School News

Classes for the 2010-11 academic year will start August 24, by which time the district should have made up all the snow days. The calendar was approved by the board at its meeting Monday. As of Tuesday, February 9, the district was looking at seven make-up days, if there are no more cancellations.
“But, with the weather, we don’t know if it will stay at seven,” said Superintendent Mark Schneider. Presently, the district is trying to conclude the 2009-10 academic year by June 4 at the latest.
“We have a few options,” said Schneider, referring to in-service days and possible extended hours.
Classes were cancelled Tuesday when the snow that started Monday continued well into Tuesday. Schneider, who with transportation director, Dick Durst, regularly checks the roads by 5 a.m., found roads not only slippery but in the case of one graveled road “I was not sure I would get out.”
Schneider is also the superintendent for the Keota School District and has found conditions for the two districts tend to be similar when it comes to the roads. The difference, though, depends on the county. Mid-Prairie is in three counties, Keota in two “and each county has different priorities in clearing roads.” Which is why at one point Keota ran buses on all roads and Mid-Prairie only on hard-surfaced.
In other business Monday, the board approved Schneider’s request to freeze his salary and benefits at the present level. Schneider cited economic conditions which have seen major state cuts in school funding for his move. It was a move he had noted last year when his position became a shared one with the Keota district.

by Nanci Young, Workplace Learning Connection
A small group of Mid-Prairie High Schoolers posed a question … what would it be like to be a professional photographer? Kelsie Berg, Nicole Adams, Candice Henrichson, Shelby Gordon and Destiny Bell answered this question January 22, by spending part of their day on a group job shadow coordinated by the Workplace Learning Connection at Spotlight Photography in Washington.   
The Mid-Prairie juniors and seniors not only learned some of the trade secrets of how to be a successful commercial photographer on a budget, but were able to see Spotlight owner Jamie Hollingworth in action during two photo shoots. Jamie gave the students advice on how to proceed with their interest in photography after high school and explained that making a career out of an artistic perspective requires passion and hard work.
Kelsie, Nicole, Candice, Shelby and Destiny discovered this job shadow opportunity through Mid-Prairie High School and its partnership with the Workplace Learning Connection.  To find out about a job shadow in this or any other career field, log on to www.workplace-learning.org or go to the high school guidance office.

The Mid-Prairie Board of Education Monday dealt with two major items that directly benefit students: buying two new buses and touring the new preschool facility.
The board approved the total bid of $159,178 from School Bus Sales of Waterloo for two new buses, prices at $80,939 each. The trade-in allowance for dropped the price to $159,178 from $161,878. The buses will be equipped with video cameras as are other units. Although there was lower bid from Hoglund Bus Sales, that would have totaled $151,050, there was an additional cost of $4,100 per bus to upgrade the engines to the required specs.
The preschool tour, which came at the end of the session, was at the new Parkside Activities Center which officially opens to the public January 18. The Mid-Prairie District arranged to rent space for its preschool program as part of support for the Parkside project last year. The preschool program, currently in Kalona, will move to Parkside Tuesday.
In other business, the board:

• held a second reading of board policies involving classified staff early separation, student honors (with board members Jim Hussey and George Schaefer opposed to having valedictorian and salutation awards)a and a first reading for graduation requirements;
• approved a Memorandum of Understanding to support the Race to the Top application. The Race to the Top is a federal competitive grant program that focuses on competency-based system for teacher and administrator preparation by making some $60,000 available over a four-year period. However, the state has to be approved for the grant before local districts are eligible;
• approved joining the Iowa School finance Information Service for $1,515;
• discussed and agreed to continue matching PPEL funds; and
• tabled a discussion of budget cuts criteria to the January 25 meeting.

The home side bleachers at the Doc Sattler field at the Mid-Prairie High School were demolished Friday, November 20. The bleachers will be replaced with support from the Mid-Prairie Athletic Boosters, the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, Schwan’s and Nike.
Two opportunities exist to help support this project. Mid-Prairie students and the community may participate in the Schwan’s Truck Load Fundraiser Saturday, December 19. Schwan’s will have trucks at the Mid-Prairie High School and will donate up to 20 percent of all pre-sale items ordered before December 14. Information and order forms are available at all Mid-Prairie attendance center offices and on the district’s website).
Nike will add to the $2,500 they have already donated to the project by giving the district $5 for everyone who purchases a “Back Your Block” gift card at the Nike Store in Williamsburg. There is no additional charge on the gift cards, and they are available in any denomination with no expiration date. Consider Nike “Back Your Block” gift cards for holiday gifts. They come in a miniature shoebox, perfect for wrapping or stuffing in a stocking.
Questions about either fundraiser may be directed to Suzanne Yoder at syoder@mid-prairie.k12.ia.us or 319-656-2705.

The Mid-Prairie Board of Education is one of three honored by the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) during the 64th annual ISAB convention November 19 in Des Moines. The Making a Difference award also carries a $1,000 grant.
Mid-Prairie was honored for taking “sometimes unpopular but necessary risks to improve (student) achievement and those risks have paid off,” noted the ISAB.
One thing that stood out about Mid-Prairie during the selection process was the board’s push for a 4-3-3-3 graduation standards put forward by the Institute for Tomorrow’s Workforce and ACT, Inc. In addition to the unique graduation standard, M-P students are required to self-select if they think they will go to a four-year college, two-year college or join the workforce directly after high school. Their curriculum is then adjusted around that decision, with students taking AP courses and two years of a foreign language, six hours of community college credit or two 90-hour internships respectively.
“My reaction when I read this was: ‘Can we beg, borrow and steal?’” said Amy Jurrens, ISAB board member and of the George/Little rock School board who helped select award recipients. “What a great idea to prepare students for their individual paths. It makes students feel that no matter what path they choose, it’s valued, value for all skills and interests.”
Other achievements that weighed in for M-P:

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Hannah Altmaier and Hoi Ting Davidson were accepted as first violinists into the All-State Chamber Orchestra. The Chamber Orchestra is made up of the best players from the All-State Orchestra auditions. Ting and Hannah take lessons from Christie Felsing at the Preucil School of Music in Iowa City and both attend Iowa Mennonite School as tenth graders. The Orchestra performed in Hilton Coliseum Saturday, November 21, in Ames.

