Exciting News for the Shenandoah Community School District

At tonight’s meeting, the Board accepted a restructuring plan that included several recommendations that I am excited to share with you now. I am pleased to announce that the board approved appointing Mr. Burdorf as the Director of Communications effective the 25-26 school year.  

In this role, he will: 

• Develop and implement a proactive communications plan. 
• Oversee all district communications and branding. 
• Enhance engagement through traditional and digital media. 
• Collaborate with the superintendent and staff on key communication initiatives. 
• Promote and publicize school events and achievements. 
• Support grant writing and manage the communications budget. 
• Represent the district at community events and employment fairs. 
• Representing the district in community visioning initiatives  

 

This role is pivotal in enhancing our district's outreach and engagement with all stakeholders. We are confident that Mr. Burdorf's leadership and expertise will benefit our district, fostering stronger connections. Please join us in congratulating Mr. Burdorf on his new role.  

 

While Mr. Burdorf will not step into this role until July 1, it is important that the decision and announcement is made now so we can recruit and hire a new principal for the middle school.  That search will begin now the position has been board approved. 

 

Additionally, the board restructured the Director of Student Services into two separate roles including an Early Childhood Coordinator and a Special Education Director. This change aims to provide more intensive support for both programs which will positively impact our students and families. 

 

I am equally pleased to share the board has approved hiring a Positive Supports and Bullying Prevention Coordinator. This new role will be instrumental in: 

• Educating students using anti-bullying, intimidation, and harassment curriculums. 
• Implementing intervention strategies. 
• Investigating filed complaints. 

This position will play a crucial part in fostering a safe and supportive environment for all our students. 

Each of the positions will add value and contribute to the district's success. I fully anticipate positive outcomes and results for the students, staff, and community that are all a part of the district.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

December Board Matters

Each December, the Board of Education reorganizes by electing officers and makes annual appointments. Jean Fichter was reelected as Board President. She has served in this role for a number of years. I appreciate her willingness to continue to serve on the Board and in this position; she has provided strong leadership. Clint Wooten was nominated and elected as the Board Vice President.  Adam Van Der Vliet had previously served in this role. He continues to serve as a Director on the Board. Mr. Van Der Vliet nominated Mr. Wooten for this position, demonstrating an amicable transition of position. Additionally, Jean Fichter was appointed to represent the Board on the Page County Conference Board and Brent Twyman was appointed to represent the School Board on the Fremont County Conference Board.

The auditorium seating replacement project will begin to move forward as the Board approved the agreement with Ducharme for $168,485. The Shenandoah Iowa Education Foundation committed to fund $100,000 towards the cost of project. The donation will make a significant contribution. I am looking forward to seeing this work completed in the late spring.

The Board agreed to purchase Chromebooks and iPads to accommodate the growth in the IGNITE program and to support the kindergarten classrooms. The new devices will be a welcomed addition and surely enhance student learning.

Next week, on Monday, November 16th, the Board will meet again in a work session to discuss the direction of the JK-8 roofing and HVAC projects. They have had robust conversations about the pending construction, I anticipate good things coming as a result of their efforts.

I enjoy working with the Board. The Directors collaborate well and demonstrate solid decision making. I commend them for their efforts to guide the district.

 

District Remains Neutral

Last week, I attended part of the Page County Supervisors meeting via Zoom. During the meeting, they discussed and approved the settlement with the Shenandoah Hills Wind Energy Center. The settlement was a topic of hot debate but ultimately passed with a 2 to 1 vote. I recommend speaking directly with the County Supervisors or reading the KMA article for a detailed understanding of the rationale behind the decision. In summary, the settlement was largely influenced by the expectation that the county would lose the ongoing lawsuit, which their legal counsel advised could result in a significant liability. 

There are diverse opinions regarding the aesthetics​, environmental impacts, and many other factors regarding wind turbines. Our primary focus is on serving our students and community. While the district could potentially receive tax revenues from the Shenandoah Hill Wind Energy project, these funds have not yet been realized, and the project's progression is subject to many factors. Additionally, it is important to clarify that the district remains neutral in the ongoing debate surrounding wind turbines. 

I will continue to keep you informed as developments occur which directly impact the school district.

I Wish You Well!

As we approach the next few months, we are surrounded by many religious, non-religious, and cultural holidays, and I want to extend the warmest greetings and thoughts to each of you! Celebrating the holidays and the season has created the opportunity to further develop relationships and memories with family and friends that last far beyond today. 

Whether it is reading a book to a child, playing a board game, having a great conversation, volunteering together, or  taking time to enjoy a meal together, these activities add to the richness of the celebrations and experiences. Taking time to journal or make a list of things you are grateful for is also a great way to shift your mindset. We all have reasons to be appreciative of this season.   

Sometimes, the stress of planning for all the details can get in the way,  so I hope you will take some time to avoid the busyness, let go of the need for perfectionism, and simply enjoy the holidays and be present in the moment. Look around, find ways to engage, and reach out to others who may be trying to find some joy in the season. No one experiences the holidays in the same way, and they do not need to be a Hallmark moment to be worth celebrating! 

I wish you well this Holiday season!

Working Toward a Common Vision

Leadership requires the ability to collaborate and work together, even when there are challenges present. That is why creating opportunities for team building within the leadership team is critical. It not only helps us understand how each other thinks, processes information, and solves problems, but it helps us achieve our goals. It increases trust, opens lines of communication, and establishes an environment where people can openly exchange thoughts, receive feedback, and be more creative. In the end, team building results in a stronger shared vision of the school learning community and what needs to be done to benefit our students and staff. This emphasis on our school's vision through team building is what inspires and motivates us all. 

Our leadership team consistently meets to discuss progress toward goals, problem-solve solutions to concerns, and celebrate “wins.”  We also engage in different types of activities, such as completing small group challenges or even a fun, friendly competition.  

 

Andrew Carnegie stated “Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”  The conversations and activities take time, but they create an environment where we can accept each other's feedback and strengthen our professional relationships. Ultimately, it leads to the type of team dynamics we desire and value and strengthens the district’s overall performance. It is time well invested. 

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.