One of the key elements leading to student success in the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District is our Preschool Program.  Through our 4-Year-Old Preschool Program, we can offer those students greater opportunities to master the Iowa Early Learning Standards and transition to Kindergarten successfully.

MSTM offers 4-Year-Old Preschool that meets daily. In 2024, we are transitioning our 3-Year-Old Preschool Program from 3 hours a week to four-days a week to further enhance their growth and development.

View the 2023-2024 GOLD Observational Assessment Outcomes here: 2023-2024 Assessment Outcomes

The School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) is a community group that gives stakeholder voice to school improvement goals and actions of the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District.

Based on the committee members’ analysis of the needs assessment data, they will make recommendations to the Board about the following components:

1.      Major educational needs

2.      Student learning goals

3.      Curriculum, assessment, and instruction

4.      Long range and annual goals that include, but are not limited to, the state indicators that address reading, mathematics, and science achievement

5.      Bullying and harassment prevention goals, programs, training, and other initiatives

6.      Any other issues which relate to school improvement

The SIAC makes decisions based on the best interest of students aligned with the district’s mission and vision.

Here is the tentative agenda with meeting dates for this school year:

September 25, 2024:  5:30pm – 6:30pm

Presentation of ISASP Results

Presentation of Conditions for Learning Survey

Portrait of a Graduate Work

Communication from School Work

November 7, 2024:  5:30pm – 6:30pm

Presentation on Bullying and Harassment

Finalize Portrait of a Graduate Work

Communication from School Work

February 11, 2024:  5:30pm – 6:30pm

Special Education Presentation

Title-I Reading Presentation

Communication from School Work

If you are interested in joining the SIAC, please send an e-mail indicating your interest with your name, connection to the school (i.e. student, teacher, parent, community member), and your contact information to Dr. Bill Watson at [email protected] by September 5, 2024.

The the two science rooms in the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District will be completely renovated.

This work is set to be completed over the summer of 2025 in preparation for the 2025-2026 School Year.

Stay tuned for updates throughout this school year and construction updates next summer.

Approval of Bond Resolution

At its regularly scheduled meeting last night, the Board of Directors of the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District took action to call for the addition of a referendum to the ballot in the November 5, 2024, election, for a General Obligation Bond not to exceed $15.95 million. The proposed plan requires 60% voter approval.

Approval of Science Room Renovations

In addition, the Board of Directors approved the use of SAVE Funds in its meeting last evening for the development of plans to complete the renovation of the two science rooms at the school. This work is to be completed in advance of the start of the 2025-2026 school year (August 2025).

The Plan

The proposed plan was developed over the course of nearly seven months following community meetings regarding the District’s facilities and with faculty and staff input by a committee of over twenty individuals. The committee outlined these themes as they approached their work. The plan had to:

• Enhance safety and security
• Drive program and student success
• Expand opportunities
• Improve functionality and appearance

The plan specifically calls for:

• A shift to make the “front” of the building north facing.
• The addition / renovation of a parking lot and bus loop on the north side along with a main drive and an entrance off Highway 28.
• The addition of a single safe and secure entrance on the north side serving both the elementary and secondary components of our school operation. Both the elementary and secondary offices would be located here, including space for both counselors and others.
• The addition of a gymnasium that would be large enough to ensure that we can host post-season events in volleyball, basketball, and wrestling moving forward and provide our students in physical education with a first-class facility to participate in during school.
• Upgrades to the HVAC System, Fire Safety Systems, and Electrical System throughout the existing building.
• Furniture replacement throughout the building to include student spaces.

Financial Impact

In the last bond levy, the Board of Directors managed the overall school levy to be reasonably stable while also levying extra within the debt service fund that saved taxpayers $46,475.00 in addition to refinancing that debt in 2012 that saved $247,084.00.  This resulted in total savings for taxpayers of $293,000.00 and enabled those bonds to be paid off 5 years early.

