By Elaine Rassel
Monday evening’s MMCRU School Board went into consideration and much discussion about the MMC school district in a joint agreement establishing local government risk pools. Just what is the local government risk pool all about? It is a term used when governmental entities join together to collectively reduce costs, increase their buying power, or reduce risks. Used in federal and state code. Schools that wish to join the 28E approve an Application & Agreement to join the Iowa LGRP to become a member of the 28E entity. Once a part of the 28E entity, the school district then has the option to participate for a given school year or contract term.
Because of the fluctuation of the costs of natural gas and variability of the quantities of natural gas used by the School District caused by changes in winter weather conditions, it is in the best interest of the School District to enter into a joint agreement with other public agencies to help the participating public agencies mitigate budget risks associated with winter heating and other natural gas consumption.
There were three school districts, not in our areas, that started this in August of 2019. In this agreement, premiums are determined. It was also discussed what happens if prices o up or down. If pricing & usage are exactly as anticipated, the school pays slightly more. If pricing & usage increase, school pays significantly less. If pricing & usage decrease, school pays significantly more. But in all scenarios, school has budget certainty knowing their annual premium, and has protected their General Fund. And, like any agreement, there is legal work behind it. The MMC School District, in a joint agreement establishing local government risk pools, adopted this plan.
The Resolution entitled, “Resolution Appointing UMB Bank, N.A. Of West Des Moines, Iowa To Serve As Paying Agent, Bond Registrar And Transfer Agent, Approving The Paying Agent, Bond Registrar And Transfer Agent Agreement And Authorizing The Execution Of Same” was approved.
The approval of form of Tax Exemption Certificate was placed on file and approved.
Continuing Disclosure Certificate was approve and placed on file.
The Resolution Amending the “Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2021, of the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District, State of Iowa, in the Amount of $10,000,000, and Levying a Tax for the Payment Thereof Adopted April 12, 2021” was approved.
Joe Mohning presented the Financial Balances and the Board approved these.
MMCRU Middle School/Remsen Elementary Principal Toby Young reported:
The midpoint of the 2nd Quarter is quickly approaching. Things are going well and we continue to successfully navigate our way through the 1st Semester.
Parent-Teacher Conferences were well attended at the Elementary with nearly 95% of parents attending. We had just above 73% of our parents attend the Middle School, which is a good turnout considering our conferences aren’t scheduled. I believe as students get to MS & HS, parents check grades.
We have 23 (9-7th & 14-8th) boys out for Jr. High Basketball. Their first game was Monday, November 8 against HMS. Both the 7th and 8th grade teams are currently 3-0 to begin the season. Go Royals!
FAST Testing (TK-8) Fall testing window results (Reading & Math) are included in this report. Our elementary buildings (TK-4) have held one 1 of 4 informational meetings regarding new reading curriculums for the 2022-2023 school year. We plan to make a final selection and purchase by late January.
LanSchool Air has been fully implemented at the MS. We are still sorting through things, but overall the staff is pleased with the ability to restrict, monitor and push out material to students without having to worry about students accessing sites or wasting time at school.
Certified enrollment was submitted on October 15. As of November 12, we currently have 328 students in our building. Elementary has 143 students and Middle School has 185.
FAST Results Fall Testing TK-8 2021-2022 are as follows:Number of students at Benchmark (Literacy) are TK 16/22 and 72%. K is 20/20 and 100%. Grade 1 is 14/21 and 66%. Grade 2 is 16/21 and 76%. Grade 3 is 20/29 and 66%. Grade 4 is 9/12 and 75%. Grade 5 is 22/33 and 66%. Grade 6 is 37/47 and 78%. Grade 7 is 40/54 and 74%, and Grade 8 is 38/50 and 76%. This amount is exactly the same for MATH.
Preschool Desk Audit is December 15.
Travis Sprague, PK-4, 9-12 Principal for MMCRU Marcus Elementary & MMCRU High School reported the following:
The MMCRU Marcus Elementary and MMCRU High School are nearly halfway through 2nd quarter. 26 high school students were named to the 1st Quarter Principal’s Honor Roll (4-0), 87 high school students were named to the High Honor Roll (3.5 and above), and 36 students were named to the Honor Roll (3.0 and above). In all, over three fourths of our high school students were named to the honor roll.
