As there was no public forum present, the 2023-24 School Calendar was discussed by the Boards and approved. School would start Aug. 17 with New Teacher PD, Aug. 21-22 with Teacher PD; and First Day of School would be Aug. 23. There would be a 2 Hour Early Out PD on Aug. 30. School would finish May 29.
First Semester would be 83* (includes teacher comp day) and Second Semester would be 99 days. The Total Days would be 182 days.
Holidays include: Labor Day (9/4); Thanksgiving Day (11/23); New Year’s Day (1/1); President’s Day (2/19) and Memorial Day (5/27).
1st Qtr Mid-term—Sept. 21; 2nd Qtr Mid-term—Nov. 17; 3rd Qtr Mid-term—Feb. 6; and 4th Qtr Mid-term—April 24.
The Esser Decodables/Intervention Supplies further purchase supplies was approved by the Boards. This was material for Kindergarten through Grade 4—Phonics, Readers, and Workbooks listed as “Spire, Whole Phonics, Simple Words, High Noon, and Really Great Reading”. The cost was $23,901.75.
Iowa Home School Assistance Programs Laws—Iowa Law Regarding Home Education was up for discussion. Iowa Law allows students to receive “Competent Private Instruction” (CPI). Instruction means the child is following a course of study outside of the public school or outside of an accredited nonpublic school. Iowa Code section 299A.1;281—Iowa Administrative Code 31.
Home School Assistance Program Handbook for 2022-2023 for MMC Home School Assistance Program was discussed. This handbook is on “Home Schooling” that includes the policy of Home Schooling, legal requirements, and parent, guardian or custodian requirements. Helping with this Assistance Program are Shari Lehnhoff; Supt. Dan Barkel, High School Counselor Kayla Schroeder; and Middle School Counselor, Kayla Means. After much discussion, the MMC: HSAP Handbook was tabled for further changes as far as grammatical and formatting was concerned.
Rose Reimert was approved for a MMC Para. Heidi Holmes’ resignation of Cheer Coach was approved.
It doesn’t seem possible that the 4th quarter renovations is sooner than we thought! The purpose of renting some of Grace United Methodist Church is for classes displaced by construction at the school with an expected time frame –March 1, 2023 through June 1, 2023.
Strict code of conduct is expected for students and staff using the Church. Students are expected to enter and exist through the East door of the educational wing.
School is expected to provide janitorial service for the portions of the Church used by the school Monday-Friday at School’s expense with school providing janitorial equipment—mops, rags, vacuum cleaner, and cleaning products. Church will supply restroom supplies—toilet paper, soap, paper towels at Church’s expense but school is responsible for monitoring and refilling said items.
School to use 4 classrooms in the education wing of Church Monday-Friday with School providing desks, tables, chairs, etc. Church will be using all the classrooms and school tables, chairs, desks, etc., for different Church functions such as CrossTraining and Sunday School.
School to use Sawyer Center for band and choir Monday-Friday and to be set up on West side of Sawyer Center. School to move equipment out of way as much as possible for CrossTraining on Wednesday. All School equipment to be removed if Sawyer Center is needed for—funeral, etc.
School cannot use Church kitchen or Church sanctuary. School will use Parking lot for entire school year. (Goes on to say which side is to remain open for Church use and street side parking for students—which they have been doing since Aug.) School is to provide snow and ice removal from the parking lot and sidewalks Monday through Friday at School’s expense.
Church will not be making additional investments to internet service. School is to provide to Church the emergency action plan for students and staff in the Church that would allow the Church to be supportive if an incident were to occur.
School agrees to repair and replace any damages to the Church property while using the facility.
School agrees to pay the Church $60/day for use of Sawyer Center and part of educational wing. Church pays cost of utilities, gas, electricity, water, internet, etc. School agrees to provide Church with certificate of insurance with Church listed as additional insured and sub rotation waived. This rental agreement with the Church was approved by the MMC Board.
MMCRU SIAC (School Improvement Advisory Committee) members are for MMC: Alyson Ball, Charissa Frangione, Kristi Letsche, Lori Spenner, and Chris Johnson. RU members are Kennedy Tentinger, Ronda Carver, Dustin Colling, Jacob Ahlers, and Courtney Hill. Administration representatives are Toby Young, Brandon Weisert, and Dan Barkel. The aforementioned members were approved by the Boards.
SIAC members determine the following: Major educational needs, Student learning goals, Long-range and annual improvement goals that include, but are not limited to, the state indicators that address reading, mathematics, and science achievement. Also, desired levels of student performance. Harassment or bullying prevention goals, programs, training, and other initiatives. This advisory committee is to infuse character education into the educational program. The members were approved by the Boards and will meet Feb. 9, 2023 @ Media Center in Remsen at 6:30 p.m.
