A New Era in Education: Shenandoah’s IGNITE Program Leads to Enrollment Increase

Shenandoah Community School District has experienced tremendous enrollment growth. Over the past three years, enrollment increased by 13.93%. This growth can be largely attributed to the expansion of the IGNITE Online and Personalized Learning School, which allows students to attend school virtually and maximize work-based learning opportunities. The online school started as a response to retaining students in a post-COVID environment and bolstering the District's alternative education. Today, it serves students in 33 districts in Iowa and has an enrollment of over 230 students.

There are many stories of students' success, such as Mandi, who enrolled in IGNITE to increase her flexibility. She graduated early, enrolled in Northwest Missouri State, and is now employed full-time in the District's early childhood program. Tyson was able to attend IGNITE but also earned his associate's degree from IWCC and received training in cyber security. He also completed an internship in the District's IT Department, allowing him to learn and apply his skills. There are also stories of students who had dropped out of school, returned, and completed their High School Diploma just before becoming ineligible due to their age. It has been rewarding to see the students demonstrate their capabilities, earn their diplomas, and meet the goals they set for themselves.  Lelynn, a student who returned to school, shared in her student spotlight that "traditional school was just not working for me."  The good news is that IGNITE is meeting her learning needs today.

It is fantastic to see the growth, but there are challenges associated. We ask ourselves daily how we can ensure that the work we are doing and the instruction we are providing is highly reliable, effective and robust. It has caused us to seek feedback from students, staff, and other stakeholders, knowing that if we do this, we will become stronger and serve our students better.  As a result, we are increasing our instructional staff and adding a new Online Enrollment and Student Support Specialist to ensure we engage our online students and meet their needs.

While IGNITE has made a sizable contribution, the District has also reduced the number of students who are open enrolled out of the District by 2.95% this year. This is a positive indicator of the work that is being done in several areas across the District. 

I recently read a brief article, Education is Having a Netflix Moment, by CheeTung Leong. The main point of the article was that "public education can no longer be educators of last resort, or risk going the way of Blockbuster."  Public education needs to carefully consider whether or not our current systems are effective and if they remain relevant. There are many alternatives to public education; we mustn't underestimate the present options. IGNITE is different, and it may not be the perfect answer to meet the needs of all students, but the data would suggest it is worth continuing to invest in the school.

Conversatons with the Board

Our leadership team attended the Fall Leadership Dinner at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. It was an excellent experience and an opportunity to further develop our leadership team's capacity. Stephen Mackey, Co-Author of The Locker Room: How Great Teams Heal, Hurt, Overcome Adversity and Build Unity, spoke on the Six Pillars of Championship Character—Toughness, Integrity, Belief, Excellence, Effort, and Service. He challenged us to continue to build and develop a culture of character. It was great to have our entire team present to learn together and further our working relationship. I am grateful to have team members committed to this type of work.

At the Board meeting this week, members thoroughly discussed and approved policies related to chronic absenteeism and truancy. These decisions are particularly important given the current public debate about the changes in the law. The Board and leadership team firmly believe it is appropriate to expect students to attend school regularly, but some differences between past and current practices are important to communicate. The changes will result in less discretionary decision-making on the part of the principal.

There are now six types of absences that are exempt from the definition of chronic absenteeism and truancy.

Exemptions include students who:

• completed graduation requirements or attained a GED

• excused for sufficient reason by any court or record or judge;

• attend religious services or receive religious instruction;

• unable to attend school due to legitimate medical reasons;

• have an IEP that affects attendance; or

• have a 504 plan that affects attendance.

Here are some examples of exempt and non-exempt absences.

*Local2 means the district has discretion. For example, a doctor's note may be considered valid evidence for an excused absence.

It's important to note that these scenarios and definitions are not district-specific and will be used by all schools in Iowa. The information described is substantial and involves change. We understand this and are committed to transparency. The changes in the Parent/Student Handbook will reflect this information. I want to stress the importance of communicating with your student's building principal about any planned absences. This proactive approach is critical in preventing concerns about chronic absenteeism and truancy. Our goal is to work with your family to avoid the need for legal action, and we are confident that with your cooperation, we can achieve this.

