There were 20 plus people in attendance at the MMCRU School Board meeting on Monday (April 20) for Public Forum. The Royals Wrestling Club presented information in support of bringing back the wrestling program to the Junior High and High School level. Speakers for the group included Cheri Daum, Dean Bindner, and Nick Dreckman.
Information given was the following: Wrestlers projected for 2023-2024 are Kindergarten (6); Grade 1 (7); Grade 2 (6); Grade 3 (6); Grade 4 (8); Grade 5 (2); Grade 6 (6); Grade 7 (3); Grade 8 (3); Freshmen (2); Sophomore (13); Juniors (1) and Senior (1). Total without next year TK students, are 64 students including one student from Remsen St. Mary’s in elementary school wrestling with the Royals Wrestling Club.
3 year projection for High School participation: Year 2023-24 (17) wrestlers; Year 2024-25 (19) wrestlers and Year 2025-26 (21) wrestlers.
14 weight classes 106 pounds—285 pounds for varsity team. Unlimited participation available for JV wrestlers at wrestling tournaments held specifically for junior varsity wrestlers.
Club members believe participation will increase as students see the opportunity to represent their school and communities by wrestling as a Royal. Now, currently unable to represent Royal Pride after Grade 6.
We would like to start with the boys wrestling program initially due to strength of participation, then eventually begin a girls program, which is gaining momentum nationwide.
Wrestling gives opportunities for cheerleaders and student managers to get involved and have pride in MMCRU not just the athletes themselves.
Both communities have wrestling history: Remsen-Union in the a’70’s and most recently on the MMC side. Multiple state place winners and two time state dual team 3rd place.
The speakers gave the following reasons to wrestle: Wrestling develops basic athletic skills, develops personal responsibility, develops mental toughness, teaches about nutrition and weight maintenance, brings athletes together and builds camaraderie, develops discipline, teaches an individual how to focus on something and master it, provides another opportunity to further education and WRESTLING is FUN!
(At the present time, MMCRU has sent wrestlers to be in with the Cherokee wrestlers.)
Now on to the meeting. The Local Gov’t Risk Pool Renewal was discussed at length. It was tabled until more information could be presented. (More on what this Pool Renewal is, please refer to the Superintendent’s report at the end of this article.)
Hiring of Sarah Brady for High School FFA was approved. Resignations of the following were given: Kayla Schroeder as Dance Coach; Christy Carlson as Cook; Kayla Means as position of Junior High Play Director; and Les Pedersen (Head Custodian for 33 years and bus driver) and Linda Pedersen as Elementary Custodian.
The school fees for the 2023-24 school year were approved.
The Network Switches for Marcus Remodel at a Total Price of $6914.12 was approved.
There was no action taken on the Hole for Bus Barn Door as it was a R-U item.
The Boards approved the band and choir students to go to Nashville and Memphis, Tenn. in June of 2024. They already have $3,000 (Costa Rico trip) that was not used due to COVID-19. The approximate cost for the 2024 trip is $1,000 per person with a deposit of around $225 every 3-4 months. Each student’s fundraising efforts are being kept track of. Other group fundraisers planned are Junior high track Meet Concession Stand on May 9 (2023): $600-$1,200; Baseball/Softball Concession Stands 2-3 during summer of 2023 ($1,000-$2,100) and World’s Finest Chocolate fundraiser in Jan/Feb (2024) with approx. profit of $11,000.
$50,000 total cost. Fundraising will cover (estimated) around $22,600-$24,300.
MMC Board approved the Archery Club’s trip to Louisville, KY for Nationals.
Toby Young, MMCRU Middle School/Remsen Elementary Principal reported the following: With 29 days of school left, I believe the school year has been very positive and many wonderful things have taken place. As we finish up the last month of school, we have a lot of activities (sports, concerts, field trips) that still have to take place. Love My School Day was held on Friday, April 14—our staff and students shared many great pictures and videos with all of the wonderful things happening each day and why they love attending MMCRU. It’s a great day to be a Royal!
Third grade through eighth grade students have now completed ISASP testing. We hope to have results back by the end of the school year or over the summer so we can go through the data and then plan our PD and curriculum around areas that need improvement.
Third grad through eighth grade students will be taking the Conditions for learning survey the week of Monday, April 24. Surveys have also been sent out to families and staff as well.
We continue to plan for the 2023-2024 school year and are in the process of filling a few teaching/staff openings we have at the middle/elementary building. The last day of school is Thursday, May 25 with a teacher work day on Friday, May 26. It’s been a great year and I know we will make the last month very successful. GO ROYALS!!!
Upcoming Events: April 25—PS-8 STEM Night; April 27—JH Track Meet at OABCIG; May 2—JH Track Meet @ Hinton; May 4—JH Track @ River Valley; May 8—MIDDLE SCHOOL SPRING CONCERT; May 9—JH Track Meet @ MMCRU; May 11—JH Conference Track Meet @ HMS; May 17—Kindergarten Graduation; May 25—Last Day of School (Students) and May 26—Last Day of School (Staff).
2023-2024 Job Openings: 5/6 Science Teacher; Middle School Play Director; Middle School Student Council Sponsor; and Substitute Teacher’s & Paraprofessional’s.
Brandon Weisert, MMCRU Marcus Principal reported the following: Two required state events have occurred, we completed ISASP for grades 3-4 and 9-12 in Marcus the week of March 27 and all students, including make-up testing was completed. Building wide, we completed the Conditions of Learning survey for grades 3-4 and 9-12 during 1st period on April 17. Both of these things are part of our school performance profile.