The weather has not been nice to schools in our area including MMCRU! High School Schedule: Full day=6.513 hours; 2 hr. early/late start/dismissal=4.513 hrs. With this information we go to Nov. 29—No school due to snow; Dec. 5–2 hour late start; Dec. 8–2 hours early dismissal; Dec. 9—No school due to snow; Dec. 13–2 hour late start; Dec. 15—No school due to snow; Dec. 16–2 hour late start; January 4–2 hour late start; and January 5–2 hour late start. And, 2 days after the Board Meeting on Monday, Jan. 16—there was another blizzard (Jan. 19) that we didn’t have school for a day and a 2 hour late start the next day.
Board members are concerned about the days already off as well as hours. During COVID, we could use time at home but this does not apply now. The Boards did discuss ideas of what to do if we run out of days required.
The MMCRU Calendar of Hours as of Jan. 10, 2023 are: 180 days total—Full days=6.513., 2 hr. late starts/early dismissals=4.513.
16 PD days 2 hr. early dismissals =72.208 hrs.
164 full days= 1068.132 hrs.
TOTAL hours for school year=1140.340 hrs. Minus 3 snow days 19.539 hrs.
1120.801 hrs. Minus 6 late starts/early dismissals-12.000 hrs.
1108.801 hrs. Hours required by Iowa DE -1080.000 hrs.
28.801 hrs.
8 hrs. credit for P-T Conferences 8.000 hrs.
Cushion as of Jan. 1, 2023 36.801 hrs.
30.749 hours divided by 6.513 hrs (full day) =5.650 days (full day cushion left in schedule)
And, with another snow day and 2 late start added to the above figures, can you see why the school is worried about the hours?
MMCRU Middle School/Remsen Elementary Principal Toby Young reported: TK-Grade 8 students began FAST testing during the Winter (Jan.4-Feb 3) testing window. All TK-8 student will take the FAST assessment 3 times per year (Fall, Winter, Spring). Our instructional coaches will present more information regarding our FAST assessments at our February school board meeting.
Winter SRI—State Report due on January 27.
Middle School—On Second Quarter Honor Roll there were: (10) on the Principal’s Honor Roll, (72) were on High Honor Roll, and (40) on the Honor Roll.
Principal’s Honor Roll—4.0 and High Honor Roll—3.5-3.99 and Honor Roll—3.0-3.49 74% of our Middle School students attained the Honor Roll for 2nd Quarter (Outstanding job!)
Building & District PD (Professional Development) days are held typically 2 Wednesday’s a month. PLC collaboration, curriculum updates, and building initiatives have been the main focus. Our TK-4 buildings are collaborating on our new CKLA Reading Curriculum and we’ve seen great progress and heard great feedback from our students and staff. We’re already planning for the 2023-2024 school year and want to have a great professional development schedule in place before the end of this school year.
Junior High Girls (JH) Basketball began Jan. 4 with the first game on Jan. 17 vs K-P. 21 girls are participating with 13 in Grade 8 and 8 girls in Grade 7.
JH Wrestling began on Jan. 4 with the first meet Jan. 16 @ Spencer. 6 boys are participating with 3 boys in Grade 8 and 3 boys in Grade 7.
JH Spring Play has 42 students participating in “Gravestone Manor”. Dates for the play are March 24 @ 7 p.m. and March 25 @ 2 p.m.
Current Openings in the Remsen Building : Teacher—Substitutes and Paraprofessional—Substitutes
MMCRU Marcus Elementary and MMCRU High School Principal, Brandon Weisert reported: First semester has quickly come to a close for the high school and elementary in Marcus. So far the flexibility of our staff in these buildings has been a blessing with all we are dealing with and will continue to deal with during the construction. We are quickly approaching the move for the South hallway to the Methodist Church, our goal is to begin classes on February 27 to allow two days for our custodial staff to finish clearing the classrooms before demolition begins on March 1. We have those teachers prioritizing materials, packing for the church, and for storage due to space constraints. Mr. Weller, Ms. Devos, Ms. Davis, Mrs. Duncan, Ms. Pratt and Mrs. Schroeder are working in overdrive to create a positive experience for our students.
I released our high school honor roll for 1st Semester; 14 students were named to the Principal’s Honor Roll (4.0), 63 students were named to the High honor Roll (3.5 and above), and 53 students were named to the Honor Roll (3.0 and above). Nearly 2/3 of our high school student body received some type of distinction during 1st Semester.
I’d also like to recognize our Royals of the Month for December: (Freshman) Sophie Etter; (Sophomore) McCartney Pierce; (Junior) Luz San Martin; (Senior) Torey Tentinger; and (Staff) Mr. Alex Wimmer.