As We End the School Year

It has been an exciting few weeks at Shenandoah Community School District. Our students performed exceptionally well in state athletic events, and it was fun to see the buzz of text messages on my cell phone. It was also a delightful and rewarding moment to congratulate the graduating class of 2024. They are a fine group of students who I am confident will make great contributions. I am looking forward to hearing about their successes.

Mr. Weinrich, our Activities Director, has proposed the idea of unifying our school under a single mascot to the School Board. This would mean that the district would adopt “Mustangs” as the official mascot, replacing the current use of “Mustangs” and “Fillies”. One of the key points he highlighted in his presentation was that we are one of 13 schools in the state that continues to use two mascots. He also emphasized the importance of honoring our past traditions while looking toward a unified future. You can view this proposal in detail here. The Board has not voted on this recommendation. They requested more feedback from the high school students and will fully consider the proposed change.

We are reviewing several changes in the Iowa Code and considering how best to implement them. One change is the new literacy law that requires schools to use the Science of Reading instructional practices.I want to assure you we are actively preparing to make this change. Our district aligns fairly closely with the Science of Reading, but we will need to make some adjustments. To support our staff in making these changes, we are sending a team of teachers to the Science of Reading conference this summer. We will also engage our PK -6 grade teachers in LETRS training provided by the Department of Education.

It has been a great school year. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with wonderful students, staff, and families. I encourage you to take advantage of the summer activities that are available for students. They are a fantastic way to keep students engaged in safe and healthy activities and have some fun, too!

Positive Highlights this Spring

The District has made some changes to its administrative duties in anticipation of the next school year. Mr. Burdorf, the current principal of the JK-8, will be the Middle School principal; similarly, Mr. Newberg, the current JK-8 Assistant Principal, will become the elementary principal. While they will each have some different responsibilities, they have led the school together for several years. The announcement was well received by the staff. Their collaborative experience, along with their knowledge of the students, families, and staff, will lead to a smooth transition in leadership.

You may have noted on KMA that Skip Eckhardt has been hired as our new head football coach and High School Physical Education teacher. He has a long history of success on the football field, developing teams and leading them to the playoffs and beyond. He has also been a Talented and Gifted Teacher and Physical Education teacher. He also teaches coaching classes at the University of Northern Iowa. I have had the opportunity to visit with Mr. Eckhardt in formal and informal settings. He is passionate about youth and believes in their potential, growth, and capacity to become strong athletes and good citizens. I am excited to have him join our staff and become part of our learning community.

I mentioned a few months ago the anticipated increase in minimum teacher salaries, which the Iowa Code now requires. While it has been difficult to implement and fund the changes, I am very pleased that the Board negotiations team could work with the Shenandoah Education Association to agree on how to implement the new minimums and consider how best to support our unaffected staff. I believe that it was good and right to engage in this work.

At their banquet this year, the Shenandoah Iowa Education Foundation honored seven members of our staff. Dustin Comstock, Brenda Hargis, Teresa Hughes, Pam Nebel, and Grant Staats each received the Spirit Award, nominated by their peers for their positive contribution to the culture and climate of our schools. Jenny Stephens and Jennifer Housman were also recognized for serving 25 years in public education. It was great to see our staff members honored; each deserves recognition.

The Shenandoah Iowa Education Foundation recently committed to funding new seating in the High School auditorium and continues to fund extended learning opportunities for our students. They recently provided grant funding to bring Omaha Street Percussion to our schools, which was a fantastic learning experience for our students and a lot of fun. As my daughter said, "I was dancing!"  Learning can and should be a joyful experience. I am thankful for the Shenandoah Iowa Education Foundation's support in providing opportunities for our students.

Emerging Leaders

Tyson Ratliff

Focusing on school culture and climate and building relationships is critical. Staff members who feel supported are more inclined to establish themselves and become engaged in creating a dynamic system. One way to offer this support is to provide avenues for staff to grow and emerge as leaders and take a larger role in the organization. Our teacher leadership model is an essential part of how we can further develop and engage our staff.

It was very rewarding to see Tyson Ratliff appointed as the High School principal tonight because he has invested a lot of time and effort into making Shenandoah High School and our community a great place. He has been part of our teacher leadership team and has demonstrated his strengths..

