The Bettendorf Board of Education declined to move forward Thursday night with a parent petition seeking removal of Superintendent Michelle Morse. Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. And they just will not listen.". The lawsuit does not appear to seek a specific dollar amount for damages, including mental-health treatment for Nau and his son. More:Iowa GOP proposes ban on gender-affirming care for trans kids. Bettendorf school district, staff sued over assault on high school bus. Both types of public schools aim to offer innovative and flexible academic programs. A pair of black tights are a necessity, rather than just an accessory, to stay stylish and comfortable when temperatures drop. The bond measure, if passed, would help fund the projects at the middle school and high school. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Prep boys basketball: Freeman returns to previous home, Moline cruises to regional title, After 0-27 record, Geneseo won't retain Brad Storm as basketball coach, New Orleans-based coffee chain to open in Davenport this spring, Family-run Restaurante Sabor Catracho serves Honduran dishes to Moline, Clark's buzzer beater stuns No. The school board meeting also took place a day after district leaders, teachers and parents met privately in a work session at Waterfront Convention Center to discuss how to handle the disciplinary problems at the schools. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Bike-path proposal in Moline would cost dozens of on-street parking spaces. The district would plan to use future SAVE (1 cent sales tax) revenue and other financial resources to fund the Herbert Hoover and Paul Norton elementary projects in 2028 2031. 2 Hoosiers, Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years. Registration is now open! I think its time that we all got on the same page of what needs to be done, he added. Nau is represented by Davenport attorney Heather Carlson, court documents show. The topic discussed on the evening of Wednesday, May 25, was one of the fundamental responsibilities of the Bettendorf Community School District ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the districts 4,700 students during each school day, the letter stated. The Bettendorf Community School District has announced recent selections for district administrators beginning their new positions for the 2022-2023 school year. In a letter sent to Morse and school board president Rebecca Eastman a week after the meeting, the Iowa FOI Council and managers of the news companies expressed profound disappointment with Bettendorf officials decision to exclude journalists. Board member Paul Castro said that during Wednesday nights work session parents and teachers again called attention to issues that the school board and administration had known for a long time. 15 Indiana, Sisters open permanent location for QC boutique, HEADS UP Accumulating snow looking likely in the, Cook review: Solid Jesus Revolution is true 70s, INTERVIEW: What plate-reading cameras mean for QC, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Bettendorf Middle School and Bettendorf High School were identified as the greatest need, officials said in a media release. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The letter also said that a meeting between parents and district officials " about the behavior of some Bettendorf Middle School students including bullying and injuries suffered by students not otherwise involved in the incidents does not fall within the meaning of deliberations on matters clearly within the scope of the Board of Educations policy-making duties.". (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). At Bettendorf Middle School he has served as an instructional coach, 7th-grade science teacher, and athletic director. A former Bettendorf teacher and baseball coach is suing the Bettendorf School District, a principal, the former athletic director and the current baseball coach in connection with a "hideous assault" that occurred on a district-hired bus last year. School employees posted at the doors prevented reporters and photographers from entering the meeting. In addition, the plan develops needed classroom areas for career and technical education opportunities to help better prepare students for their futures. Kim Reynolds has pushed a "parental control" agenda for public education, saying "woke" policy decisions by school districts are undermining parents. According to an American Federation of Teachers Under Siege (a July 2022 survey of its members), The unprecedented challenges of continuing instruction during a pandemic may have eased, but newly energized book-banning campaigns, political interference, and the latest school shootings are draining more teachers of enthusiasm for their jobs., the district said. For more information, check the districts website HERE. After the difficulties we have experienced during COVID, and so many leadership positions leaving and the current lack of leadership, our district has suffered greatly. The time for small group meetings, he said, is over as they lead to the same answers and the same results. You have permission to edit this article. The suit alleges the district prevented journalists from covering a recent meeting at which parents expressed concern about violence in the districts middle school. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. More: Ankeny teachers sue school district for discrimination, punishment over student drag show. Test anxiety is common, but parents can help their kids learn to manage it. The complaint names the Bettendorf School District, a principal, the former athletic director, another coach and the parents of another student as defendants. When ongoing legal matters are in play, officials generally are barred from commenting. All rights reserved. In addition, 6% of students are two or more races, and 0% have not specified their race or ethnicity. Heres everything you need to know about The Grinch sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. He then rose from his seat, sought out Nau's son, and slapped the teen's face with his hand, smearing semen into the boy's face and mouth. A 46-year-old nonprofit advocacy organization, the Iowa Freedom of Information Council is joined by the Times and television stations KWQC, WQAD and WHBF questioning the legality of a meeting on May 25 attended by 200 to 300 parents, along with a majority of the members of the school board and Superintendent Michelle Morse. Bettendorf Community School District contains 7 schools and 4,719 students. The teenager pulled down his shorts, exposing himself as he masturbated. Check out the February 21st issue of the Bett District Update! The Bettendorf Community School District has announced recent selections for district administrators beginning their new positions for the 2022-2023 school year. The coach, principal and athletic director all were mandatory reporters at the time of the assault, the lawsuit states, meaning they had a legal obligation to report the incident to the Iowa Department of Human Services. These are kids that can be expelled and should be.. