On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, students in the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District will engage in an event related to ATV and UTV Safety.

We know that In the last three years, the powersports market — including ATVs and UTVs — has seen dramatic growth. That’s only expected to increase. Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) data projects the $37 billion U.S. industry will almost double to $69 billion in the next decade. And that’s not just for off-road hobbyists.

Many ATVs and UTVs are workhorses on U.S. farms and ranches. Their utility and power are growing. In some cases, these vehicles are more economical, high-performance and fuel efficient than larger pickups or trucks. The bottom line is ATVs and UTVs are invaluable in helping farmers and ranchers do a lot of jobs. We see these throughout our community, and we know that students, staff, parents, and families utilize these vehicles daily.

The number of deaths and injuries involving young people on ATVs and UTVs is a major concern. In 2023, the Consumer Federation of America documented 498 OHV fatalities, with children under 15 accounting for 19% of these incidents. Children aged six and under make up a large share of OHV deaths, with some as young as three losing their lives riding an OHV.

In response to these dangers, Nationwide has partnered with the RideSafe Foundation Powered By BRP to bring resources and education to communities to protect their families, community, and property as part of their new safety campaign: Let’s Champion Rider Safety®. This campaign works to share easy to find resources and advice for safely operating this equipment.

MSTM students will be the first in Central Iowa to experience this safety event which will include a presentation and hands-on safety activities.

For more information on the program and for resources you may review at home, view this document:  Let’s Champion Rider Safety

The Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District will conduct its annual Notification Test on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 4:00pm.

At 4:00pm on September 17, we will send a message to families via e-mail, text, and phone utilizing the JMC Messenger System and post notices on our Website, on Facebook, and on X (formerly Twitter).

This is the system we will utilize to notify stakeholders of emergency situations and weather-related cancellations.

Individuals who do not receive the notification message and feel they should have been contacted are encouraged to contact Jessica Hart in the Central Office at the school at jessica_hart@mstm.us.

The Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District will hold three Community Information Sessions to inform the public regarding the upcoming Bond Referendum vote on November 5, 2024.

These sessions will be held in the Media Center at the school.

The dates are:

September 19 - 5:30pm

October 9 - 5:30pm

October 28 - 7:00pm

Each meeting will feature the same content and will take no more than 60 minutes.

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 bill_watson@mstm.us 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.