MPCSD Regular Meeting March 10th 6pm

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, March 10th, 2025 at 7:15 am CDT
Published Meeting
3/10/2025, 6:00 PM
Regular Meeting
Media Center | Mt. Pleasant Community High School
Meeting Agenda
1. Call To Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Student Spotlight
5. Citizen Comments
a. MPCSD Citizens for Change
6. Legislative Update
a. Hands-Free Cellphone Bill – Judi Collora
7. Approval of Minutes, Claims and Financial Report
8. Reports
a. Instructional Services: English Language Learner Services
b. Superintendent’s Report
i. Facilities Master Planning Schedule
ii. 1:1 Device Renewal Update
iii. IASB Data Boost: English Language Learner Percentages by District
iv. Certified Budget Public Hearing #1: March 24 – Proposed Tax Rates
v. March 24 Work Session – FY26 Buildings and Grounds Project Proposals
vi. Legislative Update
c. Board Committee Reports
i. Finance Committee
ii. Site/Policy Committee
9. Other Board Communications
a. Resignation of Board Member Sarah Donnolly, Director District #2
10. Consent Items
a. Personnel
b. Open Enrollment
11. Unfinished Business
12. New Business
a. Consideration to Approve Central Office Lease Agreement (Motion)
b. Consideration to Approve First Reading of School Board Policy 900 Series, Community Relations (Motion)
c. Consideration to Approve First Reading of School Board Policy 402.04, Gifts to Employees (Motion)
d. Consideration to Approve First Reading of School Board Policy 208, Ad Hoc Committees (Motion)
e. Consideration to Approve Changes to 2024-2025 School Calendar (Motion)
f. Consideration to Approve Physical Plant and Equipment Levy Spending Plan (Motion)
g. Consideration to Approve Request to Waive Athletic Ineligibility Period (Motion)
h. Consideration to Approve Overnight Trip Request – State Science Fair, Ames, IA, March 27 and 28 (Motion)
i. Consideration to Approve Overnight Trip Request – State FFA Convention, Ames, IA , April 13-15 (Motion)
j. Negotiations Discussion (Exempt from Open Meetings Law)
13. Adjournment
 

Sports, March 10th

By Slaten Swords · Monday, March 10th, 2025 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Girls’ Postseason Basketball

Class 4A started off Saturday’s slate of games with a happy ending of #8 Xavier’s Cinderella story as they defeated #2 North Polk 66-47. Saints head coach Tom Lilly was sent off with his sixth state championship. Libby Fandel, who was voted All-Tournament Captain, captured another state tournament record after recording a double-double in the championship game with 36 points and 14 rebounds; her 94 points over the week is a Class 4A tournament record. 

In the Class 2A championship bout, #3 Hinton capped off an undefeated season with their first state championship in program history, winning 48-46 over #5 Central Lyon. Sydney Doeschot earned All-Tournament Team captain after finishing the game with 16 points and the game winning block to seal the win at the buzzer. 

Fittingly, in the final championship game of the night, #1 St. Albert and #3 Newell-Fonda needed double overtime to dictate the Class 1A champion. Avah Underwood stepped up for the Saints, scoring 20 points and securing 24 rebounds, a 1A tournament game record, to give St. Albert their first state championship in a 61-58 final. Underwood, the All-Tournament Team captain,  also broke the overall rebounding record with 55 through the three games. 

High School Boys’ Postseason Basketball

Class 4A will tip-off the state tournament today with #4 Waukee Northwest facing off against #5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy. The winner will play either #1 Cedar Falls or #8 Dubuque Senior. The bottom half of the bracket features #2 Linn-Mar taking on #7 Waukee and #3 Valley competing against #6 Ames.

Class 3A will split up their matches with the top half of the bracket playing today and the bottom half of the bracket facing off tomorrow, March 11th. #1 Clear Lake will take on #8 Central DeWitt and #4 Storm Lake will face off against #5 ADM today, while #2 Knoxville will compete against #7 Xavier and #3 Ballard will square off against #6 MOC-Floyd Valley.

In Class 2A, #1 Western Christian will look to avoid the upset against #8 Jesup, while #4 Grand View Christian will take on #5 Treynor. On the bottom half of the bracket, #2 West Lyon will tangle with #7 Union Community, while #3 Unity Christian will verse #6 Grundy Center.

Class 1A will have to wait until Wednesday, March 12th, for their first matchup with #4 Gladbrook-Reinbeck looking to knock off the defending champion #5 North Linn. The winner will take on either #1 Marquette Catholic or #8 Remsen St. Mary’s. #2 Madrid will face off against #7 Boyden-Hull, while #6 Woodbine will look to pull off the upset against #3 St. Edmond.