In terms of professional development, our teachers have prepared for ISASP testing and Conditions of Learning, discussed preparation for Love My School Day, planned for next school year (schedule, rosters, rooms, etc.). In addition, staff have been working on wrapping up their Individual Professional Development Plans (IPDP).
On Friday, we will take sophomores to the O’Brien County Career Fair where students will tour 4 different businesses in the morning, meet up with area schools for lunch at NCC, and ago through 2 different breakout stations. Students will learn about different career options locally and learn about employability skills from different employers.
Track and golf seasons are finally outside every day and getting to work outside. This year we have 38 boys and 20 girls out for track and 21 boys and 17 girls are out for golf. These numbers are up quite a bit from last year which is great to see.
Anticipated numbers for next year for Elementary: PK (21); TK (9); K (26); Grade 1 (30); Grade 2 (22); Grade 3 (28); and Grade 4 (35). Elementary Total: 171
High School: Grade 9 (56); Grade 10 (51); Grade 11 (50); and Grade 12 (50).
High School Total: 207
Remaining Events for School Year: Saturday, April 22 is PROM; April 26 is Administrative Assistant Day; April 26 is Early Out for PD; Thursday, April 27 is HIGH SCHOOL SPRING CONCERT/FINE ARTS AWARDS; May 8-May 12 is Teacher Appreciation Week; May 9 is Senior Awards Night; May 10 is Early Out for PD; May 12 is High School Orientation (for 8th graders); May 18 is Seniors Last Day; May 18 is Elementary Career on Wheels; May 22 is Preschool Graduation; SUNDAY MAY 12 is COMMENCEMENT; May 23 is Mark Brighton Elementary Track Meet; May 25 is LAST DAY OF SCHOOL and May 26 is Teachers Last Day.
Current Openings (for 2023-2024 School Year): Summer School/ESY Positions; High School Dance Coach; Assistant Volleyball Coach; Substitute Paraprofessionals; Substitute Teachers; and Flexible Shift Custodian.
Superintendent Barkel reported the following: Tonight for the public forum portion of the board meeting, we will be giving parents from the Royals Youth Wrestling Club an opportunity to share their concerns regarding our wrestling program and what they would like to see for a wrestling program here at MMCRU. They may also discuss facilities, and their concern regarding a space for the club program to practice wrestling.
This has probably been the best year since I have been at MMCRU for the retention of teaching staff. The vast majority of staff members have signed their contracts and chosen to return next year. We have worked at focusing on relationships and providing a worker-friendly/family-friendly environment in an effort to retain most of the staff currently working at MMCRU. We hope that by focusing on a positive work environment and fair compensation, we will also be successful in attracting new staff members to join us.
Tabled from last month is the agenda item to renew the Local Government Risk Pool. We recommend renewal so we can leverage management funds to pay for our natural gas needs and avoid using general fund dollars which more directly affect instruction and academic offerings in our districts.
Work on the Marcus facility has moved swiftly this past month. The south wing has been completely gutted and plumbing work has begun in that area. New windows have been placed throughout the new facilities, and the floors have been poured for the east neighborhood of the new elementary/daycare area. Kevin Felts needs board approval to purchase network switches needed for the new build for the internet network in Marcus. The cost exceeds $5,000, so we need MMC board approval.
Work will begin on the HVAC updates in Remsen as soon as school is done in May. I am waiting for Courtney Koch of BA to give us her updated numbers for renovations for the RU facility which will be done in the summer of 2024. She is waiting for an updated scope of costs from Terracon (asbestos removal) and EDA (engineering). Once I get those, I will call for an RU Building committee meeting to discuss and finalize before we bring it to the full RU board for consideration.
At the close of the regular agenda, the boards will evaluate the superintendent, bargain for administrative contracts, and then approve or reject administrative contracts. Staff members on administrative contracts at MMCRU include: Dan Barkel, Joe Mohning, Chelsea Ruden, Toby Young, Brandon Weisert, Gina Meyer and Gary Husman.
The music program at MMCRU is seeking MMC board approval for a high school music trip that would take place in the summer of 2024. Put in front oof you for your consideration is the itinerary and terms of the trip. By waiting until 2024, the music department has time to fund raise to make it more affordable for our students.
The archery team has qualified for the national meet in Louisville, KY. They need MMC board approval for a trip out of state. The NASP Easter National Tournament is held on May 11-13. The boards area asked to approve school fees for the 2023-24 school year. The administration is recommending NO change in school fees for next year.
The MMC School Board met in regular joint session with R-U Board on Monday, April 17, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in the MMCRU Commons. RU Board members present were Krier, Loutsch, Penning, Harpenau, and Tentinger. Absent: No one
MMC Board members present were Dreckman, Olson, Leavitt, Prunty, and Staab. Absent: No one
Closed Session and Exempt Session for the Boards meant anyone other than those involved in these sessions were not to be present—so home I went!
After the regular meeting adjourned, the Boards went into Closed Session for Superintendent Evaluation. Then the Boards went into Exempt Session for Bargaining for Administrative Contracts. After these two Sessions, the Board adjourned.
I was able after the fact to Administrative Contracts approved were approved for Gary Husman—Transportation Secretary—4% increase on wages; Gina Meyer—Head Cook—4% increase in wages; Chelsea Ruden—Shared Board Secretary—4% increase on wages; Brandon Weisert—PK-12 Principal–$5,000 increase in salary.
Then the Board adjourned.