This plan calls for similar fiscal responsibility. Initially, the tax rate will increase from $15.59 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation to $16.00.

Think of the Property Tax Rate as a pie with different components making up the whole. At this time, the rate of $15.59 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation is made up of different component pieces that change based upon enrollment and the needs of the district. Moving forward, the District will adjust those components to keep the tax rate as low as possible while still operating in a financially responsible manner.

In the long term (the time after 3-4 years), District leaders are confident that we can maintain a tax rate that is less than $17.64 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation (an increase of only $2.05 from the current property tax rate).

In both situations, the Board of Directors of the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District will set the property tax rate annually. In doing so, the District will work to maintain a steady tax rate and minimize the individual impact on property owners.

The tax rates of our neighboring districts are:

• I-35: $18.67 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation
• Norwalk: $18.38 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation
• Indianola: $17.94 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation

Learn More

Individuals can learn more on the District’s Bond Referendum Website:  www.mstmbond.com.

In addition, to ensure that voters are informed, the District will hold three Community Information Sessions this fall. These sessions will be held in the Media Center at the school.

Thursday, September 19 – 5:30pm

Wednesday, October 9 – 5:30pm

Monday, October 28 – 7:00pm

At these meetings, Dr. Bill Watson, Superintendent,  will provide an overview of the projects and  will also discuss the financial impacts of the bond.

Effective immediately, we have updated our phone system and changed the District number to: 641-351-7400

** **

With this change, all calls will be routed to an automated switchboard and then routed to extensions.

Some commonly used extensions include:

                Elementary Office:  x516

                Junior High / High School Office:  x520

                Nurses Office:  x526

                Central Office:  x525

                Activities Office:  x518

Thank you.

The Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District is partnering with the Governor’s School Safety Bureau in providing a threat reporting tool, SafeandSoundIowa.gov, for students, teachers, parents, and the community.

In past school attacks in the United States, 92% of those who noticed concerning behaviors before the events were schoolmates (US Federal Bureau of Investigation). Students may not report warning signs due to feelings of anxiety or intimidation, fear of retaliation or not knowing who to talk to. Safe+Sound Iowa removes these barriers with easy, convenient, and confidential ways to report safety concerns.

Reports can be made securely and anonymously:

• Online at SafeandSoundIowa.gov
• Through the Safe+Sound Iowa mobile app, or
• By phone at 800-224-6018.

Trained dispatchers monitor reports 24/7 and immediately engage in two-way communication with those raising concerns. They then reach out to the appropriate local school safety contact, law enforcement or other community partners.

You can download the free Safe+Sound Iowa mobile app on the App Store and Google Play.

Creating a safe learning environment is our highest priority, and it starts with early detection of potential threats.

Thank you for your attention this morning and for helping keep each other, our school, and our community safe.

You can learn more about Safe+Sound Iowa here:  Safe+Sound Iowa

The Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District will hold In-Person School Registration on Thursday, August 8 from 11:00am – 7:00pm for those who have not yet registered for the 2024-2025 school year.

Please ensure that you take the necessary steps to register your student for the upcoming school year.

Register Today for the 2024-2025 School Year

If you have not already done so, please register for the 2024-2025 school year here:

JMC Registration Portal

Complete Book Fee Payments for the 2024-2025 School Year

In addition, we ask that you complete payments for your student(s) for the 2024-2025 school year here:

RevTrak – Book Fee Payments

Free and Reduced Lunch Applications Now Open

For those that feel they qualify, please download the 2024-2025 Iowa Application for Free and Reduced School Meals here: 

2024-2025 FRL Application

Once complete, this form should be submitted to the Director of Nutrition Services, Cassandra Ackerson at [email protected]; you may also e-mail Director Ackerson with any questions or for assistance.

Learn more about the November 5 Bond Referendum in the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District by visiting our website at www.mstmbond.com.

As we move into the fall and toward November 5, there will be additional information shared and opportunities to learn more in various formats to include three community meetings.