Keep Your School & Community Strong - Do Business Locally!!!

A community that has a variety of thriving businesses is a more attractive place to live. Many people prefer to live where they have easy access to various entertainment options, access to the services they need, and the opportunity to purchase necessary items such as groceries, clothing, and hardware without having to drive a long distance. When you choose to do business locally in the communities of Gladbrook, Morrison, Reinbeck, and Lincoln rather than spending your dollars outside of the school district, you help to make your community stronger by keeping your dollars local and by helping to keep those businesses open. A thriving business community results in greater job opportunities and makes the community a more attractive one in which to live, which could result in increased population and greater enrollment in the local schools. 

The Christmas shopping season is here. This is a great time to think about doing more of your business right here in the communities of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck school district. Shopping locally doesn’t need to be confined to a particular “season” though -- your community can benefit from your support year-round, and you will personally benefit, too. 

The Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District is so fortunate to have a multitude of options for doing business locally! Right here in your school district there are great businesses where you can purchase hardware items, groceries, apparel, furniture, gift items, agricultural supplies, farm implements, lawn mowers, pharmaceuticals and personal care items, tires and auto parts, floral arrangements, needlework supplies, specialty food and beverage products, and much more.

There are numerous great local options for banking, insurance, medical and dental services, accountants, photographers, realtors, legal services, auctioneering, agricultural services, plumbing and electrical contractors, veterinary services, beautician/barber services, construction services, and automotive services. Other local services in Gladbrook, Reinbeck, Lincoln, and Morrison include an amazing theater, a bowling alley, great local libraries, awesome museums, a country club, two swimming pools (including an indoor pool), fitness centers, two full-service grocery stores, a lumberyard, and more. There are also some wonderful dining options in Morrison, Gladbrook, and Reinbeck, so consider spending your next night “out-on-the-town” in your own community rather than driving to Waterloo or Marshalltown. Gift certificates to the local restaurants also make great stocking stuffers!

Here are some reasons why you should consider doing business locally whenever possible:

1.     Better customer service. When you run into a problem, you’re more likely to receive a satisfactory resolution from a local business owner than from a big-box chain. That’s because you probably know the people in charge at a local store.

2.     Stimulation of the local economy. When you shop at locally owned stores, the money you spend stays in the community. And local businesses are more likely to purchase from other local businesses, so the local tax base grows and so do local businesses. A stronger tax base means improved schools, better roads and greater support for local police and fire departments.

3.     Job creation. Small businesses are big employers. With jobs being created where you live, your friends, neighbors and family can find jobs closer to home. That has a huge impact on family, community and the environment because it keeps money in the community (see No. 1) and cuts back on commutes. It may also result in increased enrollment for your local school district.

4.     Better consumer choices. The more choices you have, the better the deals you can find. Small businesses encourage competition in the marketplace in a way that mega-corporations just can’t. Many people don’t shop locally because they think they can’t buy the things they need in a local store. Not true! Small business owners are more than willing to carry and stock special items.

5.     Greater non-profit support. Local businesses tend to donate more to local schools and non-profit organizations. This directly benefits your friends, family and neighbors.

6.     Your bottom line. Because local businesses help grow the economic base of the community, the dollars you spend have the ripple effect. That money will eventually find its way back to you.

You don’t have to shop locally every time to make an impact. Just getting in the mindset of doing business locally FIRST is all it takes to start improving your community and your school.

If you aren’t able to find what you need within the G-R district, just ask!  Perhaps a local merchant would consider adding a certain brand name, product, or service if they know there is a demand…and special orders may be possible in some circumstances.  As a second option when you can’t find what you need locally, you might consider branching out into other small towns in our area before making the trip to Waterloo/Cedar Falls or Marshalltown. The G-R school district is surrounded by some great smaller communities like Tama, Toledo, Traer, Garwin, Green Mountain, Beaman, Conrad, Grundy Center, Dike, and Hudson – these towns may have just what you’re looking for, and you’ll get many of the same advantages as you do when supporting our local businesses. 