Rachel Halder, a graduate of Iowa Mennonite School, is serving in a key student communication post at Goshen College for the 2009-2010 school year.
Halder, a senior communication major and the daughter of John and Nancy Halder of Parnell, is serving as student station manager for WGCS-91.1 FM, The Globe for the 2009-2010 school year. She is a 2005 graduate of Iowa Mennonite School and attends West Union Mennonite Church.
The Globe, 91.1 FM, broadcasts contemporary music featuring an eclectic blend of Americana, world, folk and bluegrass. Student and community volunteers provide on-air talent while members of the college’s communication department staff the station, broadcasting since 1958. Assistant Professor of Communication Jason Samuel is the station’s general manager.

by Mary Coblentz
Two of Mid-Prairie’s three head cooks reported on the district’s nutrition program at Monday’s school board meeting.
Washington Township head cook Martha Benedict told the board that the cooks are pursuing a “farm to school” program in which local produce is purchased and used in school lunch programs. The cooks have met with Matt Petersheim who said it is possible for him and other local producers to grow some fruits and vegetables for the schools, some of which could be frozen.
Benedict stated that the district can freeze produce for future use, but it cannot can it. The farm to school movement is becoming more prevalent in many states, Benedict said. The quality and nutrition value of fresh produce is greater than what the district can get elsewhere.
Already, the district has purchased watermelon and tomatoes at the Frytown produce auction, and it gets eggs from Farmers Hen House at a very good price.
Middle school head cook Amber Kempf explained how the cooks plan menus on a monthly basis. The cooks get together to plan the menus and they try at least one new menu item each month.
Gayle Cole, the head cook at the high school, was not able to attend the board meeting, but Kempf read some notes from Cole. Cole does most of the commodity ordering, and the dry goods and frozen foods are stored at the high school and obtained by other buildings when needed.
Recently, the district has tried whole wheat tortillas, which students seem to like. Also, it was noted that the high school offers vegetarian options for the eight or so vegetarians who attend.
Superintendent Mark Schneider read from the nutrition report, then congratulated the cooks for a “really good year” last school year.

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Nearly 40 students, under the direction of Mary Forney and Karenza Yoder, performed to nearly sold-out crowds over the weekend, as the IMS theater and music department combined forces to present The Wizard of Oz.

In this classic tale by L. Frank Baum, the show was performed on Friday and Saturday evenings, and also during a Sunday matinee. The performances took place on the stage of Celebration Hall.

In addition to the cast of characters from the IMS student body, 37 area children were cast as munchkins, under the direction of Rhonda Miller. Yet another 24 students provided assistance in the following areas: lights, sound, props, backstage, set design, painting, make-up, program artwork, hair stylists, photography, set construction, choreography, special effects, costumes, and as pit musicians.

The school wishes to thank the community for supporting the efforts of the cast and crew.

by Mary Coblentz
The Mid-Prairie School Board Monday learned how the district will meet the 10 percent across-the-board cuts mandated by the state of Iowa.
The total amount to be cut from the M-P budget is approximately $573,000. Mid-Prairie Superintendent Mark Schneider outlined the district’s planned cuts of $417,000. The rest will come from the district’s cash reserves.
Building budgets will be cut a total of $95,000 amoung the five buildings. This will include instructional material and field trips. Activities, Technology, and Transportation will each have $10,000 trimmed from their budgets. The Home School Assistance Program will have $23,000 cut, the STP program $6,000, and Central Office $5,000.
“These are targets,” Schneider stressed.
Other areas being cut are overtime/ over contracted hours for a savings of $30,000 and utilities for a savings of $5,000. Thermostats will be set at 69 degrees in classrooms with the gyms being cooler. Set backs will be used for nights and weekends to further save on heating costs.

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Incumbents Jim Hussey of Kalona and Jack Dillon of Wellman will seek re-election to the Mid-Prairie Board of Education. Angela Wasson of Wellman, who was a candidate in the last election, also had obtained nomination papers.
There are three seats on the board, the third is held by Fred Lampe chose not to run. Elections are September 8.

by Mary Coblentz
The Mid-Prairie School Board Monday accepted the adequate yearly progress report which was presented by Wellman Elementary and Washington Township principal Evan Parrott.
The report, which is required annually as part of the No Child Left Behind act, showed that Mid-Prairie met the goals set by the Iowa Department of Education in all but a few cases.
Parrott said that areas in which Mid-Prairie was especially strong include elementary math, high school graduation rates, and middle school and elementary attendance rates.
Areas that were not strong included reading for elementary students for low socio-economic status students, reading and math scores for special education students at the middle school, and reading for low socio-economic students at the middle school.
Parrott and middle school principal Nancy Hurd outlined steps being taken to address the lower scores.
In other business, the board:

• approved the hiring of Richard Oldfield as bus driver, replacing Carol Ewalt;
• approved the hiring of Olivia Stutzman as teaching assistant at Kalona Elementary, replacing Wendy Grimm;
• approved the hiring of Jordan TeBockhorst as second shift custodian at Kalona Elementary, replacing Hank Verploegen; and
• approved the transfer of $56,000 in SILO funds to debt service. The money will be used for property tax relief and is part of the M-P budget.

Board president Jim Hussey introduced school board candidate Stacia Bontrager to the board.