By Elaine Rassel
More on Mr. Hansen’s award in the conclusion of the Superintendent’s report.
First on the Business agenda was—Abnegation of Policy 8i04.05: Stock Prescription Medication Supply. Webster’s Dictionary explanation of “abnegation” is—to deny and refuse; renounce (a claim, etc.) Parental authorization and release form for the administration of a voluntary school supply of stock medication for life threatening incidents was in print for parents to sign for their child who might need medication.
The district seeks to provide a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors who are at risk of potentially life-threatening incidents. The district supplies the following prescription medications for life threatening incidents: Epinephrine auto-injectors, Bronchodtlator, Bronchodilator Canisters and Spacers, Opioid Antagonist. Generic brands may be substituted.
Pursuant to state law, the school district or and its employees are to incur no liability for any injury arising from the provision, administration, failure to administer, or assistance in the administration of the selected prescription medications supplied by the school for life threatening incidents provided they have acted reasonably and in good faith.
The parent or guardian shall sign consent for the student to receive the voluntary school supply of stock medication listed for life threatening incidents and sign a statement acknowledging that the school district is to incur no liability as a result of administration of a prescription medication for life threatening incidents provided the school district to have acted reasonably and in good faith. Electronic signature meets the requirement of written signature.
A form with this information was for parent/guardian to sign for agreement to aforementioned two paragraphs. The abnegation of policy 804.05 was approved.
Hirings approved were—Kristina Fick as Paraprofessional, Kelly Tentinger as Head Softball Coach; Kim Haaven as Head Archery Coach; and Emily Ankenman as Wrestling Cheer Coach. The resignation of Samantha Murphy as Paraprofessional was approved.
The MMCRU Discipline Policy draft to satisfy Iowa Code 279.79 was approved. This included (1) Pages 50-54: Need to update our Discipline of Students Who Make Threats of Violence or Cause Incidents of Violence. (2) Page 26-27: Student Disclosure of Identity (dealing with gender identity). (3) Pages 20-21-507.02-Administration of Medication to Students. (4) Page 11-605.03-Objection to Instructional Materials and Library Materials. (5) Pages 58-59-104—Anti-Bullying—Anti -Harassment Policy. (Each one of these (1-5) numbers included pages of explanation of legality definition in length.)
The Parent-Student Handbook Revisions to adopt the discipline policy in compliance with Iowa Code 279.79 was approved.
The explanation of Financial Balances was tabled until further information could be provided.
The District’s Administration is authorized to submit a request to the School Budget Review Committee for a modified supplemental amount of $763.50 due to an increase of certified enrollment from the prior year. This was approved.
The District’s Administration is authorized to submit a request to the School Budget review Committee for a modified supplemental amount of $153,861.84 for open enrolled out students who were not included in the District’s prior year certified enrollment count. This was approved.
A vote for Roger Brinkert of Primghar for the Northwest AEA board election was approved.
Approved was the purchase of three viewsonic smart boards at a cost of $10,833.84 for the new Elementary School. Two will go in the Special Ed room and the other one in the Science room.
A generator that has been stored was approved for sale “as is” with sealed bids.
An Anatomy Trip Proposal was next on the agenda. A spokesperson spoke to the Boards on an Anatomy Trip. “I would like to propose an Anatomy trip to Peoria, Illinois to view Body Worlds, a human body exhibit. We would spend the day at the Peoria Riverfront Museum in Peoria viewing the exhibit, the holocaust structures, space observatory and highlights of the city. We would be including last year’s Anatomy class to attend which could potentially include seven additional individuals. We would not be traveling over the weekend due to the basketball game on Friday night and the Body World exhibit closing on Sunday. We would depart at 8:30 Wednesday morning and we would be arriving back in Marcus approximately at 3:30 p.m.”
Date is January 3-5, 2024 at Peoria, Illinois at the Peoria Riverfront Museum and Observatory. There would be 21 Students with 2 to 3 Chaperones. Transportation: Vans, possibly the transit? Travel distance/time: 431 miles one way/with stops approximately 7 hours. The cost is $0. The Boards approved this Anatomy Trip.
Board members toured the new MMC Elementary building before adjourning.
Principal Toby Young for R-U Elementary and Middle School reported the following: We are halfway through the second quart of the school year. Things have gone 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 61% of our parents attend at the Middle School, which is much lower turnout than expected. The main difference from elementary to middle school conferences is they aren’t scheduled and grades are available at any time through JMC. Our goal each year is to have at least 80% of our middle school families attend conferences.