I hope you have enjoyed the columns that I have submitted to the Northern Sun Print and Reinbeck Courier over the past few months. These columns as well as my blog and Twitter postings are part of my plan for open communication with the community. As a part-time superintendent that also has duties in another school district, I believe that open and clear communication is more important than ever before. If you’ve missed any of my columns or would like to re-read or share them with your friends and family, you are welcome to visit my blog at https://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/ where they are all posted. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter (@DavidRobertHill) where I will occasionally post updates or other information not found on the blog. Enjoy the holiday season!   

This blog post has been submitted for publication in the Northern Sun Print and the Reinbeck Courier.

Are You Prepared for Winter Weather?

We’ve been blessed with reasonably good weather conditions since the school year started in August. Yes, there have been some foggy mornings where I’ve been up at 4:00 or 4:30 a.m. to make a safety assessment, but fortunately these instances didn’t require a change of schedule and the safest decision was to proceed with a regular day of school.

As I write this column, Gladbrook-Reinbeck students haven’t missed a single hour of their learning time due to weather-related delays, early dismissals, or cancellations. Did you notice that I started that last sentence with the words, “As I write this column…”? As we all know, Iowa weather can be unpredictable so I thought it would be best to include that clause in my statement. 

While we do make it a priority to protect instructional time whenever possible, safety simply must come first.  There are times when changing our schedule at the last minute is simply the right thing to do for the safety of all.  Our school district is responsible for transporting hundreds of young people every day. We need to consider the safety of everyone concerned when making the decisions about school cancellations, delays, or early dismissals. 

As a child, I remember the anticipation and excitement when there was an approaching winter storm – hoping and wishing that maybe school would be canceled.  Don’t get me wrong – I absolutely loved school – but what child doesn’t enjoy an occasional surprise day off along with a chance to play in the snow? I recall sitting in front of the TV in the early morning on those wintery days, hoping my school’s name would appear among the list of schools having a delay or cancellation.

With modern technologies, we no longer need to sit by the TV or radio to know if school has been canceled or delayed. In previous years, many district patrons have subscribed to text alerts from KWWL Channel 7 or KCRG Channel 9 for this purpose.  In case you missed the announcements from these stations, KWWL & KCRG NO LONGER OFFER THIS SERVICE.  So, you will no longer receive texts from these TV stations and will need to find a new way to receive notifications. 

We will still submit this information to area media outlets to be broadcast on-screen and in radio announcements; however, the school has no control over how long it takes for our information to be posted on TV or announced on the radio. For those of you who prefer real-time notifications that are sent directly to you, Gladbrook-Reinbeck utilizes a system called IOWA SCHOOL ALERTS to send an instant text message or email when a decision needs to be announced. Iowa School Alerts is available to anyone who may be interested, whether or not they have children in school. 

Some of you may have subscribed to Iowa School Alerts in previous years, but there has been a change in the system which requires everyone to re-subscribe. I certainly wish this wasn’t the case, but it is beyond our control. The state of Iowa changed to a different service provider over the summer months, and all previous subscriptions were lost.  The link to subscribe is http://tinyurl.com/GR-Notifications and it only takes a minute to sign up.

While I’m not very accurate at predicting the weather, one thing we can all be sure of is that winter is approaching!  Be sure to get signed up for Iowa School Alerts today so you don’t miss out on an important announcement.

I have enjoyed the positive feedback that I’ve received on my columns in the Northern Sun Print and Reinbeck Courier since becoming your superintendent in July. This is my sixth column published to date, and there will be more in the coming months. My goal is to publish one or two columns per month. These columns, along with my blog and Twitter postings, are part of my plan for open communication with the community. If you’ve missed any of my columns or would like to re-read or share them with your friends and family, you are welcome to visit my blog at https://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/ where they are all posted. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter (@DavidRobertHill) where I will occasionally post updates or other information not found on the blog. 

This blog post has been submitted for publication in the Northern Sun Print and the Reinbeck Courier.

Let’s Demand Equal Opportunity for ALL Iowa Students!!!

Election day is just around the corner. While the presidential race seems to get most of the media attention, don’t forget there are other candidates on the ballot who seek your vote and the opportunity to represent you on a more local level.

