tbabcock@timesrepublican.com
T-R file photo
The calendar for the 2021-22 school year has been approved with inclusion a spring break.
A calendar for Marshalltown Community School District’s 2021-22 school year has been approved, including the incorporation of a spring break.
Closely mirroring the calendar of the 2020-21 school year, the calendar for next year includes 190 teacher contracted days with 177 days being student contact days. Parent-teacher conferences are included in the 177 student contact days and 11 of the 190 teacher contracted days include professional development or teacher workdays with another two days allocated for teacher compensation days.
The first day of school would be Aug. 24, and the last day of school would be June 1 barring no cancellations for inclement weather.
tbabcock@timesrepublican.com
T-R photo by Trevor Babcock
Board member Mike Miller (right) discusses a proposal to implement a staggered start and bell time with Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte (left).
In preparation for 100 percent in-person learning on Feb. 16, the Marshalltown Community School Board discussed implementing a staggered start time and bell schedule between secondary and elementary students at the regular meeting Monday night.
Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte said the biggest challenge in the transition to 100 percent in-person learning is providing consistent social distancing of 3 to 6 feet.
“It will essentially be an impossibility on our buses with ridership nearly doubling,” Schutte said.
lbradstream@timesrepublican.com
T-R photo by Lana Bradstream
Marshalltown Community School Board President Bea Niblock breaks from her leader position to second the return-to-learn recommendation made by Superintendent Theron Schutte.
The Marshalltown Community School Board, during the regular Monday meeting, approved the recommendation of Superintendent Theron Schutte and Director of Instruction Lisa Stevenson to continue the hybrid return-to-learn model during the third quarter.
However, board members Mike Miller and Sara Faltys voted in opposition.
“I voted last time ‘no, ” Miller said. “I thought this all a decision about trade off between risk and reward. I’m going to vote ‘no’ this time for the same reasons.”
lbradstream@timesrepublican.com
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Students at Lenihan Intermediate School have spent this year with masks and desk shields. Even though grades have fallen, the students are happy to be in the classroom.
Marshalltown Community School District officials know COVID-19 is primarily spreading in the community, so having students in classrooms is not only safe for their health but important for their academic growth.
While the academics might be struggling, the health of the students and their happiness has been stable. Students have already experienced the first two-week remote learning period before the Thanksgiving break in November. They returned to their classrooms on Dec. 1.