Currently there are in PK; 24 in 2 sections; TK has 14 in one section; K has 32 in 2 sections; Grade one has 25 in 2 sections; Grade two has 28 in 2 sections; Grade 3 has 35 in 2 sections and Grade 4 has 31 in one section. Elementary Total: 189 students (+18 from this time last year).
Grade 9 has 50 students; Grade 10 has 50 students (1 Alternative school); Grade 11 has 56 students (2 foreign exchange students and 3 alternative school students); Grade 12 has 48 students (6 alternative school students). High School Total: 204 students (2 foreign exchange and 10 alternative school).
January 25 there will be 2-Hour Early Out for Professional Development; February 3 is 3rd Quarter Midterm; February 8 there will be a 2-Hour Early Out for professional Development and February 10 there will be NO SCHOOL—Professional Development.
Current Openings in Marcus are 1:1 High School Paraprofessional and 2nd Shift Custodian.
Superintendent Dan Barkel reported: Tonight is the meeting where we discuss and vote on the calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. You will notice that the calendar has two floating PD days. This is to facilitate the move from the old Marcus Elementary to the new Marcus Elementary building. We anticipate that we can move into the new facilities in late September/early October, but we want to have some flexibility in case the construction schedule changes.
We are proposing the following individuals to serve on the SIAC (School Improvement Advisory Committee). Representing MMC—Alyson Ball, Charissa Frangione, Kristi Letsche, Lori Spenner and Chris Johnson. Representing RU—Kennedy Tentinger, Ronda Carver, Dustin Colling, Jacob Ahlers, and Courtney Hill. We plan to hold the meeting in early February and the names of the individuals serving on the committee must be approved by both boards. (Goals A-D)
I will discuss the current situation in regards to snow days/late starts/early dismissals and where the districts are at in terms of hours missed and whether we will need to make up any time. No approvals need to be made by the boards, but I want you to be aware of the situation.
Following the business items and administrative reports on our agenda, we will adjourn, and then go into closed session to have a time to discuss the performance of the superintendent and highlight areas upon which we want him to focus more of his time and energy.
The MMCRU Labor/Management Meeting was held on December 20 prior to the holiday break. Many items were discussed, including language in the employee handbook as well as contemporary concepts such as the 4 day work week. It was good for us as school employees to have a time to discuss these issues prior to bargaining, which we will likely begin in February. (Goal C).
Both of our districts are awaiting a copy of the results of our safety assessments. These assessments were paid for by federal COVID funds that flowed through the state government of Iowa. After we receive them, we will need to digest the reports and then decide which improvements will be most advantageous for our school communities with the resources we have to make improvements. Each building will receive $50,000 for making safety’secur9ty enhancements on their respective campuses. (Goal A)
As I lay awake at night considering the health of our districts, I cannot help but think that we are at a critical time of unbelievable change in our school’s history. As two rural sharing school districts, we are moving as fast as we can to make sure our schol remain viable and relevant for a long time to come. The construction in Marcus, and soon in Remsen, is an example of our districts fighting to move forward and remain viable and thrive in our small rural communities. Early in my careeer when I taught in Manson, I had a superintendent who used the phrase, “Change creates chaos.” I cannot help but think that the pace of change that we are experiencing this year especially, is beyond anything that he experienced years ago in the 70’s and 80’s. The part that keeps me awake at night is how to keep everyone settled while the dust is in the air during this period of great change. Do not be complacent. We have many threats to the health of the rural public school district today. Staffing challenges, the teacher shortage, the shortage of growth in funding while we are continually given new mandates from our current state government. Not to mention the threat of vouchers. We are working very hard to do a great job of educating our students, and being an attractive place for parents to send their children to school while the ground beneath us continues to shift. I tell you all of this in an effort to tell you the challenges we face, and to ask you to be encouraging to our staff. There are a lot of employment opportunities these days for qualified staff members. A lot of how and why people decide to work at a certain location is based upon who they work for and who they work with. Salary and benefits are obviously important, but so is the climate and morale of the organization. Ultimately, our staff members work for you, the board. Please be encouraging of our staff members. They do a good job, and we are fortunate to have as many caring individuals working at MMCRU as we do. Soon they will again decide whether they want to teach for another year at MMCRU. And unfortunately, they always need to decide during one of the hardest parts of the school year. Please be encouraging of their efforts, and let’s help to make MMCRU a place where people want to work, especially because of the climate. Let’s support our Royals staff as much as we possible can! This is a human-centered enterprise, and as much as possible, we need to do our best to keep our valuable staff member.
The MMC Board of Education and RU Board of Education met in regular session jointly on Monday, January 16, 2023 at 6:30 p. m. in RU Media Center @ Remsen.
RU Board members present were Krier, Tentinger, Loutsch, Penning, and Harpenau. Absent: No one.
MMC Board members present were Staab, Prunty, Olson, Leavitt, and Dreckman. Absent: No one.

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