA for Driver’s Ed Services
    3. The following policies:
      1. 801 Naming and/or Dedication of Facilities and Grounds 
      2. 802 Use of School Property and Equipment 
      3. 804 Building Safety Audits 
      4. 900 Public/Private School Relations
      5. 900.3 Distribution of Materials in the Schools with Admin Regs 
      6. 900.4R1 Use of School Facilities During School Hours – Admin Regs 
      7. 900.5R1 Visitation by Students, Adults, Groups, or Agencies to the MCSD- Admin Regs 
      8. 900.6 School/Business Partnership Program 
      9. 900.7 Outside Resource People 
      10. 900.9 Nutrition and Wellness Program 
    4. Approved the District Committee Membership of the Audit Committee and the Teacher Quality Committee.
    5. Approved the folllowing Employment Recommendations
      1. New Hires – Certified Staff: Morgan Blaesing – 4th Grade Math/Science, Mulberry; Benjamin Deuerling – MHS Industrial Tech; Emilie Duran – ESL, CMS & WMS; Kristin Hazelett - .75 Art, Franklin; Katie Meyers, Family & Consumer Science, MHS; Luke Turelli – At Risk Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, MHS.
      2. Resignations – Schedule C: Lynn Ralston – WMS Math Curriculum Coordinator; Nathan Meineke – MHS Assistant Girls Soccer; Grant Stewart – MHS Assistant Baseball; Er:c Josupait – MHS Assistant Baseball; Nicholas Morgan – MHS Assistant Basketball.
      3. New Hires: Schedule C: Nathan Meineke – MHS Head Girls Soccer; Laurie Schroeder – WMS First Tech Challenge Robotics; Brendan Nagel – WMS Football; Dakotah Sommer, WMS Volleyball; Eric Yerington – WMS Yearbook; Lynette Larson – WMS ELA Department Chair; Megan Stutzel – WMS Math Department Chair.
    6. Approved the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Muscatine Community School District and Local 1560, Council of AFSCME for the Secretarial, Clerical, Aide, and Paraeducator and the Bus Driver Units. 
    7. Approved the plans, specifications, and proposed form of contract for the MHS Physical Education Facility. All ayes; motion carried.
    8. Approved the purchase of new security cameras for MHS, Grant, and Madison. All ayes; motion carried.
    9. Held a second reading on the following policies:
      1. 701.1 Planning the Budget 
      2. 701.2 Preparation of the Budget Document 
      3. 701.3 Requirements of the Budget Document 
      4. 701.4 Publication of the Budget 
      5. 701.5 Public Review of the Budget
      6. 701.6 Budget Adoption by the Board 
      7. 701.7 Budget as a Spending Plan 
      8. 701.8 Transfer of Inactive Account Funds 
      9. 701.9 Financial Accounting System 
      10. 702.1 Local, State, and Federal Income 
      11. 702.3 Educational Materials Fee (delete) 
      12. 702.4 Sale of Bonds 
      13. 702.5 Investments 
      14. 702.6 Gifts, Grants, and Bequests 
      15. 702.8 Special Assessments (delete)
      16. 703.1 Purchasing and Bidding 
      17. 703.2 Requisitions/Purchase Orders 
      18. 703.3 Receiving Goods and Services 
      19. 703.4 Approval and Payment of Goods and Services 
      20. 703.7 Bidding Procedures for Public Improvements (delete) 
      21. 703.8 Credit Card Use 
      22. 704.3 Financial Report, Published 
      23. 704.4 Annual Financial Statement, Published (delete) 
      24. 704.6 Inventory 
      25. 704.7 Intangible Assets (delete) 
      26. 704.8 GASB45
      27. 705.2 Personnel Records (moving to 400 series) 
      28. 705.3 Student Records (delete) 
      29. 706.1 Insurance Program 
      30. 708.1 School Food Program (new) 
      31. 708.2 Free or Reduced Cost Meals Eligibility (new) 
      32. 708.3 Vending Machines (new) 
      33. 709.1 Student School Transportation Eligibility (new) 
      34. 709.2 Student Transportation and Extracurricular Activities (new) 
      35. 709.3 Summer School Program Transportation Service (new)
    10. Held a first reading on the following policies:
      1. 401.15 Personnel Records (moving from 705.3) 
      2. 803 Disposal of School Equipment 
      3. 805 Crisis Management and Response Plan 
      4. 806.1 Buildings and Sites Long Range Planning – NEW 
      5. 806.2 Buildings and Sites Surveys – NEW 
      6. 806.3 Educational Specifications for Buildings and Sites – NEW 
      7. 806.4 Site Acquisition – NEW 
      8. 807.1 Maintenance Schedule – NEW 
      9. 807.2 Requests for Improvements – NEW 
      10. 807.3 Emergency Repairs – NEW
      11. 807.4 Buildings and Site Adaption for Persons with Disabilities – NEW 
      12. 807.5 Vandalism – NEW 
      13. 807.6 Energy Conservation – NEW 
      14. 808 Lease, Sale or Disposal of School Buildings and Sites – NEW 
      15. 900.1  Tobacco/Nicotine Free Environment – DELETE 
      16. 900.2 Releases to News Media – Internal Unit News 
      17. 900.5 Visitation by Students, Adults, Groups, or Agencies to the MCSD 
      18. 900.10 News Conferences and Interviews – NEW
      19. 900.11 Live Broadcast or Videotaping – NEW
      20. 900.13 Advertising and Promoting – NEW
    11. The following upcoming meetings and events were announced:
      1. September 26, 2017 – Progress Breakfast at 7:15 a.m. at the MCSD Administration Center
      2. October 4, 2017 - Board - Superintendent Banquet at Mississippi Bend AEA.
      3. October 9, 2017 – Regular Meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
      4. October 10, 2017 - IASB Board Orientation at Mt. Pleasant
    12. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.