We have 17 (7-7th & 10-8th) boys out for Jr. High Basketball. Our first game was Monday, November 13 against A-W. Both teams are learning and improving each practice and we hope their season goes well. Thank you to Coach Gengler & West for their work.
Academic/pd Updates—FAST Testing (TK- 8)—Fall Testing window results (Reading & Math ) are included in this report. Our building & district PD’s continue to focus on Curriculum, CKLA, PBIS, MTSS and PLC’s.
PS-8 Grade Enrollment—Certified enrollment was submitted on October 12. As of November 17, we currently have 305 students in our building. ESA Funding—101 students x $1187=$119,8
Certified Enrollment for 2023 was 317. There were 333.99 last year.
Resident Public Students Attending your District had 163 this year and 172 previously.
Resident Public Students Attending another Iowa Public School this year was 149.20 and previously 159 students.
Upcoming Elementary/Middle School Events: Nov. 27 JH Boys BB @ West Sioux; Nov. 28 JH Boys BB @ K-P; Nov. 30 JH Boys BB Vs South O’Brien.
Dec. 1 JH Holiday Dance; Dec. 4 JH Boys BB @ HMS; Dec. 5 Elementary Holiday Concert; Dec. 6 1:25 p.m. Dismissal (Teacher PD); Dec. 7 JH Boys BB vs Hinton; Dec. 11 JH Boys BB @ South O’Brien; Dec. 14 JH Boys BB @ RSM; Dec. 14 Middle School Holiday Concert; Dec. 18 JH Boys BB vs HMS; Dec. 18 School Board Meeting @ Remsen; Dec. 19 JH Boys BB vs Ridge View; Dec. 21 1:25 p.m. Dismissal (Christmas Break) and End of 2nd Quarter; Dec. 22-28 Dead Week (No Activities); Dec. 22-January 2 No School (Christmas Break); Jan. 2 Teacher Work Day and Jan. 3 School Resumes and 3rd Quarter Begins.
Upcoming State Reports/Events: Preschool Desk Audit—Dec. 15 and K-12 Desk Audit—Dec. 15. Current Openings at Remsen are: JH Wrestling Coach; PS 1:1 Paraprofessional; Substitute Teachers and Substitute Paraprofessionals.
MMCRU Marcus Principal Brandon Weisert reported the following: Last Friday, Nov. 17 was already the mid-quarter for 2nd quarter in the high school. Grade reports will be sent out early this week. The elementary staff has been working diligently to plan and implement MTSS interventions for their students. This is a new initiative that we began this school year in Marcus to help foster growth in Language Arts, Math, and Social Emotional Learning.
On Nov. 10 we held our Veterans Day Program in the Marcus gym, this was planned and put on for our communities by our Student Council Members. We owe a special thanks to Skylar Casson for being our guest speaker and our Middle and High School Choirs for singing at the assembly.
State reporting for the year is well underway. Certified enrollment has been completed and a snapshot is below. Next up are the K12 and Preschool Desk Audits that are due Dec. 15. We will get those competed and submitted to the state prior to Dec. 15.
Fall sports have concluded and winter sports are now beginning. We are excited to see the numbers holding steady or growing in all of our winter activities. Girls Basketball and Basketball Cheer began practice the week of Nov. 6 and Boys Basketball and Wrestling began the week of Nov. 13. Archery will begin practicing in early December and Dance has been practicing for a while now.
Conferences were held Thursday, Nov. 9 and Tuesday, Nov. 14. Conferences were well attended with 96% of elementary families attending and 45-50% of high school families attending. We look forward to conferences every year because they allow us a chance to visit with families about their students face to face.
Volleyball War Eagle All-Conference: 2nd Team: Jadyn Young and Breanna Stabb and honorable mention was Chloe Alesch. Academic All-State: Jadyn Young, Kaleigh Gravenish and Kennedy Tentinger.
Football Class A District 1 All-District had 1st Team: Jonah Petersen, Kyler Bork, Owen Schroeder, Mitchell Schnepf, Cody Evans, Dawson Pick, and Jace Colling.
2nd Team: Michael Peterson and Brayson Mulder. Honorable Mention: Noah Galles and Grant Prescott.
District Offensive POY: Jonah Petersen; District Punter of the Year: Owen Schroeder and District Offensive Assistant of the Year: Colin Youde.
Academic All-District for Football: Kyler Bork, Jonah Petersen, Mitchell Schnepf, Owen Schroeder, Cody Evans, Michael Peterson, Jace Colling, Hayden Moos, Carver Miller, Tayden Hicks, and Clint Staab.
Cross Country War Eagle All-Conference: Kaden Galles (Conference Champion), Lucas Braun (2nd) and Audrey Etter (14th).
