April 25, 2011 Club Bulletin # 371

Program for Today: Sarah Lande and the South African Friendship Exchange

April 25 Invocation by: Christopher Ingstad

Guests for April 18, 2011: Jeremy Heimish,Nathan Mather potential new member, Rich Hines and Scott Comstock.

President Tom Ward shared in his Rotary thought the idea of public relations in 1923 vs. 2011. Rotarians did not seek publicity but rather sought to give a positive image though broader community service.

Several Club Announcements were made regarding future Rotary events: May 2, 2011 we will meet at the Ag Learning Center and on May 9,2011 we will meet at the Clarion Inn for the Senior Scholarship Meeting. Rotary Night at the ballpark will be held on June 29th which is a Wednesday.

Keith Porter reminded us that the Great Initiative Award nominations are still be taken for this year. See Keith for the online or hardcopy nomination form.

Happy News: Jeremy had happy news as did Mary Wildermuth. Mary was happy with the broad variety of guests to the Muscatine History and Industry Center from Australia, Yemen, Jerry Greenfield and tomorrow "The Man in Purple".

Program: Bill Decker, Muscatine Community School District Superintendent provided a powerpoint update on the ways the school district is working to improve. Bill reported there is much to be proud of, however, he felt the High School Graduation Rate still needed work. Most past strategies seem to be high school strategeis.

He reported that of the class of 2005...17% graduated from a 4 year college within 4 years, while by adding another year 21% or 4% more had graduated. By 2018 50% of the students will need some sort of postsecondary education or training beyond high school. The Muscatine Community School District is moving more toward poverty as 51% of the students are in that financial category.

Bill mentioned that the district is looking at a new schedule for start and ending of the school day and no Monday professional development workshop time... details online at the Muscatine Community School District website.

He spoke of the tough financial decisions needing to be made last year to get the district into a better and stronger financial standing. The district now has 4.1 million in reserves and expects 0% allowable growht for the next 2 years.

Bill invited participation to the May 16 and 17, 2011 G2 Conference being held here in Muscatine with headliners such as Shawn Covey of the Franklin Covey organization showcasing "The Leader in Me" encouraging and showing students how to be leaders of their own life and speakers from High Tech High in California. Muscatine is the first school district in the nation to implement the "Leader in Me" across all our elementary schools. High Tech High graduates 100% of their students and 85% graduate from college.

His program concluded with a student produced video on the G2 student project based curriculum being implemented at MHS, West and Central Middle Schools.

Bill encouraged persons with questions to call him. Information about the proposed schedule changes and the G2 Conference can be found at www: muscatine.k12.ia.us