[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6069774,"mediaKeyId","3066736-ab5acbfc21c3844c89b81943c5d85d5d","parentId",3066736,"title","Board approves consent agenda, course manual, background-check procedure and stadium completion; all votes unanimous","audioSeconds",4241,"startMs",843000,"endMs",5084000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3066736-ab5acbfc21c3844c89b81943c5d85d5d&start=843&end=5084","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3066736-ab5acbfc21c3844c89b81943c5d85d5d/thumbnail_843000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6069774/Iowa/Board-approves-consent-agenda-course-manual-background-check-procedure-and-stadium-completion-all-votes-unanimous","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6069774-155b73972d5fcaf0c2d6e09baf119fea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186253&Signature=klt7C~2CoRi9DZ0aeVtVUinmb1YZOYWforas39kCJ~fS~h8GnOWvl2goYk0majr-oKB~xREo6xM99ocLxE4cs1zf5ZVhtvu8k8qmgxZjLcicDDnil49mlO2RJCjxixuR4StsrU-KfTN-5oqR6Mo2jR7KUIEiXkRJY1NGCYtliGBGTXgkwbRM3xZ2D8cxQJpugG4QTfhmyMezUBkrBtKilrIJ1~mgItamwc0FllMpzpFdPVAMmS1Fsy~qplC0-BgAlqKPsnzI8HegmB5j0d8BxJe-7LtKUPbUy6RY-BwAZe6kRl-BNCN8iFfgvp3SZhx7AX4V34qUvXMjtX~JH8dkAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marshalltown CSD","date","2025-01-13T00:00:00Z","article","The Marshalltown Community School District board approved several formal actions during its January meeting. All recorded votes were unanimous (5–0).

Votes at a glance

- Agenda approval: The board approved the meeting agenda by voice vote. Outcome: approved 5–0.

- Consent agenda (minutes, interagency contracts, agreements and property disposals): The board approved the consent agenda, which included items listed by district staff: a multi-year agreement with ClaimAid for Medicaid billing and a business associate agreement for information-sharing; an agreement with Kessenich Ltd for oven stands for the Orpheum Kitchen; a license agreement with MTI Productions for the spring musical; an engineering service agreement with Clapsaddle Garber for the Reimagine Miller survey proposal; and an agreement with Marshalltown Community College for student field experience placements, among others. The Transportation Department and Marshtown Learning Academy requested disposal of several pieces of equipment. Outcome: approved 5–0.

- Tabled item 404 (early graduate approval): The board moved and seconded to table agenda item 404. Outcome: tabled (voice vote).

- 2025–26 high school course manual: The board approved the 2025–26 high school course manual. Additions include digital illustration, global cuisine, Bobcat Café, mariachi band (moving from club to class), chamber orchestra, and a name change for an MCC course to Developmental Psychology. The district removed Algebra 1A/1B from the four-year plan and reported it will provide a math elective to support students so they can access Algebra 2 on schedule. The meat-cutting apprenticeship courses remain in the guide and district staff said they will regroup with local partners to recruit students. Outcome: approved 5–0.

- MCSC CHRI (criminal history record information) procedure manual: The board approved a new CHRI manual explaining how fingerprints and criminal-history records are collected, stored and accessed for certified staff. District staff said the district will keep physical records locked in HR for seven years after an employee leaves and will not transmit the fingerprint records digitally; the district will submit the manual to the DCI (Department of Criminal Investigation) after board approval. Outcome: approved 5–0.

- Acceptance of completion and final retainage for MHS Stadium project: The board accepted completion of the Marshalltown High School stadium project and approved release of the final retainage payment of $14,170.05. Administrators said punch-list items were completed. Outcome: approved 5–0.

Each of the formal votes recorded the same five board members: Sean Heitman (president), Zack Wall, Sarah Faltas, Corina Hernandez and Maria Morales. Board secretary Randy Denham was seated at the table but is not a voting board member. Several agenda items were presented by administrators and staff; the items that required votes returned unanimous approval.

