Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Board Briefs for Monday, February 26, 2018 Work Session


The Muscatine Schools Board of Education met in work session on Monday, February 26, 2018 at 6 p.m. at Franklin Elementary School, 210 Taylor Street, in the Media Center. Vice President Mary Wildermuth called the meeting to order. Directors Tim Bower, John Dabeet, Nathan Mather and Toby McCarter were present. Director Aaron Finn was present via phone. President Tammi Drawbaugh was absent. Also present were Superintendent Jerry Riibe, Assistant Superintendent Mike McGrory, and Director of Finance Tom Anderson.
  1. The board recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
  2. Visitors and media representatives were welcomed.
  3. Franklin Elementary staff presented: Relationships, Resilience, Rigor and Results.
  4. Information regarding next year's budget was presented.
  5. Information was provided regarding the district's current and proposed capital projects.
  6. Announcements/Events/Important Dates:
    1. March 5, 2018 - Regular Board Meeting; 7 p.m.; City Hall
    2. March 5-8, 2018 Parent-Teacher Conferences
    3. March 8, 2018 2-Hour Early Dismissal
    4. March 9, 2018 No School - Conference Comp Day
    5. March 12-16, 2018  Spring Break
    6. March 26, 2018 Board Work Session; 6 p.m.; Central Middle School
    7. March 30, 2018  No School; Non-contract day
  7. The meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.


Friday, February 23, 2018

This Week in Our Schools: 2-20 to 2-23-18

Select the image below to see the learning opportunities happening district-wide This Week in Our Schools!


Featured this week:

  • District-Wide Students
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Yahn's 3rd Grade Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: Mrs. Calderon's 4th Grade ELL Students.
  • Franklin Elementary: Franklin Students Welcome a Special Visitor.
  • Grant Elementary: Mrs. Hull's 4-year old PK.
  • Grant Elementary: Mrs. Paul's 4th Grade Class and Mrs. Sitzmann's Kindergarten Class.
  • Grant Elementary: Mrs. Paul's 4th Grade Class.
  • Jefferson Elementary: STEAM Club.
  • Jefferson Elementary: Pre-Ap Students.
  • Central Middle School: Mr. Edkin's Robotics 1 Classes.
  • Central Middle School: Ms. Pautz's 8th Grade Science Class.
  • Central Middle School: Girls Night Out STEM.
  • West Middle School: 8th Grade ELA Students.
  • West Middle School: Orchestra Concert.
  • Muscatine High School: Muscatine FFA Chapter.
  • Muscatine High School: Mrs. Hirschfield's Geometry Class.
  • Muscatine High School: Mrs. Baille's, Mrs. Walsh's, Mrs. Ruesch's Science Classes.
  • Muscatine High School: Mr. Schmelzer's Transition Students.

This Week in Our Schools: 2-12 to 2-16-18

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


Featured this week:

  • District-Wide Students
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Noll's 1st Grade Class.
  • Colorado Elementary: Ms. Holder's 2nd Grade Art Students.
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Yahn's 3rd Grade Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: Mrs. Henderson's 2nd Grade Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: Pig in a Blanket!
  • Grant Elementary: Miss Dindinger's Begindergarten Class.
  • Grant Elementary: FAST Celebration!
  • Grant Elementary: Career Day.
  • Grant Elementary: Mrs. Schliesman's 3rd Grade Students.
  • Grant Elementary: Mrs. Paul's 4th Grade Class.
  • Jefferson Elementary: STEAM Club.
  • McKinley Elementary: Hometown Hero Visits McKinley Students.
  • McKinley Elementary: A Special Celebration!
  • McKinley Elementary: 4th Grade STEM Competition.
  • Madison Elementary: 3rd Grade Math Fact Mastery Celebration!
  • Madison Elementary: Ms. Connor's 5th Grade Pre-AP Math Students.
  • Mulberry Elementary: Mrs. Gabriel and Mrs. Lowe's Students.
  • West Middle School: Mr. Yerington's 6th Grade Science Students.
  • Muscatine High School: Jazz Ensemble.
  • Muscatine High School: Solid Harmony and Jazz, Etc.
  • Muscatine High School: Horticulture II Students.
  • Muscatine High School: FFA.
  • District-Wide Staff

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Board Briefs for Monday, February 12, 2018 Regular Board Meeting