On November 8, Iowans will have the opportunity to cast a vote for one of the candidates hoping to serve as their state representative. Many state senate seats are also up for election. Many people don’t realize the importance of these Iowa House and Senate seats. In many ways, the decisions made by the IOWA legislature have a greater effect on our daily lives than do the votes of our U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators. 

Speaking as a superintendent, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to make an endorsement or suggest that district patrons cast their votes in a certain way. However, I will say this:

If education is important to you –

If local schools are important to you –

If the young people in our communities are important to you –

And if the future of Iowa is important to you –

…then I encourage you to visit with the candidates about educational issues and make sure you know where they stand (and that THEY know where YOU stand) in terms of support for our students and our schools.

Legislators often hear from school superintendents, administrators, teachers, and school board members. After a while, they likely get tired of hearing from those of us in the educational community. The legislature and the candidates need to hear from parents, community members, and local business owners that our schools are valued and a vital part of our communities!

We hear a lot about equity and equal educational opportunity these days. I think it is generally agreed upon that regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender, etc., our students deserve equal opportunities in our schools. Yet, there are inequities in the ways that Iowa’s schools are funded which have led to our students having unequal educational opportunities. In the following paragraphs, I’ll explain two such inequities: The inequity in per-student funding and the differences in funding available to spend on student learning due to district population density. 

INEQUITY IN PER-STUDENT FUNDING

Iowa’s school funding formula has built-in inequities that impact districts and the students they serve. Since the 1970’s when the current school funding formula was established, Gladbrook-Reinbeck has been allowed a lower amount of per-student funding than some districts, and a higher amount of per-student funding than some other districts, year after year. This isn’t something that our school board can control – the value was set by the state many years ago.

To compare G-R with one area district, let’s look at Hudson. Hudson’s allowed “District Cost Per Pupil” has given that district access to $75 per student per year more than G-R, every year since the 70’s. While $75 may not seem like a lot, that number multiplied by the district’s annual enrollment (and then multiplied by the 40+ years that this inequity has existed) amounts to well over 1.5 million dollars! 

Across the state, there is a $175 range in basic per-student funding that exists just because “it has always been that way.” This means many districts have less to invest in each student from day one. Please ask the candidates to explain their feelings on this issue, and ask them to end this inequity immediately if they are elected. If you refer to it as the “$175 per student difference in District Cost Per Pupil,” they’ll know what you’re talking about. Remind them that ALL of Iowa’s students – regardless of where they live – are important assets for our future!

INEQUITY DUE TO POPULATION DENSITY: 

Districts serving a large rural area must spend more on transportation; therefore, they have less to spend on classroom instruction. Districts such as West Burlington (Land Area: 2 Square Miles) and Marion (Total Land Area: 3.6 Square Miles) have very few students who even qualify daily for bussing. These districts spend virtually nothing on transportation compared to larger rural districts like Gladbrook-Reinbeck (Land Area: 189 Square Miles).

In some urban and suburban districts, a bus can have enough stops in three or four miles to be filled to capacity, while in some rural districts a bus can travel three or four miles and only stop for the occasional stop sign. Yet, many rural districts are unable to reduce the number of bus routes due to state laws limiting the amount of time students can spend on the bus.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s students deserve equal educational opportunities, yet districts like ours are forced to spend a higher percentage of our available funds on transportation leaving less money to provide these opportunities. Consider asking your legislative candidates their feelings about this transportation equity issue. I believe the Iowa legislature should be asked to provide an additional funding stream for transportation or use a formula based on population density when determining Supplemental State Aid.

Our rural students represent the future of Iowa. No matter where they live, they deserve equal access to a top-notch education! Each and every student deserves a quality education regardless of whether they live in one of Iowa’s large metro areas, a growing suburb, or in a rural area that may be losing population. Your advocacy is more important now than ever before. An election is a great opportunity to talk face to face with those who seek to represent you, to find out where they stand on the issues, and to express your feelings to the candidates.

I’m sure there are other issues – many of them unrelated to education – that are also important to you. I encourage you to exercise your rights as a citizen by visiting with the candidates and finding out where they truly stand on the issues that matter most to you. And then…by all means…go out on November 8 and VOTE! 