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Prep boys basketball: Freeman returns to previous home, Moline cruises to regional title, After 0-27 record, Geneseo won't retain Brad Storm as basketball coach, New Orleans-based coffee chain to open in Davenport this spring, Family-run Restaurante Sabor Catracho serves Honduran dishes to Moline, Clark's buzzer beater stuns No. The Advanced Placement course will be widely offered at high schools in fall 2024. Kim Reynolds' bill: Library book 'removal list,' gender identity teaching ban. A district committee of community members, parents and staff recently completed a 10-year facility master plan that included a phased modernization of the Bettendorf Middle School, and facility improvements at Bettendorf High School, Herbert Hoover Elementary, and Paul Norton Elementary. The district would use future SAVE (one cent sales tax) and PPEL (Physical Plant & Equipment Levy) reserves to fund 32.8% of the total costs of projects, and 20.7% of the high and middle school projects, the district release said. Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Uhde earned a bachelors degree in elementary education from the University of Iowa. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Ive got a principal at the high school not returning for reasons I cannot understand. This district and this administration is in reaction mode, he said, adding that there was a bigger police presence at the workshop with parents than at any of our schools on a daily basis., To applause, Fuglseth said the administration and the board will be held responsible for the demise of the district and that the administration has failed the teachers, staff, students and community, and resignations at the highest level are due.. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The online petition at Change.org had 1,198 signatures, asking for a vote of no confidence in the schools chief, following a flurry of resignations and student behavior issues in the district. Pyevich said an estimated 75-100 students were in the hallway, and the ones fighting were not students on Individual Educational Programs, or IEPs. Chad Uhde will move to the position of Mark Twain Elementary principal beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, pending board approval. Times, local media sue Bettendorf School District. A district committee of community members, parents and staff recently completed a 10-year facility master plan including a phased modernization of the Bettendorf Middle School, and facility improvements at Bettendorf High School, Herbert Hoover Elementary, and Paul Norton Elementary. BETTENDORF, Iowa (KWQC) - Voters in the Bettendorf Community School District will soon decide whether they support a property tax increase of up to $2.70 to help fund infrastructure improvements at the high school and middle school. "Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience" will open May 20 at the RiverCenter in Davenport. We owe them something. Its not just one thing. Former Bettendorf baseball coach and teacher Brandon Nau reads his mail after arriving home at his Muscatine apartment earlier this year. High schoolers can earn college credit while exploring teaching as a profession. Randy Evans, the executive director of the Iowa FOI Council, said the authors of Iowas open meetings law recognized the important work journalists do in informing the public about the issues and problems government faces and the potential solutions. The plan adds activity and athletic facilities to help meet the needs of our students, athletes, and community. The majority of our vacancies are filled and have been filled by highly qualified, experienced, and passionate educators, while other districts continue to look to fill many open positions. The facility modernization plan includes additions to the school to address the need for larger classrooms to meet current learning environment standards. As our new administrative team prepares for the upcoming school year, they are dedicated to remaining solution-focused and finding opportunities to improve the Bettendorf Community School District for students, families, and staff, the district said. On an issue as important as school safety, the public deserves to know. Voters will decide whether to approve a general obligation bond for the Bettendorf school district worth $69.25 million. Bettendorf voters to be asked to fund $69M school, Bettendorf school district facilities forum Dec., Find out Bettendorf school facility plans, Community discusses behavior issues at school meeting, The Grinch is getting a sequel, plus other books, Everything you need to know about the Disney California, 13 stylish black tights to wear this winter, Major work planned for Kennedy Expressway, No injuries in fire, $10K in damages estimated, Get tax prep help with WIU-QC and United Way, Partly sunny Tuesday with evening showers, Shigellosis: what is it, how to prevent it, Local Head Starts receive $3M+ in funding, Suspect charged with possession, felon with firearm,, Cody Stones unique features make historic jewelry, Murray leads Hawkeyes past No. The Iowa Legislature's first 'funnel' week of 2022 is over. We are a flagship district serving nearly 4,700. The case is related to the assault last year by a baseball teammate against Nau's son during a return trip to Bettendorf from a Burlington game. He has worked in the Bettendorf Community School District since 1998 in a variety of teaching and administrative positions including: interim associate principal at Mark Twain Elementary and dean of students at Bettendorf High School. Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. If you experience any difficulty in accessing information, please don't . Uhde is currently an associate principal at Bettendorf Middle School. bill prohibiting the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation to students through sixth-grade. Morse, Eastman and the districts lawyer did not immediately respond to messages. