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