JCSD E-Connection
Board updates, news, and events from the around the district
Week of April 11, 2022
All attempts are made to be as accurate as possible at the time of publication. Questions, comments, or concerns can be emailed to the JCSD Communications department at jcsdcomm@jdragonmail.us.
District News & Announcements
Johnston proposes change in school start times
Johnston is taking an innovative approach to its school bus driver shortage by exploring a 3-tier system, or having three different bells times instead of two, to reduce the number of drivers and routes needed at one time. The district currently has two proposals — one that would shift school start and end times by 20 minutes, and another “flipped” schedule that would have elementary schools starting first. The second proposal came as a result of public feedback. Read more.
Free meals for all students ends this school year
When the 2021-22 school year ends, so do free meals for every student. The federal government's program that allowed all students access to free meals during the COVID-19 pandemic will be discontinued. This means all families will need to carry a positive balance in their children’s school meal accounts when school begins next fall. If your student qualifies for free or reduced meals, read more about how you can still receive them next year.
O’Connor named Johnston’s new Athletics and Activities Director
Mike O’Connor has been selected as the Johnston Community School District’s new athletics and activities director, filling the vacancy created by Josh Tobey leaving for Norwalk at the end of this school year. O’Connor will officially start his new role July 1, 2022. He has served as the assistant athletic director at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines for the past 10 years. Read more.
Whittle named new JCSD Learning Coordinator
Erica Whittle has been selected as the Johnston Community School District’s new Learning Coordinator of Secondary Schools and PK-12 Math Supports. She will fill the vacancy created by Mary Cooksley’s retirement at the end of this school year. Whittle will officially start her new role July 1. She has worked in the West Des Moines school district since July 2015, currently as principal of Stilwell Junior High and previously as associate principal of Valley High School. Read more.
Johnston High School Student Council earns top national award
The JHS Student Council has been recognized as a 2022 National Gold Council of Excellence by the National Student Council. The award recognizes an exemplary record of leadership, service and activities that serve to improve the school and community. It also represents the highest standards of quality demonstrated in the student council's operation, projects and activities. Recipients are considered role models. Read more.
School farmers market mixes fun with lessons in economics
Timber Ridge Elementary recently held its farmers market— a culminating event in economics where second graders chose what they wanted to sell, while the rest of the students decided what they wanted to buy. From face painting to hand and back massages, bracelets, origami cranes, pencils, filled plastic Easter eggs, stamps and Play-Doh — the students enjoyed buying and selling their wares. Everything cost 25 cents. Read more.
Breakfast features JHS cast of Cinderella
Little girls (and a few boys) lined up for a chance to see Cinderella and her crew from the upcoming JHS production of Cinderella the Musical. Families were treated to breakfast, face painting, crafts, singing and dancing by the cast and, of course, photo opps! See the musical April 22-23 at the JHS Auditorium. Purchase tickets here: https://www.vancoevents.com/us/events/landing/19042
Students construct building to house owls, hawks at Jester Park
Students in Rhys South’s construction technology class at Johnston High School are building a Raptor Building for the education center at Jester Park. Working with Polk County Conservation, students are constructing a 10 x 20-foot building to house one hawk and one owl that has been injured and can’t be released into the wild. That may include a barred owl and a red-tailed hawk. Read more.
Mice, caterpillars and planes help kids learn lessons in STEAM
From coding mice and caterpillars to building paper airplanes and LEGO walls, Wallace Elementary students spent a fun-filled day packed with lessons in STEAM. The day meant taking a break from students’ regular lessons and having the whole school instead focus its attention on fun activities that offered learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM). Read more.
JHS mock trial team places 11th at state
Congratulations to the JHS mock trial team Courtnite: Trial Royale for placing 11th at the state mock trial competition! Esha Bolar was also selected as an outstanding attorney. The JHS team was among 32 competing, arguing both sides of a hypothetical criminal case. Team members included: Esha Bolar, Eshaan Chandani, Dylan Coslin, Akshara Eswar, Allison Miner, Emily Quinn, Sophie Ruddy, Courtney Sweet, Jackson Zimmerman and Patrick Yang.
