MFL MarMac School Board approves five-year plan
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
The MFL MarMac School Board last week approved a new five-year plan for the district, encompassing 2025 to 2030.
Superintendent Tim Dugger said the plan was developed with input from the School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) and facilities committee. It’s different than the strategic plan the school has adopted in recent years.
“A strategic plan is a little more in depth, and in my mind, a five-year plan is a little more broad,” Dugger told the school board at its Nov. 11 meeting.
According to the plan, MFL MarMac’s mission is “Grow and Achieve Collaborate and Believe,” providing career-ready and college-bound programs for all students, as well as research-based social-emotional-physical growth for students and staff.
The school district’s vision values and believes in developing respect, responsibility and resourcefulness; promoting teamwork; encouraging positive family involvement; preparing all individuals for a life of learning; and challenging them to reach their full potential.
“We also wanted to have some defining statements and more narrow focused goals,” Dugger said.
The first is academic excellence. The district is committed to fostering academic excellence by ensuring alignment with Iowa academic standards, driving student growth in state and federal assessments and leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to enhance learning.
Extracurricular activities will enhance essential life skills such as teamwork, leadership and creativity, providing students with valuable experiences that complement their academic education.
The facility committee and school board will utilize a consensus model for prioritizing projects. The top priority listed is a new bus garage and storage in Monona. One to three years out, the school is eying a new high school gym floor, painting of the high school gym, new locker rooms, new student lockers in McGregor and a new multipurpose facility. Projects four to six years out include kitchen and cafeteria upgrades in Monona and McGregor, office complex upgrades in Monona and McGregor and playground projects in Monona and McGregor.
In the area of finances, the school district is committed to aligning the budget with enrollment trends and efficiently utilizing tax dollars to maximize educational benefits for all students.
The district is also committed to hiring and retaining top talent by providing a safe work environment and competitive compensation and benefits packages to support its dedicated staff.
MFL MarMac will continue to use the district’s website and social media platforms with regular updates, success stories and engaging content that showcases the unique programs and opportunities available, making it easy for families to access information and connect with the school. The marketing committee will work toward improved aesthetics within the district.
Mental health support is another priority. The plan says the school district is dedicated to enhancing mental health support by regularly reviewing and improving its systems while promoting healthy lifestyles through mental and physical activities to foster overall student well-being.
Lastly, the school district will actively promote partnerships with the Area Education Agencies and local daycare centers to enhance educational resources and support students and families in the community.
“This states some broad goals for us for the next five years, starting in 2025. It’s a statement of where we’re at as a school system,” Dugger said.
He also stressed plan components are not set in stone.
“This is something that’s a living and breathing document. If we need to change it over time, we can,” he added.
Virtual learning days an option again
Similar to last year, MFL MarMac will plan to have virtual learning days in case of bad weather this winter. Dugger said current legislation allows districts 30 hours, or five days, for virtual instruction.
“I’d like to continue that. It’s allowed by law, so I think it’s something our school can benefit from,” he said. “We only used one [day] last year because the winter was fairly good. Hopefully this year we repeat.”
Resignations accepted
The school board accepted two staff resignations, including Leah Freese as an elementary paraprofessional and early retirement for Lisa Seitz as a special ed paraprofessional.