The board did not take action on the draft strategic plan or draft 2025–26 calendar at the meeting; both were scheduled to return for approval at the Feb. 3 board meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Marshalltown CSD Presentation January 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its January meeting the Marshalltown school board approved the consent agenda (contracts and agreements), the 2025–26 high school course manual, a criminal-history record information (CHRI) procedure manual, and accepted the MHS stadium project as complete; all recorded votes were 5–0.","taxTitle","Marshalltown Comm School District, School Districts, Iowa","taxId",38276,"location","Iowa","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6069779,"Board reviews draft strategic plan and 2025–26 calendar; early-childhood and facility needs discussed",1307,5303000,6610000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3066736-ab5acbfc21c3844c89b81943c5d85d5d&start=5303&end=6610","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3066736-ab5acbfc21c3844c89b81943c5d85d5d/thumbnail_5303000.jpg","/articles/6069779/Iowa/Board-reviews-draft-strategic-plan-and-202526-calendar-early-childhood-and-facility-needs-discussed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6069779-71b1115f419881b30eb05974dc9e5959/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186253&Signature=BKVxyRX7ZFV~D7rOKXKBjkK9oeZ5QKVVqyYflTbjkrtBA4aMdZedGtv1OrowEafWUo3d-EsCgOMnArZSCvqbr16Z8y6Mhye9-lE~Q7cCo6eO80nlMIg5a3B~pQKeX86LO4L1oGe2FBzIVLAuph4Z5xt9YOKKQrFME6IbK8UHA84DexC-Wph0ZMwnCw3GXIEzioynNnm19Eujp8FjJ0V8-APVCsM22s4rk0GkFNVNVOksLxHdzoxNSc8LTXd1HeSWToX4pYn0J~HESodza9WWgm8MoD2Or5Feyr1Gb-yNpfrrwkWVGO64eKVWtq60NqVHQCSYdfCuBDLWHvrTsN~jtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marshalltown Community School District administrators presented a draft strategic plan and a proposed 2025–26 calendar at the board’s January meeting and discussed facility priorities and early-childhood capacity.

Superintendent Theron Schutte and cabinet members said the draft strategic plan—developed over a year with staff and stakeholder input—centers on five pillars: student achievement, staff development, learning environment (including social-emotional and behavioral health), communications and community engagement, and resources/financial sustainability. Shawna (district administrator) led the student-achievement portion and named the Iowa School Performance Profile as the primary measurement the district will use to track building status; the district set a target to attain \"commendable\" status or higher by 02/19/30 for each building.

Administrators described actions under the pillars, including accelerated learning, special-education practice enhancements, work-based learning expansion (3DE), greater multilingual communications, and recruiting mental-health partners. The plan calls for measurable implementation steps and the creation of action plans once the board approves the draft.

District leaders also presented a draft 2025–26 calendar that includes five pre-service days, a full week off for Thanksgiving (to accommodate two professional-development days), a two-week December–January winter break (Dec. 22–Jan. 6 on the draft), and the first student day proposed as Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. Administrators said aligning school breaks with regional colleges and providing calendar clarity helps families and dual-enrollment students.

Board members asked several questions. They discussed whether construction schedules for the Miller facility project would be affected if the academic calendar were shifted and whether moving graduation dates would be necessary (administrators said graduation would need to move to align with state rules limiting senior release to no more than five days before others). The board also discussed the $57 million bond that supports Miller improvements and a $106 million project figure cited for the overall work; administrators confirmed earlier community-approved financing that supports the multi-year project.

On early childhood, administrators said the district currently offers half-day preschool and receives 0.5 funding per half-day slot; full-day preschool would require more staff, additional space and adherence to specific early-childhood facility requirements (ground-level access and square-footage ratios for young children). Administrators said they are exploring options for an early-childhood center if state funding for full-day preschool expands.

Administrators asked board members to review the draft; the plan and calendar will return for action at the Feb. 3 meeting. No vote was taken on the plan or calendar at the January meeting.","Administrators presented a draft five-year strategic plan with five pillars and a proposed 2025–26 school calendar; the board discussed preschool capacity, Miller project timing, facility curb appeal and mental-health partnerships.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6069784,"Board hears presentation on CKLA literacy sequence for K–4; teachers say curriculum builds background knowledge",512,2764000,3276000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3066736-ab5acbfc21c3844c89b81943c5d85d5d&start=2764&end=3276","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3066736-ab5acbfc21c3844c89b81943c5d85d5d/thumbnail_2764000.jpg","/articles/6069784/Iowa/Board-hears-presentation-on-CKLA-literacy-sequence-for-K4-teachers-say-curriculum-builds-background-knowledge","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6069784-ca0776ccf2da450ff28951cfb565cd6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186253&Signature=Ib4ECe3DpncLrKoylr~JyU3SB5494BbMpy6FuGURBhLydDk7KdLiSf52n10wtVEcUzbkHBcouDw9e~te3sQ4fsfwfv3hCL2O7EbHYo9zF94kSmKhf8nrcd0O5zMxUjvSYrW2iWzxe-P0uEK8lsqwdJVCO-qomnyeTGxHvGJwa744a7wGDHoWufDS35FDKm-9Z7F3rUgWnqomXQRt02~YPToRpUakNup4vbPZ6YXslib5gtGcZ~0NHsELqian95QInK5WQvqoWXR7Vu6IFQX~oTOOuA9YSqzwys3NaQAb1q1aPBVs4NzU5p3pndhyyalGGVXDDiW79MfUNv2BsR7PSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marshalltown Community School District instructional staff presented an overview of the district’s CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) literacy sequence for kindergarten through fourth grade during the board’s January meeting.

Jennifer Nelson, introduced as an instructional coach at Hanson Elementary, explained that CKLA uses two strands in early grades: a skills strand (phonics, decoding) and a knowledge strand (teacher read-alouds that build background knowledge and vocabulary). Nelson referenced Scarborough’s rope to describe how language comprehension and decoding interact in skilled reading.

