The Board of Directors of the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District approved the hiring of Erin Furbee as the District’s PK-12 Assistant Principal at the July 14, 2025 Board of Directors Meeting.

Furbee will assume the newly created role of PK-12 Assistant Principal at Martensdale-St. Marys following a leadership restructuring that took place when Beth Happe retired in May as the Elementary Principal. Furbee will begin her work at MSTM on August 4, 2025.

Furbee holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Drake University. Most recently she was the Project Read Teacher at Indianola Middle School. She has classroom experience at both the elementary and middle school level.

Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District is proud to announce a new digital partnership with Bound, beginning in the 2025–2026 school year. Bound will serve as the district’s official platform for all activity and district calendars, sports registration, and event information, making it easier than ever for students, families, and community members to stay connected and informed.

What to Expect with Bound

Starting this fall, all athletic and activity registrations will be completed through Bound. This includes middle school and high school sports. Bound’s online registration tools will simplify the sign-up process, allowing families to complete forms, waivers, and other required documents in one place.

In addition to registrations, Bound will host our whole district and activity calendars. Whether it’s a football game, concert, early dismissal, or community event, everything will be available in one accessible, mobile-friendly location.

Online Ticketing Now Available

We are also excited to announce that online ticketing for all home athletic events will be available through Bound. Families and fans can purchase tickets directly from their phones or devices before arriving at games, streamlining the admission process and improving the spectator experience.

💵 Please note: Cash will still be accepted at the gate for those who prefer to pay in person.

Access MSTM on Bound

Visit our Bound page to explore the platform and begin familiarizing yourself with what’s ahead:

🔗 www.gobound.com/ia/schools/martensdale

This transition reflects our continued commitment to improving the experience for our students, families, and community. We’re excited for what’s ahead—and we can’t wait for you to join us on Bound.

The next School Board Election for the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District will be held on November 4, 2025.

Three director districts will be contested in 2025. Districts #1, #2, and #4 are up for election; a map of the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District with districts may be found here.

Key Election Dates:

• Monday, August 25, 2025 – First day to file nomination papers.
  • Each candidate must file the Affidavit of Candidacy and Nomination Papers. These must be filed with the Board Secretary Ashley Kraber (due Sept 18, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.)
  • The affidavit of candidacy and nomination petitions must be filed together or they will be rejected. Copies of nomination papers are available at the school district office (please contact the Board Secretary Ashley Kraber), the county auditor's office, or on the Iowa Secretary of State's Website.
  • The minimum number of signatures needed depends on the number of registered voters in the school district. In the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District, 10 signatures are required, but it is recommended to obtain more should any signatures be considered invalid.
• Thursday, September 18, 2025 (by 5:00 PM) – Final day to file all required documents.
• Tuesday, September 23, 2025 (by 5:00 PM) – Final day to withdraw your candidacy.
• Tuesday, November 4, 2025 – Election Day (polls are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM).

Current Board of Directors - Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District:

• District 1: Bill Denny, Board President, term expires in 2025
• District 2: Travis Tibbits, term expires in 2025
• District 3: Jeff Bowlin, Board Vice President, term expires in 2027
• District 4: Heath Banks, term expires in 2025
• District 5, Colleen Haglan-Lynch, term expires in 2027

The Board of Directors meet monthly at 5:30 pm in the Martensdale-St. Marys Media Center. Additional meetings are held as necessary. Candidate forms and additional information are available at the Iowa Association of School Boards website: https://www.ia-sb.org/school-board-elections. For local questions or help with filing, contact the Board Secretary Ashley Kraber at ashley_[email protected] or Superintendent Dr. Bill Watson at bill_[email protected].

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 recommendations based on the best interest of students aligned with the district’s mission and vision.

Here are the tentative meeting dates for the next school year:

October 1, 2025: 5:30pm – 6:30pm

November 10, 2025: 5:30pm – 6:30pm

February 10, 2026: 5:30pm – 6:30pm

This year’s focus will be on strategic planning.

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 2, 2025.

The Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District is excited to share key dates for vacation planning for the 2025-2026 school year. These important dates will help families plan ahead and stay informed about breaks, make-up days, and the academic calendar.

Key Calendar Dates:

• First Day of School: August 26, 2025
• Labor Day (No School): September 1, 2025
• Last Day of School: Thursday, May 21, 2026

Scheduled Monday School Dates: To support instructional needs, students will attend school on the following Mondays:

• November 24, 2025
• December 22, 2025
• May 18, 2026

Breaks:

• **Thanksgiving Break:** November 26–28, 2025 _Note: No school Monday, December 1, 2025_
• **Winter Break:** December 24, 2025 – January 2, 2026 _Note: No school Monday, January 5, 2026_
• **Spring Break:** March 16–20, 2026 _Note: No school Monday, March 23, 2026_

Potential Make-Up Days (if needed):

• January 26, 2026
• February 23, 2026
• March 30, 2026
• April 27, 2026

We encourage families to keep these dates in mind as they plan family events and travel throughout the school year. As always, our goal is to maximize learning time while supporting student well-being and family engagement.

For the most up-to-date calendar information, please visit the district website or contact the school office.

The Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District is proud to recognize Head Baseball Coach Jon Fitzpatrick for being named the 2025 ABCA/ATEC High School Division III Region 5 Coach of the Year. This prestigious honor highlights Coach Fitzpatrick’s dedication to excellence, leadership, and commitment to the success of our students on and off the field.

Fitzpatrick’s recognition reflects not only his achievements this season but also the positive culture he continues to build within the MSTM baseball program. Under his guidance, our students demonstrate sportsmanship, hard work, and teamwork—qualities that make us proud to be Blue Devils.

Please join us in congratulating Coach Fitzpatrick on this outstanding accomplishment!

Go Blue Devils!

Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is now open!

Here are a few points regarding the Registration process:

1. Registration must be done using a computer, not a phone.
2. When registering, please ensure that you are in the 2025-2026 School Year in the drop down.
3. Register on the JMC Platform using this link:https://mstm.onlinejmc.com/>
4. All Payments are made on the RevTrak Platform using this link:https://mstm.revtrak.net

Registration Reminders:

1. All forms must be signed electronically to complete registration.
2. All students in a family must be registered individually.
3. New families should visit the Central Office to register.
4. Preschool families that have completed their initial registration and payment on RevTrak must now register in JMC.
5. Family passwords for JMC must be updated using a minimum of 12 characters.

For assistance, contact Jessica Hart at 641-351-7400 x525 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Daycare Registration for the Summer of 2025 and the 2025-2026 School Year is now open atDaycare Registration.

The Indianola Community School District will be offering free summer meals to all children and teens 18 years and younger from June 9 to August 7, 2025. This program ensures that students continue to have access to nutritious meals even when school is not in session.

Meals will be served at three convenient locations, with a variety of options available:

🍽 Meal Site Details:

Indianola Middle School 📍 403 South 15th Street 🕚 Lunch Only | Monday–Thursday | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Meadow Village Apartments 📍 2003 W. 4th Ave. 🕒 Grab & Go Meals | Monday & Thursday Pick-up | 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Note: Students do not need to be present to receive meals.

Indianola High School 📍 1304 East 1st Ave. 🕖 Breakfast Only | Monday, Tuesday & Thursday | 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM Please use the Auditorium Entrance

This program is open to all children and teens, and no registration or ID is required. It's a wonderful opportunity for families to stay nourished and supported over the summer months

⚠️ All sites will be closed on July 4th in observance of Independence Day.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the ICSD Food Service Department at (515) 961-9591, or scan the QR code on our flyer for additional details.

Let’s make this summer healthy and hunger-free for every child in our community!