"Anything but a backpack" day draws creativity among students
Students carried their belongings around school in buckets, a shopping cart, sofa pillow, helmet, lawnmower, tire, cooler, shovel, piñata, guitar case, trash bin and traffic cone on “Anything but a backpack day.” The event organized by the JHS Student Council aimed to demonstrate the importance of a backpack and included a backpack drive for local foster care centers and Ellipsis. See more photos on the JCSD Facebook page.
Technology Student Association teams place 2nd, 3rd at state
Johnston Technology Student Association (TSA) teams recently competed in the Iowa TSA State Conference, April 4-5. The JHS team finished 3rd overall, and the JMS team finished in 2nd overall. Nineteen JHS students competed in 13 different events. Five JMS chapter members competed in 10 different events. Read more about individual and team winners this week on our JCSD Facebook page.
Board Highlights from April 11, 2022
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Superintendent Kacer provided COVID-19 updates. She then introduced new members of the Admin Team and went over information about ISASP testing and the Conditions for Learning survey, both being held in April. She highlighted the latest proposal for a change in bell times due to a shortage of bus drivers. And she provided an update on postsecondary pathway enhancements.
REPORTS
- New Club Request — Minecraft Club
- Library Equity Project
- 2021-22 Calendar Year Update
- Consideration of 2022-2023 Board Meeting Dates
- Updated Organization Chart and New Coordinator/Director Positions
- First Reading of Policies 501.5 Attendance Center Assignment, 501.9 Student Absences Excused, 501.10R1 Student Attendance Regulation, and 501.11 Student Release During School Hours
- First Reading of Policies 502.8 Search and Seizure, 502.8R1 Search and Seizure Regulation, 503.1R1 Student Suspension Regulation, and 503.5 Corporal Punishment, Mechanical Restraint, and Prone Restraint
- First Reading of Policies 504.5 Student Fundraising, 506.2 Student Directory, and 508.1 Class or Group Gifts to School
ACTION ITEMS
- Approval of Out-of-State Trip Request to Colorado (Approved)
- Approval of Out-of-State Trip Request to California (Approved)
- Approval of Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship (Approved)
- Approval of New Club Request - SMS Girls on the Run Club (Postponed to April 25)
- Approval of New Club Request - JHS Turning Point USA Club (Postponed to April 25)
- Approval of Resolution Supporting the Proposed Issuance of Approximately $33,000,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Refunding Bonds (Approved)
- Adopt and Certify FY 2022-2023 Certified Budget (Approved)
- Approval of Policies 504.2 Student Organizations and 504.2E1 New Club Request Form (Referred back to Policy Committee)
- Approval of Policies 605.3 Objection to Instructional Materials, 605.3E1 Instructions to the Reconsideration Committee, 605.3E2 Reconsideration of Instructional Materials, 605.3E3 Sample Letter to Individual Challenging Instructional Materials, and 605.3R1 Reconsideration of Instructional Materials Regulation (Approved)
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Board meetings are held in person at the District Office, 6510 NW 62nd Ave, Johnston. All public comments must be read in person. The board meetings are livestreamed and available on demand at https://team1sports.com/johnston/. The next board meeting will be held April 25, starting at 6 p.m.
CONTACT THE BOARD
Persons are encouraged to send questions, comments and suggestions to our board members. Each board member can be reached by email: Katie Fiala; Dr. Alicia Clevenger; Jennifer Chamberland; Deb Davis; Clint Evans; Soneeta Mangra-Dutcher; and Derek Tidball.
Johnston Community School District
JCSD Non-Discrimination Statement
It is the policy of the Johnston Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices.
There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district’s Associate Superintendent, Dr. Nikki Roorda, 6510 NW 62nd Ave, Johnston, Iowa 50131, (515) 278-0470, nikki.roorda@johnston.k12.ia.us.
Email: lynn.meadows@johnston.k12.ia.us
Website: johnstoncsd.org
Location: 6510 NW 62nd Ave, Johnston, IA, USA
Phone: 515-278-0470
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnstonCSD/
Twitter: @johnstoncsd