Nelson showed how units intentionally spiral across grades. She used an example that began with kindergarten units on colonial towns and townspeople, moved to early world civilizations in first grade and into ancient civilizations in third and fourth grades. Nelson said the read-aloud texts are written above grade level to expose students to advanced vocabulary while teachers scaffold comprehension.

Nelson and board members noted initial teacher pushback when the curriculum was introduced years earlier, but administrators said that professional learning about the science of reading and ongoing coaching helped teachers implement it successfully. Board members who visited classrooms said students were using history vocabulary while practicing literacy skills.

Nelson also described how the separate strands in K–2 become integrated by third and fourth grade, and how building background knowledge in early grades supports later comprehension. Board members asked about classroom examples and praised the cross-curricular approach.

No formal action was taken on the presentation; the district said implementation and coaching will continue.","An instructional coach walked the board through the district’s use of CKLA literacy materials from kindergarten through fourth grade, explaining the two-strand approach and how units build background knowledge year to year.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6069789,"Marshalltown board recognizes student leaders, donors and a STEM teacher after National Hispanic Institute honors",516,604000,1120000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3066736-ab5acbfc21c3844c89b81943c5d85d5d&start=604&end=1120","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3066736-ab5acbfc21c3844c89b81943c5d85d5d/thumbnail_604000.jpg","/articles/6069789/Iowa/Marshalltown-board-recognizes-student-leaders-donors-and-a-STEM-teacher-after-National-Hispanic-Institute-honors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6069789-f662a2c76ed4728dd1e3dc021435de07/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186253&Signature=ILBfhhupmj3R4JNFOqfHM8tJWKEd3TUueRNPDVKaAguXjDb6HgDQnNrTm23Tzd1RdrNmvSTg56ziXnOHEW4AD5U~uSwEKI6dKJvpXTZuMH1cjVGv-fVq42mIODWd0CPvxpST5GksjhCvKtNnzxOkzA6tUdCo5sYr~ald55CMH4jrSNzxY~kjT2KI63ZU1hcUD6pPYX7ZDJzhdEz7oIG6dzpQss0NzrOGoj9zpyrZQSvW~OBfZ9aUn6U~jZwZLLPMoYkhZoC4ozm~pao0mQnL0XUvmnSf6kpxN3woBM8lrp8ryx3bolPsSDIjEj9j~FtLviHumU7js9iDU5KtnaQPqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Marshalltown Community School District board of education on a January evening honored student leaders, local donors and a teacher after recent statewide and national recognitions.

The board recognized donors Terry Busby and Dave Adlon for giving $800 to support a leadership program that will provide Harvard-branded T-shirts for 59 seventh- and eighth-grade students selected to attend a Harvard-affiliated leadership program next week, Superintendent Theron Schutte said.

The board and administrators also announced that Marshalltown High School was named National Hispanic Institute (NHI) High School of the Year for 2024. Schutte read the NHI notification, which praised the school for sending motivated students to NHI’s summer leadership programs and for local fundraising and club activity that sustain participation.

Student club leaders described how NHI programs changed their confidence and public-speaking abilities. Mia Aguinaga, introduced as president of the local NHI club, and student speakers including Anthony Chavez and Ari Herrera praised the programs for pushing shy students to take leadership roles. Chavez said the program helped him find confidence: “It only takes one week to really change your life,” he told the board.

School staff described the club’s local fundraising, parent involvement and a dual track of core and “social” membership that keeps students connected even if they don’t travel to summer sessions. The club’s advisor said about 19 students currently participate in the high-school club and roughly 10 additional social members do not travel.

In a separate recognition, the board also honored a Marshalltown teacher who was selected as a 2024 state STEM teacher award winner. The teacher, identified in the meeting as “Miss Gray,” said she was nominated by colleague Sandy Dale and thanked colleagues for the nomination. Schutte said the nomination and selection involved a review committee and singled out the teacher’s classroom work with agricultural and veterinary labs as exemplary.

The recognitions came early in the meeting’s “recognition” agenda and received applause from board members. No formal board action was required for the presentations.

The board’s announcements also included a reminder that Iowa law restricts discussion of specific employees’ job performance during public comment and that board policy limits member responses to public comments.

The board will host the Harvard-affiliated youth leadership sessions Wednesday through Friday, Jan. 22–24, and invited the public to observe presentations at the end of the week.

The district thanked Busby and Adlon for the donation, the NHI students and club advisors for their work, and the teacher recognized for the STEM award.","The Marshalltown school board recognized donors and student members of the National Hispanic Institute club after Marshalltown High was named NHI High School of the Year; the board also honored a local STEM teacher who won a 2024 statewide award.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves consent agenda, course manual, background-check procedure and stadium completion; all votes unanimous

Board reviews draft strategic plan and 2025–26 calendar; early-childhood and facility needs discussed

Board hears presentation on CKLA literacy sequence for K–4; teachers say curriculum builds background knowledge

Marshalltown board recognizes student leaders, donors and a STEM teacher after National Hispanic Institute honors