T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS Marshalltown Schools officials hope to see more security measures like this entryway camera and access system put in place with a new list of proposed projects.

Residents in the Marshalltown Community School District will have another matter to consider on the Nov. 5 election ballot, and that decision may impact district plans to up security measures.

The school board voted unanimously to set an election for an updated revenue purpose statement on how the district plans to use Secure and Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) 1-cent sales tax extended by state lawmakers earlier this year.

“Back in 2011 … your constituents passed a revenue purpose statement,” said district Director of Finance Paulette Newbold. “Due to the changes and the extension, we have the opportunity and need to do a new revenue purpose statement that will go beyond the current 2029 RPS that’s in place.”

Along with the various local government seats and a community college district bond issue, voters in the district will decide if they want to allow Marshalltown Schools to use SAVE funding collected by the state to pay for infrastructure projects, including security upgrades.

In order to pass, the revenue purpose statement must get at least 50 percent voter approval.

If the measure does not pass, the existing statement passed in 2011 will remain in effect. Newbold said it is important to get the new statement passed to reflect the extension to SAVE at the state level.

“School safety is at the forefront of a lot of conversations, so that language is in there,” she said.

Security measures

The school board also approved the buildings and grounds department to go out for bid on cameras, card access technology and improved entryway security, among other security measures.

“We are looking at enhancing existing security measures at our schools and putting security measures in place that actually don’t exist at some of the schools,” said Buildings and Grounds Director Chuck Springer.

He used the idea of an array of 270-degree facing security cameras atop Woodbury Elementary School as an example. Springer also said entryways would have another layer of security.

“The front doors will be locked and there will be an access card for teachers … there would be an access card for anybody who would need to come into that building,” he said.

Those wanting to access a building without such card access would be recorded on camera and a secretary would allow or not allow someone to enter.

Springer said a similar system already exists in district buildings, though only for the second set of doors rather than the doors leading directly out of the building.

Board member Mike Miller asked if Springer had an idea about the cost of all the new measures. An exact estimate will not be known until bids are made for the work, but Springer said he “would feel pretty good if it came in under $450,000.”

Superintendent Theron Schutte said he supports the security initiative.

“I’m very excited about the potential to get the cameras on the exterior of the schools. We’ve had issues with vandalism at some of the elementary schools over the years,” he said. “It’d just be nice to be able to address some of that so we can hopefully get it to stop.”

Over the last few summer months, Springer said windows were broken at Rogers and Hoglan elementary schools, for example.

A public hearing on the plans, specifications and form of contract for the proposed security projects is set for 5 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Central Administration Office, 1002 S. Third Ave, the same time and location as the next school board meeting.

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Contact Adam Sodders at

641-753-6611 or

asodders@timesrepublican.com