State Cross Country: Kaden Galles (22nd) and Lucas Braun (80th)
Certified Enrollment for 2023—Actual Enrollment is 317.01 and previously was 333.99. Resident Public Student Attending your District—163 and previously 172. Resident Public Students Attending another Iowa Public School—149.20 and previously 159.
Important Dates Coming Up: Dec. 2-3 Madrigal; Dec. 7: Elementary Christmas Concert; Dec. 8: 2-Hour Early Out for Professional Development; Dec. 14: High School Christmas Concert; Dec. 21: End of 2nd Quarter and 2-Hour Early Out; and Dec. 22-Jan. 2: Christmas Break.
Current Openings in Marcus: Preschool Paraprofessional and Wrestling Cheer Coach.
Superintendent Dan Barkel reported the following: This month as been a scramble to keep the business of the school districts moving forward without a full-time SBO (School Business Official). Interim SBO Sandy Downing and Board Secretary, Chelsea Ruden, deserve a lot of praise in keeping the bills paid and the lights on. We spent a lot of time interviewing, and are happy to report that we have come to an agreement with Ginell Wetter to become our new shared SBO pending board approval. If approved, she will begin her duties on November 27. Ginell comes to us with a wealth of related experiences, but please be patient with her since the learning curve for being a shared district business manager is very high. Sandy Downing will continue to work with us through December to help acclimate Ginell to her new duties, and to help us get Frontline Implemented by January 1.
Construction continues in Marcus. We moved into the new elementary spaces on November 2 and 3, and we are thoroughly enjoying it. Work continues in the new multipurpose gym, the new music room and storage rooms, and the new library area. Work also continues on the demolition of the old elementary. Hopefully the weather continues to be favorable. We anticipate bids for the RU project to go out in early December.
Congratulations to the recently elected or re-elected board members in each district. At RU, Justin Tentinger was elected to his first term, and Travis Tentinger was re-elected to another term on the board. At MMC, Dan Erickson was elected to his first term, Laura Staab was re-elected to another term, and Kristi Letsche was elected for her first term as a write-in candidate. All newly elected and re-elected board members will take their oaths of office at the joint December board meeting in Remsen.
Thank you to those of you who attended the IASB conference on Nov. 15-17 and also those of you who represented us in the delegate assembly. We would like to hear some of your impressions and thoughts about the experience in our board reports section of the board meeting tonight.
We have come to terms with Grace Methodist Church and the Marcus Fair Board for allowing our archery teams and wrestling teams to practice in the Sawyer Center and the Food Stand at the Marcus Fairgrounds respectively. I am grateful that it all worked out, and we will see how the year goes with those activities located in those alternate locations.
Again, please mark your calendars for January 29, 2024 for a Board Finance Workshop to discuss school district finance and strategy for MMCRU. The timing with a new SBO in our districts is good timing. We plan on beginning that workshop at 5 p.m. on that date. Some of you may have interacted with Shawn Snyder and Jan Miller-Hook down at the IASB Board Conference. They will be leading this session for us.
If you watch KCAU Channel 9, you will see a clip of our district facilities on a series of commercial that promotes the town of Remsen.
Congratulations to Mr. Matt Hansen who was named as a finalist for the Trade & Industrial Division’s Teacher of the Year award sponsored by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). Mr. Hansen will be traveling to Phoenix, AZ for the CareerTech VISION Conference to be honored and participate in the national conference held on November 29 through December 2. We are very fortunate to have Mr. Hansen teaching here at MMCRU.
Thank you for all of your encouragement during this time of transition in our school districts. Change is never easy, and transitions can be difficult, but we are staying the course and are striving to make MMCRU an even better place to learn for our students and families.
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn (MMC) Board met in regular joint Board Meeting with RU on Monday, November 20, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in the MMC Commons in Marcus.
RU Board members present were Loutsch, Penning, Krier, and Harpenau. Absent: Tentinger
MMC Board members present were Dreckman, Olson, Staab, Prunty, and Leavitt.
Absent: No one.

FAST Results—Fall Testing—TK-8—2023-2024
Remsen—Literacy Remsen—Math Fall Number of students Fall Number of students
at Benchmark at Benchmark
TK 4/7 57% TK 6/7 86%
K 17/18 95% K 18/18 100%
1 22/25 88% 1 24/25 96%
2 17/22 77% 2 11/2 50%
3 10/14 71% 3 10/14 71%
4 16/21 76% 4 16/21 76%
5 40/55 73% 5 41/55 75%
6 24/35 69% 6 24/35 69%
7 26/34 77% 7 24/34 71%
8 41/50 82% 8 33/50 66%