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!