High School Track

The track season gets underway today as the high school boys’ teams from all around Iowa travel to the UNI-Dome for the Dickinson Relays. The girls’ meet will take place tomorrow, March 11th. 

Southeastern Community College                                                     

The men’s basketball team fell to Indian Hills Community College for the Region 11 championship over the weekend 72-56. Merquiche Lewis led the scoring with 14 points. 

College Basketball

The #10 Iowa State men’s team crushed Kansas State 73-57 to finish out the regular season. Curtis Jones put up 24 points as the team never trailed during the contest. The Cyclones earned the #5 seed in the Big 12 tournament and will face off against either Oklahoma State or Cincinnati on Wednesday, March 12th, at 11:30 am.

The Iowa men’s team needed a victory yesterday to clinch a spot in the Big Ten tournament and they got it done with a dominating 83-68 win over Nebraska. Payton Sandfort led the effort with 22 points. The Hawkeyes will compete against Ohio State in the first round on Wednesday at 5 pm. 

The Iowa State and Iowa women’s teams will have to wait until Sunday, March 16th, to see if they will get a spot in the National Championship bracket. 

March Madness

The KILJ Bracket Challenge is back for the 2025 March Madness men’s bracket with the same rules as last year. A printable bracket will be posted to KILJ’s Facebook page after Selection Saturday on March 16th. The bracket must be filled out and turned in to sports@kilj.com or our station by the end of the day on March 19th. 

For a full list of rules and prizes, follow this link:  KILJ Bracket Challenge

This Day in Sports History

1985 – Dallas Maverick coach Dick Motta is the 4th NBA coach to win 700 games.

1991 – Eddie Sutton of Oklahoma State becomes the first coach to lead four schools into the NCAA tournament.

2022 – After a 99-day lockout, Major League Baseball and MLB Players Association reach a new collective bargaining agreement; MLB teams set to play a full 162 game season in 2022.

Mount Pleasant School District Reviews Certified Budget During Finance Meeting

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, March 10th, 2025 at 6:20 am CDT

The Mount Pleasant Community School District Finance Committee reviewed its certified budget for the upcoming fiscal year, highlighting financial planning and tax rate considerations, and state funding during its meeting from Friday.

The certified budget sets a maximum spending limit, ensuring flexibility for unforeseen costs. The proposed property tax levy is $11.97 per $1,000 of assessed value, in line with neighboring districts. The management fund levy increased to $1 million to cover early retirement incentives, rising insurance costs, and weather-related expenses.

Public hearings are set for March 24 and April 14 for community input. The district is also monitoring state funding discussions and preparing for staff contract negotiations, with rising health insurance costs impacting the budget.

The board aims to balance financial responsibility with maintaining quality education and infrastructure for years to come.

Gov. Reynolds extends harvest proclamation

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, March 10th, 2025 at 6:19 am CDT

Gov. Kim Reynolds recently signed an extension of the proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain, fertilizer, and manure.

The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through April 7, 2025. The proclamation allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), manure (dry and liquid), and distillers grains to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.

This proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

Henry County Residents Rally for Change in Second March Protest

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, March 10th, 2025 at 6:18 am CDT

Exercising their First Amendment rights, a large group of Henry County residents gathered at the Henry County Courthouse on Sunday, March 9, for the second protest of the month. The demonstrators, standing on the sidewalks outside the courthouse, held banners and signs to voice their concerns and aspirations for the future of their community.

The peaceful gathering showed a diverse group of individuals advocating for a range of issues affecting Henry County. While some participants called for local government transparency, others highlighted matters such as economic development, education reform, and environmental conservation. The demonstrators engaged in discussions with passersby and members of the local government to foster constructive dialogue.

The demonstration remained peaceful, with local law enforcement present to ensure the safety of all involved. Officers observed from a distance, allowing participants to express themselves freely while maintaining public order.

As Henry County continues to see increased civic engagement, many believe that these protests mark a growing interest in local policymaking. Organizers have hinted at future gatherings, hoping to keep discussions alive and encourage constructive changes within the community.

February Drought conditions

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, March 10th, 2025 at 6:18 am CDT

Drought conditions have slightly expanded in central Iowa and a small area in Eastern Iowa due to below-normal precipitation in February, according to the latest Water Summary Update.

February’s preliminary statewide precipitation was 0.42 inches, 0.75 inches below normal. The state’s average snowfall for February was nearly two inches below normal, despite colder temperatures. The winter months are typically the driest in Iowa.