Mr. Ratliff has been a physical education teacher in our district since 2013, and before that, he taught in Tarkio for three years. He has actively participated in our teaching and learning leadership committee and served as a mentor teacher. As a result, he has had the opportunity to observe classrooms, provide feedback to his peers on instructional practices and classroom management, and take part in the development and implementation of the MTSS intervention model. He has also been involved in district-wide conversations about curriculum development, instructional practices, and professional development. Additionally, he has coached multiple sports. 

Mr. Ratliff holds multiple degrees, including a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education, a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Peru State, and an Educational Administration degree from Northwest Missouri State. He is passionate about teaching and learning and is committed to advancing our school activities and athletics. I have full confidence that Mr. Ratliff will provide strong leadership for our high school and continue to be a great member of our community.

Now that the Snow has Melted

I have talked to each of you quite a bit this month with all of the announcements about school cancellations and weather decisions. However, now that the snow has melted and the sun is shining, it has prompted me to take down my snowman wreath and be more interested in writing about better topics.  

Legislative discussions regarding increasing teacher base pay currently have my full attention. Increasing teacher salaries and proposed changes to the AEA are coupled in the same bill, making it a more difficult conversation. I support the teacher salary part of the legislation if it is fully funded by the State, and I would note our district has made notable progress in increasing base pay for our teachers over the last several years. Increasing base pay for teachers is important because it helps districts attract new teachers and retain them once they enter the field of education. The way it is structured may cause districts to potentially need to rethink existing salary schedules that have been in existence for several decades. It may even be a bit of a challenge to accomplish. However, I am up for the challenge and would embrace the opportunity to work with the board and collective bargaining to find a reasonable and well-thought-out solution.

Speaking of teachers, I am very pleased we have been able to start to offer contracts to staff for next school year. We will be welcoming home Logan Hughes, a Shenandoah High School Alumn to teach Health and PE,  and Amy Smith is joining us from Osceola, Iowa, to teach Special Education. It is a good place to be to start off the hiring season.

I was very pleased to read Mr. Burdorf's update this week. If you haven't read it yet, I think you should look through your email to find it. It included some of the preliminary FAST results. It is more than exciting to see the notable progress in the percentage of students who are proficient and are reaching their growth goal in reading. The students and staff are doing very good work, and they should be commended.

December Board Matters

The recent election resulted in two new members joining the school district's Board of Directors. Glenn Mason and Brent Twyman were officially elected and seated at the Board meeting held on Dec 11, 2023. I am pleased they have joined the Board and look forward to collaborating with them as part of the team. Jean Fichter was reelected as the Board President. Adam Van Der Vliet was reelected as the Vice President. Mrs. Fichter and Mr. Van Der Vliet have served in these roles before; I am confident they will continue providing strong leadership.

One of the items on the consent agenda was to approve the receipt of a grant for $25,000 from the May Family Foundation. The grant aims to increase access to daycare and provide mentoring support for young parents and caregivers. The District submitted this grant in full collaboration with the M.A.Y. Mentoring program, IGNITE, and our preschool program. I am most pleased with the cooperation between the programs and the intent of reducing duplication of services. I fully anticipate using the grant funds will result in positive outcomes for our students and their families.

Setting and guiding the development of policy is one of the primary functions of the Board. Currently, they are working on a policy required for Disciplining Students Who Make Threats of Violence and the supporting regulation. This is a newer policy that is required by the 2023 Iowa Acts, chapter 96 (House File 604), which Governor Reynolds signed in May of 2023. Additionally, they are finalizing a revision to Board Policy 705.01-R(2) - Purchasing – Bidding – Using Federal Funds in Procurement Contracts.

Starting in January, the Board will consider a new series of policies to review so that we can stay current with our policy revisions. Additionally, they will expand their focus to develop new priorities and goals for the upcoming year. I am looking forward to these conversations and being part of the work that will be done. It is typically rewarding to take part in the process and experience.

Winter break is just around the corner! I hope you enjoy celebrating the holidays and can connect with family and friends you hold dear. It is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the gift of time to rest, relax, and rejuvenate. I will look forward to reconnecting with you in 2024!