I am in the process of conducting all of my formal fall observations for beginning, new to building, and Year 3 teachers. In total I am summatively evaluating 18 teachers this year. A summative evaluation includes: a fall formal evaluation cycle, a spring formal evaluation cycle, 4-5 walk through observations (12-15 over 3 years), and daily pop-ins. The end result is the summative meeting and written document based on the 8 Iowa Teaching Standards.
On Thursday, November 11 the elementary presented its Veterans Day program to veterans, parents, and the community. A special thanks to Mrs. Ruskamp, Ms. Koenig, all or our teachers, and especially our students for the program they presented. The high school student council led our Veterans day assembly in Remsen. Special thanks to guest speaker Dave Nicks, our student council members, Mrs. Ebert, Mrs. Youde, the Remsen custodial staff, and most importantly to our MMCRU veterans.
I want to recognize the following student-athletes for their accomplishments:
Volleyball War Eagle All-Conference for 1st Team was Emily Dreckman and 2nd Team were Ellie Hilbrands and Taylor Harpenau.
Football Class A District 1 All-District 1st Team were Brenin Stodden, and Preston Astidias. 2nd Team were Bryce Tentinger, and Eban Hicks. Honorable Mention were Josh Wetter and Mitchell Schnepf. Special Honors went to Brenin Stodden (Punter)
Football Academic All-District were Andrew Barinsky, Kierra Gengler (Cheer), Sophie Hohbach (Manager), Gunnar Johnson, Emma Mahoney (Manager), Hannah Neddermeyer (Cheer), KC Nicks, Kam Steffen, Preston Astidias, Darley Carrillo (Cheer), Mattie Dias (Cheer), Kirsten Letsche (Cheer), Asya Miller (Cheer), Ryan Olson, Regan Peters (Cheer), Carson Pick, Michael Rupp, Brett Staab, Keegan Stevens, and Brenin Stodden.
Cross Country War Eagle All-Conference were Kaden Galles, Brayden Dirks, and Brett Staab. Cross Country War Eagle Academic All Conference were Brayden Dirks and Brett Staab. State Cross Country was Kaden Galles (29th out or 157 1 A runners)
Superintendent Barkel reported the following:
On October 26 the MMC Building Committee and administrative team met with CMBA Architects and EDA Engineering to discuss challenges with supplies and how it would affect the schedule of the building project at MMC. The decision was made to begin school in the spring of 2022 as scheduled, but to delay the beginning of work on the high school until the forth quarter of the 2022-23 school year. This will ensure that supplies are at the site when needed and will save costs since remodeling work can be done at one time instead of broken into two stages. Teachers and students in the south wing of the high school will he displaced during the 4th quarter of the 22-23 school year, and we have been advised to have a later start to the school year in the fall or 2023, such as after Labor Day to make sure the building is ready for students. Obviously this delays the beginning of work on the high school, but it keeps the timetable the same on the new elementary school and helps keep costs down on the high school remodel since it will all he done in one season, rather than breaking it up into two summers.
The RU Building Committee will be meeting with Norm TeKrony of EDA to discuss HVAC projects at RU. This meeting has been delayed a couple of times due to meeting conflicts as well as my illness last week. We hope to complete the HVAC project at RU this upcoming summer, if materials can be secured by that time.
It’s a relatively light agenda this month. We are at the awkward time between the board elections and the organizational meeting in December, in which we install new board members and elect officers. The organizational meeting must take place after the canvass of voting results, which cannot happen until November 16, which is one day after our regular November board meeting.
Joe Mohning, Business Manager for MMCRU, will lead us through an overview of our districts’ financial balances as required by Iowa Code at this month’s meeting.
The MMC board needs to pass four resolutions and approvals at this month’s meting which will keep the timetable moving forward for financing the building projects at the MMC facilities.
The Veteran’s Day program was very successful. Many thanks to the persons responsible for organizing the event to salute our area vets.
We are getting closer to the winter driving season. Please keep our kids and bus drivers in your prayers as we seek safety on the roads for our students and staff. Remember, the legislature does not allow virtual snow days this year.
I want to thank our very capable building principals and business office staff for keeping the districts moving forward in my absence last week while I was quarantining due to COVID.
The MMC Schools Regular Board Meeting was at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, November 15, 2021 at Remsen’s Media Center. RU’s members present were: Krier, Tentinger, Penning, and Loutsch. Absent was Poeckes.
MMC members present were Prunty, Olson, Staab, and Dreckman. Absent was Leavitt.