Bargaining in a Time of Uncertainty

Monday night, February 13, the Indianola CSD School Board approved a two-year contract with the Indianola Education Association. The IEA membership had ratified the tentative agreement on Thursday afternoon. The contract is a total package settlement of 1.98%…

What 1.11% SSA Means for Schools

I was asked to write an article on this topic for the paper. Here is a re-run of that: Iowa school finance is complicated, but understanding certain concepts can help one’s overall understanding. I appreciate being asked to…

Resolute

Resolute This time of year, as we usher in a new year, there is inevitably talk of New Year’s resolutions. I know there have been years that I have written resolutions because I believe there is power in…

Understanding School Finance

There is nothing quite like Iowa school finance, and this blog attempts to explain a few key concepts. The goal is to make the complex more understandable, so this blog will not attempt to address every nuance of…

Communication and Relationships

Communication and Relationships I have been fortunate to be an educator since my college graduation in 1988. I have also known the joy of coaching and the fulfillment of ministry during the last three decades. My family is…

The End is the Beginning

It is impossible not to be a little nostalgic during graduation season, Memorial Day weekend, and the last week of school. While we are pushing on to the next thing, we are also looking back fondly. Celebrations and…

On the Run

Wednesday morning, March 30, Emerson Elementary staff and students staged a surprise assembly to congratulate Principal Mark Timmerman on qualifying for the Boston Marathon April 18. Mr. Timmerman, a committed runner, has completed six marathons previously and qualified…

It’s a Small World After All

It’s a Small World After All Emerson Elementary held a very successful and engaging Culture Day on Friday, March 11. Besides student artwork and lots of food and celebration, students had the opportunity to learn from and interact…

Pursuing Goals

Pursuing Goals Indianola Middle School provides one great example of how the school district’s attendance centers identify improvement goals then go about striving to meet those goals. The over-arching goal that emerged from two different Instructional Rounds visits…

State of the District

The new year provides many opportunities to celebrate the good things happening in the Indianola Community School District. I will provide a brief overview in several significant areas although this is by no means an exhaustive discussion in…

Appreciation is Like Oxygen

November 16-20, 2015, marks another American Education Week, an opportunity to celebrate and thank people who work and volunteer in American public schools. As American students headed back to school this fall, over 50 million were enrolled at…