At the end of February, Iowa’s Drought Plan showed conditions degrading in the northern three drought regions, resulting in a drought watch designation.

Meanwhile, drought conditions remain stable in the two southern drought regions, with a normal drought watch designation. The U.S. Drought Monitor continues to show over three-quarters of Iowa carrying abnormally dry conditions or drought conditions, with a small area of northwest Iowa in severe drought.

Precipitation forecasts from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center indicate a slight chance for above-average precipitation for the eastern half of the state. If the outlook holds true, that portion of Iowa could see improved conditions going into April.

House Happenings – with Heather Hora

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, March 10th, 2025 at 5:47 am CDT

 

Highlights From This Past Week’s Legislative Session:

  • First Funnel Week
    • This week we have been busy at work holding subcommittee and committee meetings trying to get many bills through before the end of funnel week. Many of you may be wondering, what is funnel week? So here is what it is:
      • In order to keep the legislative session going, we have deadlines when each chambers’ bills must be passed out of committee and put on the regular calendar. This week, is the first of the deadlines, where all House Files (HF) or House Study Bills (HSB) must be passed through committee. The next deadline or funnel will be when all Senate Files (SF) are passed out of committee in the House and all House Files (HF) be passed out of Senate Committees. We do all of this while debating and passing our bills on the House Regular Calendar so it can have time to be properly considered in the senate, and vice versa. These next few weeks will be very busy in Des Monies as we continue to consider bills that started in the House, all while we begin the process of considering bills that started in the Senate.
    • Iowa State University Day at the Capitol
      • On Tuesday, Iowa State University’s professors, students, and administrators came to capitol and talked with legislators about the importance of higher education and the research they conduct and how it impacts our family farms and producers! Below is a picture of me pulling a calf from a dummy cow that vet students use to practice throughout their training!
  • Nutrient Application and Regulatory Updates
    • On Tuesday, the House Agriculture Committee passed HSB 143, now HF 799, which updates various programs and regulations, including crop production, animal health, agricultural processing, and agricultural marketing, all of which are part of the powers and duties of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Here are some key aspects of the bill:
      • Changes the term ‘soil conditioner’ to ‘beneficial substance,’ which includes various plant and soil amendments.
      • Updates definitions related to fertilizers and beneficial substances to align with current agricultural practices.
      • Establishes new licensing requirements for manufacturers and distributors of fertilizers and beneficial substances.
      • Implements stricter labeling requirements to ensure transparency and compliance in the agricultural market.
      • Removes outdated references to the ‘State Chemist’ and replaces them with the ‘Bureau Chief of the Iowa Laboratory Bureau.’
      • Changes Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship emergency rule making authority during a foreign animal disease outbreak and gives the Board of Veterinary Medicine the ability to assess up to a $10,000 administrative penalty for violation of veterinary license provisions and rules.
  • State Government Expands Cancer Coverage for First Responders
    • This week the State Government passed a monumental piece of legislation to further protect the first responders across Iowa who protect and rescue Iowans every day. HSB 266 was reported out of State Government Committee unanimously. The bill would amend Iowa Code to ensure that all types of cancer are covered for Iowa’s firefighters. Currently there are only 14 types of cancer that are covered under the presumption that it was contracted while on active duty because of the job. There are over 200 types of diagnosable cancers.
    • As cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters, House Republicans have and will continue to work hard to support legislation that helps current and retired firefighters from the unintended consequences of risking their lives for everyone else.
    • HSB 266 will move the House floor for consideration of the full legislative body.
It was wonderful learning about all the work and research that is happening at the Iowa Pork Industry from professors and research assistants at Iowa State University. We talked about biosecurity measures, and how we can continue to increase the market of pork throughout the state and country!
Talked with representatives from the Egg Industry Center at ISU. We talked about the supply of eggs and their increased cost at the grocery store. These events are always great to learn from industry professionals so that we stay well informed at the state house!
In District 92…

  • The Greater Iowa City Area Home Builders Association
    • On Friday, Senator Driscoll, Representative Lawler, and I spent part of the day touring a home being built by students from West High & City High. These students have done an outstanding job, all while learning more about the building trade and getting involved in the local economy! Great work!
Contact Me

  • I am so thankful to be your District 92 Representative and I am always looking to hear from you all! Please reach out to me at heather.hora@legis.iowa.gov

Have a great week!

Carl Wichkam -PENDING

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, March 10th, 2025 at 5:45 am CDT

Carl Wichkam, 81 of mt pleasant passed away March 10th.

Arrangements are pending at this time from Kimzey funeral homes. At Kimzeyfh.com