House Study Bill 542

Dear Indianola CSD Community, I am writing to address the potential impact of Governor Reynolds’ proposed House Study Bill 542 (HSB 542) on Area Education Agencies (AEAs) and our schools. This legislation has the potential to significantly affect…

Winter Weather

December 2022 Dear Families of Indianola Community Schools Students, Winter season is rapidly approaching. The school district understands that the decision we make to have school open or closed has a big effect on families. The district must…

Superintendent’s Welcome

Hello Indianola Community School District,  My name is Ted Ihns and I have the honor of serving as the new Superintendent of the Indianola Community School District. Prior to becoming the Superintendent at Indianola, I served in the…

Making Weather Calls

I love Iowa, and fall is probably my favorite season. We have had beautiful fall weather this year! I’m hearing flurries in the forecast for Friday, though, so this is a good time to offer a refresher on…

A Summer Reverie

A Summer Reverie  Typically, there is time in the summer to catch up, reflect on the past school year, and make preparations for the next school year. There is an established rhythm to things and time to catch…

Next Level Thankfulness

Next Level Thankfulness   Giving thanks shouldn’t just be about what we are given or how things are going for us. I write this fully understanding that I have much more than I need and have many tangible…

Snow, Squalls, and Weather Calls

  Snow, Squalls, and Weather Calls The recent snow over the weekend was a good reminder that it is time to share some communication about snow days! The superintendent, in consultation with the transportation director, will make school…

Lessons from the Pandemic

Lessons from the Pandemic   As I am writing this blog, Warren County’s fourteen-day positivity rate is 6.6%, and Indianola CSD has been able to be fairly successful with face-to-face learning for over 85% of our students in…

Certainty in Uncertain Times

Certainty in Uncertain Times   A book I read once described modern life as “permanent white water.” The only white water rafting I’ve done was on a pretty tame stretch of river in Colorado with my family many…

Life Lessons

I was fortunate enough this morning to stop into an American literature class where students were putting the finishing touches on their own “TED talks” to present as a semester project. TED, briefly, is a nonprofit group that…

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is on my mind a lot, more as a practice than a holiday, although it is a pretty awesome holiday. I enjoy all of the observances that have come to be associated with Thanksgiving except Black Friday…