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Four eastern Iowa media organizations are joining a nonprofit media rights group in filing a lawsuit against the Bettendorf school board and other officials after they blocked journalists from covering a meeting about school violence that was attended by hundreds of people. She also has a masters of educational instructional leadership from Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa. The student-to-teacher ratio is higher than the state average, at 15:1. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The undersigned petitioners believe that the Superintendent has acted inefficiently, incompetently, and is a detriment to the Bettendorf Community Public School system and we request that she resign or be let go effective immediately, the petition says. The Bettendorf school board voted to provide 69.25 million dollars for renovations to facilities at Bettendorfs Junior High and High Schools Thursday night. Several controversial bills centered on LGBTQ youth have been introduced this legislative session. Heres everything you need to know about The Grinch sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. School information is provided by the government. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Huskey . At the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, you will find a palate-dazzling smorgasbord of cuisines and cocktails in which to indulge. The statewide protest is being led by student groups IowaWTF and Iowa Queer Student Alliance or IowaQSA. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. We looked at what parts of the building that have good bones, Michelle Morse, Superintendent Michelle Morse said of the needed infrastructure improvements. And 79% of high school students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 78% tested at or above that level for math. The complaint names the . Bettendorf Community School District spends $10,463 per student each year. At its Jan. 19 meeting, the Bettendorf School Board approved a resolution ordering an election on the issuance of $69,250,000 in general obligation school bonds. Bettendorf School Board Regular school board meetings are live-streamed on YouTube. We owe the people a lot more than what weve been doing.. Bresnan is currently the middle school dean of students at Cardinal Academy in the Maquoketa Community School District. Restaurante Sabor Catracho opened to hordes of excited customers Feb. 18 in Moline. The lawsuit also asks the court to fine members of the board who took part in the meeting. Here's how key bills fared. There was a problem saving your notification. 3005. Bettendorf Middle School was identified as having the most need due to its aging 1960s infrastructure. The district hosted two question-and-answer sessions this week to. Heres everything you need to know about The Grinch sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. Nau, according to the suit, "requests judgment against defendants in an amount which will fully and fairly compensate him for his injuries and damages, for punitive damages against the individual defendants Blake Hanna, Colin Wikan and Joy Kelly in an amount sufficient to punish the defendants and deter the defendants and others from the same or similar wrongful conduct, court costs, interest as allowed by law, and for such other and further relief as the court deems just and proper.". Student organizers are particularly concerned about bills that would require educators to notify parents and guardians if a student is transgender, as well as a bill prohibiting the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation to students through sixth-grade. The group worked with OPN Architects through an extensive needs assessment of existing facilities, and facility survey feedback from parents and staff. Three teachers who played a role in the event are now suing the district, alleging that the way officials responded and the discipline they received amounted to discrimination and humiliation. Breaking News. Bettendorf Middle School and Bettendorf High School were identified as the greatest need. School employees were stationed at the doors of the Waterfront Center to keep reporters and photographers from entering. 69-year-old suffered stroke in his N.C. home; Realtor showing house left him there. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. You have permission to edit this article. Graphic Waring: This video shows a fight between students at Bettendorf High School on Thursday, May 26, 2022. Teens should limit screen time and caffeinated drinks before bed, experts say. "School board members were listening to public feedback meant to guide policy. . Pyevichs comments came during Thursdays school board meeting and followed numerous comments by parents, teachers and staff about the disciplinary problems within the district, particularly at the middle school. I personally spoke to those people, and they will not return. District officials will be hosting public forums at the junior high and high schools on Feb. 21 and 22, where members of the community can ask questions and provide feedback to school officials. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Pyevich made his comments after listening for more than an hour to parents and educators talk about the disciplinary problems at Bettendorf Middle School and some of the solutions, including a program such as Dads on Duty, where men walk the halls and work with students and maintain discipline at the school. The facility modernization plan includes additions to the school to address the need for larger classrooms to meet current learning environment standards, officials said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bettendorf names associate HS principal as next school, The Grinch is getting a sequel, plus other books, Everything you need to know about the Disney California, 13 stylish black tights to wear this winter, Major work planned for Kennedy Expressway, No injuries in fire, $10K in damages estimated, Get tax prep help with WIU-QC and United Way, Partly sunny Tuesday with evening showers, Shigellosis: what is it, how to prevent it, Local Head Starts receive $3M+ in funding, Suspect charged with possession, felon with firearm,, Cody Stones unique features make historic jewelry, Murray leads Hawkeyes past No. ' gender identity and sexual orientation to students through sixth-grade due to its aging infrastructure. $ 10,463 per student each year group worked with OPN Architects through an extensive needs assessment of existing facilities and... Employees were stationed at the Middle school and high school bus down his shorts, exposing himself as he.. 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