You are welcome to visit my blog at http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/ where this column and all of the columns I have written for the Northern Sun Print and Reinbeck Courier are posted. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is @DavidRobertHill. 

This blog post has been submitted for publication in the Northern Sun Print and the Reinbeck Courier.

Getting Our Kids to School Safely is EVERYONE’S Business

This blog post has been submitted for publication in the Northern Sun Print and the Reinbeck Courier.

Because the week of October 17 is National School Bus Safety Week, I want to share some information about Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s efforts to provide safe transportation for all students. The Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District is proud to offer a safe and free system of school bus transportation to all students residing within in the towns of Gladbrook, Lincoln, and Morrison as well as the district’s rural areas.

G-R’s buses are equipped with all of the required safety equipment (crossing arms, retracting stop signs, strobe lights, and flashing stop lights) and are regularly inspected by the Iowa Department of Transportation to ensure student safety. Our drivers must meet all state requirements for transporting students including proper licensure, continuing education, and random drug screenings.

Statistically, riding a “big yellow bus” is the safest way for students to travel to and from school and school activities. However, riding the bus does have its risks even with all of the safeguards that are in place.

Many of our G-R students who live closest to our attendance centers are not eligible for bus transportation and must walk, ride their bikes, or catch a ride to school.  Walking and bicycling to school also come with inherent risks.    

We at G-R take our obligation to provide safe student transportation very seriously. Getting our students to and from school safely each day is serious business, and EVERYONE in our communities can play a role in keeping our children safe. 

While the National School Bus Safety week focuses specifically on bus safety, I think it also gives us a good opportunity to review some things that EVERYONE in our communities can do to help keep our students safe as they travel to and from school, regardless of their mode of travel.  Here are some things to consider.

SHARING THE ROAD WITH YOUNG PEDESTRIANS

According to research by the National Safety Council, most of the children who lose their lives in accidents on the way to school are 4 to 7 years old, and they're walking. Remember, children this young don’t always follow the rules and they don’t always understand who has the “right of way” in various situations. Here are a few precautions motorists take to keep kids safe:

WATCH YOUR SPEED.  When you are in a hurry, posted speed limits can seem like an unnecessary annoyance; however, they are designed for the safety and protection of pedestrians and motorists alike. The number one thing motorists can do to avoid an accident is to keep their speed down. 

KEEP THE PATH CLEAR. Don't block crosswalks when stopped at an intersection, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic.

WAIT TO PASS. Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians or stopped to drop off/pick up students.

THINK BEFORE YOU HONK. Don't honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian or “make a point” with a student, even if they aren’t following the rules of the road. You may cause a distraction that actually causes an accident.

YIELD THE WAY. Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas. Even in cases where you may have the right of way, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing at crosswalks, intersections, or even those who may be inappropriately crossing in the middle of the street.

SHARING THE ROAD WITH SCHOOL BUSES

If you're following a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. It will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing. Passing a school bus that is stopped to load or unload students is illegal, and the fines assessed for this infraction are VERY hefty. Here are a few other suggestions for motorists that can help to avoid a tragedy:

WATCH FOR LIGHTS. If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop. Never pass a bus if it is stopped to load or unload children.

GIVE THEM SPACE. The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus.

BE AWARE OF DELAYS & CHANGES. Even if you don’t have kids in school, it’s a great idea to watch one of the local TV stations to know when school is delayed or releasing early due to fog, snow, or ice. Perhaps you aren’t accustomed to seeing buses and walkers on the road at 9:30 a.m., but when there is a two-hour delay, you’ll want to be extra cautious at this time.

REMEMBER, THEY’RE KIDS. Children boarding or exiting the bus are often unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks.

TIPS FOR BUS RIDERS & THEIR PARENTS

Even though statistics show that riding the bus is the safest way to get to school, every year thousands of students are injured in bus-related accidents.  Many of these accidents can be prevented if children know and follow some basic rules for bus safety. It only takes a few minutes to review these bus safety tips with your children:

BE ON TIME.  When students are in a hurry because they are running late for the bus, they aren’t concentrating on safety.  Too often, accidents result.  Set your morning routine so that your child arrives at the bus stop or at the end of the driveway at least a couple of minutes before the bus is due. 