The Board of Education of the Muscatine Community School District met in regular session on Monday, February 12, 2018 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. President Tammi Drawbaugh called the meeting to order. Directors Tim Bower, John Dabeet, Nathan Mather, and Mary Wildermuth were present. Director Toby McCarter was absent. Also present were Superintendent Jerry Riibe, Assistant Superintendent Mike McGrory, and Director of Finance Tom Anderson.
  1. The board recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
  2. Visitors and media representatives were welcomed.
  3. MHS Student Council representative updated the board on recent and upcoming student council activities.
  4. Laney Berry, Jefferson Instructional Coach, along with several students, presented on Jefferson STEAM.
  5. The following citizens spoke to the topic of outsourcing transportation services:
    1. Randy Naber, 402 E. 8th Street.
    2. Laura Liegious, 1221 Glenwood Lane.
    3. Shawn Winkle, 417 Bonnie Street.
    4. Lance Wedekind, 1558 65th Street, New Boston, Illinois.
    5. Greg Weber, 709 Leroy Street.
    6. Dave Russell, 1647 Ward Avenue, Blue Grass.
    7. Elizabeth McDonald, 2907 Broadlawn Avenue.
    8. Kearstyn Anderson, Davenport.
    9. Sherry Reno, 2117 Skylane Drive.
  6. Superintendent Riibe reviewed the results of the recent Perception Survey that was conducted this January. 
  7. The consent agenda was approved which includes:
    1. The minutes of the January 8, 2018 Regular Session and the January 22, 2018 Work Session.
    2. Employment Recommendations of:
      1. Resignations – Certified Staff: Sarah Bezdek – WMS Language Arts (effective 1/15/18); Nicole Culpepper – Grant SPED (end of 17-18 school year); Kelsey Hurlbert – Colorado  SPED (end of 17-18 school year); Kailyn Kaiser – WMS Social Studies and ELA (end of 17-18 school year); and Briana Ruesch – MHS SPED (end of 17-18 school year).
      2.  New Hires – Schedule C: Elizabeth Thomas – At Risk Coordinator at MHS
    3.  Bills and Claims Against the District dated February 12, 2018.
    4. Policy 414.04R1 Substitutes for Teachers – Admin Regulations
  8. Mia Frommelt of Bohnsack and Frommelt LLP Certified Public Accountants presented the FY 17 Audit Report to the board.
  9. Approved accepting and placing on file the audit of FY 2017.
  10. Approved naming the new MHS Physical Education Facility to honor Chuck Van Hecke.
  11. Approved the contract with Stanley Consultants in the amount not to exceed $15,520 for the MHS Science Lab Feasibility Study. 
  12. Approved the Budget Guarantee Resolution.
  13. Krista Regennitter, Director of the Muscatine County ISU Extension, along with two students, presented information on the Juntos Program.
  14. The financials for December 2017 were reviewed.
  15. The upcoming meetings and events were announced:
    1. February 19, 2018 – No School – President’s Day
    2. February 26, 2018 – School Board Work Session, 6 p.m., Franklin Elementary
    3. March 5, 2018 – Board Regular Session, 7 p.m., City Hall (this date is one week earlier than normal due to Spring Break)
  16. The meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m. 

For more information, see the Board Agenda/Board Book.
To view the meeting via YouTube: School Board Meetings


Friday, February 2, 2018

This Week in Our Schools: January 29 - February 2, 2018

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


Featured this week:

  • District-Wide Students
  • Colorado Elementary: Mrs. Noll's First Grade Class.
  • Colorado Elementary: Ms. Holder's 3rd Grade Art Students.
  • Franklin Elementary: Ms Harder's Kindergarten Class.
  • Franklin Elementary: Mrs. Hepker's Class.
  • Grant Elementary: Mrs. Hafner's Kindergarten Class.
  • Grant Elementary: Mrs. Schliesman's 3rd Grade Class.
  • Grant Elementary: Leadership Lab.
  • Jefferson Elementary: STEAM Club.
  • Madison Elementary: Ms. Skidmore's Kindergarten Class.
  • Madison Elementary: Mrs. Eserhaut's 1st Grade P.E. Class.
  • McKinley Elementary: Rufus and Winnie.
  • McKinley Elementary: Mrs. Spratt's Kindergarten Class.
  • McKinley Elementary: World Read Aloud Day with Mrs. Bloomquist!
  • Central Middle School: 6th Grade Super Heroes!
  • Central Middle School: 8th Graders Visit Carver Pump.
  • Central Middle School: Ms. Acker's English Language Learning Class.
  • Central Middle School: Mrs. Pautz's 8th Grade Science Class.
  • Muscatine High School: MHS Vocal Music Department.
  • Muscatine High School: Ag 1 Students.
  • Muscatine High School: Ms. Christensen's Geometry Students.
  • District