STAY IN THE “SAFE ZONE.”  Buses have blind spots and many children have been injured because the driver simply didn’t see them.  Tell your children to always stay in the “safe zone” – at least 10 feet in front of the bus. 

AVOID HORSEPLAY.  Bus pick-up points, whether a designated stop in town or at the end of a rural driveway, are not playgrounds.  Goofing around while waiting for the bus, especially if play extends into the road, can be deadly.  Make sure your children understand this danger. 

STAY PUT.  Students are often so eager to leave the bus that they often start for the front before the bus has stopped.  Let them know that they should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before leaving their seats. 

HEADS UP.  A dropped book can turn into a serious accident if the bus driver doesn’t see it.  Tell your children to let the driver know immediately if they drop something while getting on or off the bus. 

NO DISTRACTIONS.  Kids may think that bus rules – no shouting, no throwing things, etc. – are just to keep them in line, but there are serious safety issues involved.  They should understand the importance of never distracting the driver.

Yes, we do take time at school to review bus rules and safety guidelines with all of our students. So why are we asking parents to review this information with their children? Students can always use a review of this important and potentially life-saving information. If they know that their parents are in agreement with the school on these tips and guidelines, it will help them to better understand the importance. It only takes a few minutes to review these bus safety tips with your children. Please, take the time.  

Our Gladbrook-Reinbeck students represent the future of our communities and our world. Each one of them is priceless. We are proud of the safe system of transportation that we are able to offer at no charge to our students, but we know that a transportation system is only as strong as its weakest link. THANK YOU for taking time to consider what you can do to help keep all of our students safe as they travel to and from school.

I encourage your feedback on this column, along with any questions you may have. You are welcome to visit my blog at http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/ where you can read all of my columns from the Northern Sun Print and Reinbeck Courier and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is @DavidRobertHill. 

Gladbrook-Reinbeck Welcomes New Staff Members to the Rebel Family

This blog post has been submitted for publication in the Friday, September 23 edition of the Northern Sun Print and the Reinbeck Courier

The 2016-2017 school year started on August 23, and the first five weeks of school have been GREAT!  We are pleased to welcome several staff members to the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebel family for the 2016—2017 school year: 

Matt Cibula is the new 9-12 Agricultural Education Teacher and FFA Advisor. Mr. Cibula is shared with the North Tama school district, where he has taught Agriculture and Junior High Science for the last 11 years. He is also North Tama’s FAA Advisor, and he coached Junior High track for 6 years. He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a major in Agricultural Education.

When asked about his initial thoughts after his first few weeks at G-R, Mr. Cibula stated, “My initial impressions of G-R are simply outstanding. The students I have in my classes are respectful and a lot of fun to teach! I have truly enjoyed my first weeks at G-R!” 

Cherie Eckhoff returns to G-R this fall after a five-year absence. She is teaching our 7-12 vocal music classes and directing our choirs this fall as the district searches for a permanent vocal music teacher to start in January. Mrs. Eckhoff received her Bachelor's Degree from Augustana College, in Rock Island, Illinois. She spent her first 3 years of teaching 7-12 music at Montezuma. She joined our district in 1981, teaching music at various grade levels and directing our choirs until her retirement in 2011.

Mrs. Eckhoff is excited about her temporary return to G-R, stating, “The kids have been just awesome and are giving their best efforts to make our choirs excellent.  It is a pleasure to come to work each morning.”

Also stepping in to help us in the music department is Cathy Westwater of Gladbrook.  When a late resignation made it impossible to fill our K-12 vocal music position, we found exactly what we were looking for in the combination of Cherie Eckhoff at the secondary level and Cathy at the elementary level. Mrs. Westwater will be teaching music to our students in grades K-4 during the first half of the year.  She comes to us with a tremendous depth of knowledge in elementary education, having taught first grade at Anson Elementary in Marshalltown for the last three years. She has a bachelors degree from Iowa State and a masters degree in early childhood teaching from Walden University. 

Mrs. Westwater speaks highly of both the staff and the students at Gladbrook-Reinbeck. “I am excited to be back at G-R because the staff are great as are our students,” she noted. “Everyone is happy to be here and they work together to help our students.”

Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s new Elementary Principal and K-12 Dropout Prevention Coordinator is Bradi Johnson. Mrs. Johnson taught for 18 years before joining the Rebel family. She spent the first five years of her teaching career as an At-Risk Coordinator and the last 13 years as a kindergarten teacher. She coached volleyball for a total of 15 years, Drill Team for 5 years, and Assistant Girls Track for 8 years. She holds bachelors degrees in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Special Education, and masters degrees in Elementary Education and Educational Leadership.

Mrs. Johnson has been impressed by G-R’s students, staff, and community. She stated, “My initial impressions of G-R include hardworking, progressive, caring members of a wonderful school community. The communities that make up G-R seem to be embedded in these same qualities. This is very exciting for our students! The framework for success can continue to be built on this foundation. I look forward to serving your communities, guiding our teachers, and supporting students through their school journey.” 

Caroline Lake is a new Special Education teacher at the elementary level, working primarily with students in 5^th & 6^th grades. She comes to us from Starmont Elementary near Strawberry Point, where she taught for the past three years. For the first two years at Starmont, she taught 1st grade. During her third year, she taught part-time 1st grade and part-time 5th grade special education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Wartburg College.

According to Ms. Lake, Gladbrook-Reinbeck already feels like home.  “When I came to my interview,” she stated, “I instantly felt comfortable. G-R felt like home. As I walked out of the interview, I knew I had found the school I was meant to work at.”

Our new K-12 Talented & Gifted Teacher Ana Ragsdale is no stranger to the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Educational Community. She has been with the Little Rebels Preschool in Reinbeck for the last four years. Mrs. Ragsdale received her Elementary Education Degree and English/Language Arts Endorsement from North Central University in Minneaoplis, MN and is working on her TAG Endorsement at Morningside College in Sioux City.

“I love the G-R community and the passion we all have to educate children,” stated Mrs. Ragsdale. “I could not ask to be part of a better group of educators, and I am blessed to stay in-district and call myself a REBEL!”

Another familiar face at G-R is Deeann Stice, who will be working as an Aide in the Kindergarten and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) rooms this year. She previously taught 2-year olds at the Little Rebels Learning Center and helped in the ECSE room at Gladbrook-Reinbeck Elementary last spring. She holds an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Hawkeye Community College.

Deeann commented that one of the reasons she loves working at Gladbrook-Reinbeck is the size of the school, stating, “I really love how small G-R is because it makes it feel like an extension of your home.”

Scott Fisher is the new 7-12 Industrial Technology teacher at the Jr. High/High School.  Mr. Fisher is quite familiar with G-R as he did quite a bit of substitute teaching in the district last spring after his graduation from the University of Northern Iowa. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Technology Education and a minor in Coaching.  He will also serve as the head varsity coach for our GRNT RebelHawks wrestling program.

After his student teaching experiences at G-R, Mr. Fisher is very pleased to become a permanent part of the Rebel family. According to Mr. Fisher, “During my experiences as a substitute teacher in the G-R schools, the students and staff were extremely respectful, helpful and inviting to a new face. As the new school year has started, this impression has carried through the summer. The staff and administration at G-R are of the highest quality…I feel as though I'm part of a family where we can conquer anything.”

Maegan Meister is G-R’s new part-time Curriculum Director. Her position is shared with the North Tama District, and she will be spending  about one day per week in the G-R district this year. She comes to us from Kingsley Elementary School in Waterloo, where she taught third grade for four years and second grade for two years. She was considered a leader among her colleagues at Kingsley, and her classroom was used as a model classroom in which numerous initiatives were piloted for the district. Mrs. Meister received her undergraduate and graduate education from the University of Northern Iowa. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education as well as a Masters in Educational Psychology: Professional Development for Teachers with an Advanced Studies Certificate in the Principalship. 

When asked for her initial reactions to G-R, Mrs. Meister stressed the supportive, family atmosphere and pointed out how much she loves the atmosphere in a smaller school district. “I am only in the district one day a week but I already feel like part of the family. Everyone has been so kind and welcoming. I look forward to coming to work and am excited to be a part of the G-R team! My husband is from a small town in northwest Iowa and he has always talked about wanting our kids to grow up in a smaller, close-knit community. G-R has opened my eyes to all of the wonderful opportunities a small community with a big heart has to offer.”

Returning from retirement to help us during a time of need is Madonna Wilson, who will serve as a secondary English/Language Arts teacher for the first half of the year. When the district had a late resignation in this teacher shortage area, we turned to Madonna who was pleased to return to the former teaching assignment that she retired from in 2015 after 31 years with the district and 39 years as an educator.  She holds a bachelors degree from Iowa Iowa State University, with a major in English and journalism, and a minor in education.

Of her return to Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Madonna stated, “I'm enjoying my temporary assignment at G-R because we have such GREAT students, teachers, and supportive staff.   G-R offers our students the opportunities they need to be successful.”

As you may know, your superintendent is also a new addition to the school district this year. My last newspaper column gave plenty of background on me…in case you missed it, you can catch that column (and all of my columns) on my blog. The address is http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/. Feel fre to leave a comment on the blog as well.

I’ve always felt that it is the PEOPLE that truly make a school great, and this new group of Gladbrook-Reinbeck staff has been carefully selected for the skills, abilities, and aptitudes that they will bring to our educational community. We’re excited to have these new team members on board, and I encourage everyone in our educational community to help them to feel welcome and supported in the important work that they do. Welcome, new Rebels! 

Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s Financial Stability

This blog post has been submitted for publication in the Northern Sun Print and the Reinbeck Courier.  

I am pleased to introduce myself as the new superintendent of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District. I want to thank the school board for their confidence in me, and the staff and community for their warm welcome.  In my short time at G-R, I’ve already seen a great deal of evidence which confirms that G-R is a GREAT place to work and learn. 

I was recently asked by one of the local papers if I would write an article introducing myself to the school community. The paper asked for some background on their new superintendent, and perhaps a summary of the career path I have chosen which has led toward my becoming the superintendent at Gladbrook-Reinbeck while continuing as superintendent at North Tama. While I will be glad to provide an article with this information in the near future, another high-priority issue has come up recently which I feel that I must first address for the patrons Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

In recent days, I’ve been asked numerous times about the financial stability of the school district. Simply put, people are asking me, “Financially, how many years does Gladbrook-Reinbeck have left?”  Some have even stated that they’ve heard the district can only exist for another 3 or 4 years and have asked for me to confirm or deny this.

I want to make it perfectly clear: Gladbrook-Reinbeck can and will remain financially viable FOR MANY YEARS TO COME as long as there is a collective desire among the school board and school community to make this happen.

That’s the simple answer, “in laymen’s terms” as they say. Now, I’ll explain the reasoning behind my thinking and provide some background on why some people have expressed concern. In April, noted Iowa school finance expert Gary Sinclair of the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) presented 5-year financial projections to the G-R board of education. While I had not yet started as the G-R superintendent at this time, I attended this meeting and saw the exact same information that the board received. 

The number one financial indicator that school districts with declining enrollment need to watch is their Unspent Authorized Budget, abbreviated as UAB.  UAB represents the district's legal authority to spend. Districts with a negative UAB must have a “work-out plan” approved by Iowa’s School Budget Review Committee. Schools that are unable to successfully work out of a negative UAB are sometimes dissolved by the state. This explains why UAB is the key factor in a district’s financial viability. Gary Sinclair’s report to the board in April included some projections on the district’s UAB which were based on the best information available to the district at the time.

For optimum financial health, the IASB recommends districts maintain a UAB ratio between 5% and 15%. UAB ratio is calculated by taking the UAB divided by that year’s Maximum Authorized budget.  G-R's UAB ratio was well within the recommended range (12.4%) at the end of fiscal year 2015. According to Gary Sinclair’s April projection, the UAB ratio is projected to decline to about 7.5% by the end of fiscal year 2020. While this declining ratio is a concern, the projected ratio still falls within the range recommended by IASB.

It is appropriate for me to mention at this point that the district was blessed to have received a major estate gift in the amount of $438,000 during the 2016 fiscal year. To date, about $20,000 of this gift has been spent by the district. If the district had not received this estate gift, the UAB ratio projection would likely fall below the IASB’s recommended range four years from now. 

Keep in mind that the whole purpose of these projections is NOT to tell us when the district will be in financial trouble; rather, it is to PREVENT financial troubles from happening by providing a warning to the district along with time to adjust. Knowing that our spending authority is likely to decline will help the school board make informed decisions to secure the long-term financial viability of the district.  Looking ahead 5 years gives us time to make adjustments now to ensure the district's viability. This means we can implement cost-saving measures and take other actions this year, next year, and in the following years which will positively affect the district’s outlook well into the future.

For the past eleven years, I have served as an administrator in school districts with declining enrollment. Based on my experience as well as the information provided by IASB’s Gary Sinclair, my honest belief is that as long as there is a collective desire among the school board and school community to make it happen, the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District will be able to maintain its financial viability for many years to come.

I'm proud to be your superintendent and excited to have the opportunity to provide leadership as we work together to ensure a GReat education for students in the G-R district – now, and in the future.  

Proud to Be Your New Superintendent

Greetings, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebels!  As the new superintendent of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the community. While most of my blog posts will focus on educational topics and school issues, I want to use this space today to give you a little background on your new superintendent and the path that has led me to Gladbrook-Reinbeck. Writing about myself isn’t my favorite thing to do, but I thought the patrons of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District might appreciate the background information. 

Your new superintendent is no stranger to the area. I was born and raised on a family farm in Northern Tama County, and have lived in this general area my entire life with the exception of my college years. In 1853, my great-great-great grandparents settled on a farm in Geneseo Township straight east of Buckingham. Our sons are now the seventh generation to live on the Hill farm, which has now been in the same family for 163 years. 

Education runs in my bloodlines. My great-grandfather was one of the founding board members of the Geneseo Consolidated school district. He served on the Geneseo school board for many years until his son – my grandpa – succeeded him on the board. My grandmother was a long-time elementary teacher at Geneseo. My grandparents were a great influence on my life – it is because of them that I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a teacher.

My wife Tanya and I were married shortly after I graduated from Iowa State University. We have three sons ages 19, 17 and 13. Tanya was an at-home mom during our kids’ younger years, and she began her teaching career in 2010. She teaches Career Technology Exploratory STEM-based classes at Waterloo’s Hoover Middle School. As a family, we enjoy activities such as kayaking on Wolf Creek and other area streams, bicycling, visiting museums and science centers, and supporting the ISU Cyclones.

For the first nine years of my educational career, I was the FFA Advisor and 7th-12th grade Agricultural Education teacher at Benton Community Schools in Van Horne. For the next eleven years, I served as the PK-5 principal at Dysart-Geneseo Elementary School in Dysart. In 2015, I became the part-time superintendent at North Tama County Community Schools, which serves the communities of Traer, Clutier, Dinsdale, and Buckingham. In March, the Gladbrook-Reinbeck school board approved a 28E sharing agreement to share my services as with the North Tama District on a 50/50 basis. 

In the short time that has passed since the G-R board approved the sharing agreement with North Tama for me to become your new superintendent, I have truly been impressed by the students and staff at Gladbrook-Reinbeck. Yes, G-R can be proud of its facilities, technology, and programs – but it is the PEOPLE that truly make this school great.  Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s teachers have an incredible base of knowledge, experience, and skill.  They have developed a curriculum, programs, and opportunities that truly meet the needs of today’s students.  The educational community at G-R has so much to be proud of – and I am so proud to be joining the team!  As we approach a new school year, I just can’t wait to see our students and staff in action! 

The students, staff, and parents at BOTH Gladbrook-Reinbeck and North Tama are very important to me, and I will work diligently to meet the needs of both schools. While I will only be in each district about 50% of the time, I truly believe that we can make this arrangement work for the long haul! The result will be a long-term financial benefit which will enable both schools to continue to meet the needs of their students and communities in the most efficient way possible. I’m happy to be part of the solution that will help keep two great school systems strong for years to come.

I invite your thoughts and your feedback in the comments section below. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (my handle is @DavidRobertHill) for blog updates, photos and comments on school events and activities, and an occasional glimpse of the work I do for both districts.