tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90469882087497991822024-03-13T10:40:34.318-07:00Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent's BlogDavid R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-87639071014161960352019-10-26T09:41:00.000-07:002019-10-26T09:41:01.759-07:00G-R Board Encourages YES Vote on “Public Measure E”<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">G-R
Board Encourages YES Vote on “Public Measure E”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>Reinbeck, Iowa – October 17, 2019 </b>-
With the November school election quickly approaching, the Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Community School District’s Board of Education has taken decisive action to
make it clear to the public that they are encouraging a YES vote on Public
Measure E, also known as the SAVE Revenue Purpose Statement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The ballot measure specifies how revenues
from the recently re-approved “Secure an Advanced Vision for Education”
statewide 1-cent sales tax (also known as SAVE) may be used by the
district.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>It will not change the
current sales tax rate.</b> Citizens statewide will continue to pay the 1-cent
sales tax even if the proposed ballot measure is not approved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Students
and schools all across Iowa have benefitted greatly from the SAVE 1-cent sales
tax that has been in place for the last ten years</i>,” stated David Hill,
district superintendent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>“Now that
the legislature and governor have extended SAVE until 2051, schools will be
required to pass a new Revenue Purpose Statement in order to spend revenues
collected under the new extension.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Public measures like this one are on the
ballot in numerous school districts across the state this fall as a follow-up
to the Iowa Legislature’s recent extension of the statewide 1-cent sales
tax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notable districts pursuing ballot
measures of this type elsewhere in the state include Waukee, Charles City,
Clear Lake, Clinton, Norwalk, Center Point-Urbana, Knoxville, and all of the
Cedar Rapids Metro Area districts including College Community, Linn-Mar, Marion
Independent, and Cedar Rapids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Closer to
home, area districts voting on nearly identical ballot measures this fall
include Dike-New Hartford, Aplington-Parkersburg, Marshalltown, Wapsie Valley,
Denver, and North Tama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All districts
statewide are expected to follow suit in the next few years as the sunset of
the current SAVE law approaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Revenue Purpose Statement ballot measures
across the state are causing some confusion, with some making the false
assumption that a YES vote will increase taxes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At its October board meeting, the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Board of Education passed
a resolution encouraging a YES vote in hopes of clearing up any confusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hill stated, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m pleased that the board has decided to make it perfectly clear to
the voters that a majority YES vote will NOT increase taxes in any way.” </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Hill explained that the ballot measure
simply gives Gladbrook-Reinbeck the PERMISSION TO SPEND the revenues that it
will already be receiving in the broadest ways allowed by law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Iowa
law limits the use of revenues from the statewide 1-cent sales tax to a list of
specific types of uses – primarily for infrastructure and related purposes.
Gladbrook-Reinbeck – like other Iowa districts – has worded its Revenue Purpose
Statement to allow the district to spend future sales tax revenues on ANY
expenditure allowed by Iowa law to allow for maximum flexibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hill
called the ballot measure a “</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">no-brainer,” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">stating, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“SAVE
received bipartisan support in the legislature because folks on both sides of
the aisle realized that it really has helped to keep property taxes down while
allowing school districts to meet their long-term infrastructure needs.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When asked whether it is legal for a
school board to take a position on an upcoming ballot item, Hill responded, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iowa Code section 68A.505 allows a governing
body to express an opinion on a ballot issue through the passage of a
resolution.</i>” He added,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “This resolution
has been reviewed by the district’s attorney as well as staff at the Iowa
Campaign and Ethics Disclosure Board, and both have found it to be within the
parameters of the law</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Voters will determine the outcome of
Public Measure E in the November 5 school/city election, along with the
selection of school board members, city councils, and mayoral races.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Contact</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">David
Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">david.hill@gr-rebels.net<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(319)
345-2712<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.gr-rebels.net/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://www.gr-rebels.net/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepK0GH5L98CL7BdhDbcojGXPEgp6hfaCOehkaYHIh6xnbixVXWzX0cz6rsiyvfSYcd2aneo9fMRslAfY8fsNm7li7J-Biq2ubMQfq0jeYcT0kgqBiU7MeseAK_beqelsyxMoDY9bBrT8/s1600/GR-RPS-Resolution-Signed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepK0GH5L98CL7BdhDbcojGXPEgp6hfaCOehkaYHIh6xnbixVXWzX0cz6rsiyvfSYcd2aneo9fMRslAfY8fsNm7li7J-Biq2ubMQfq0jeYcT0kgqBiU7MeseAK_beqelsyxMoDY9bBrT8/s640/GR-RPS-Resolution-Signed.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<br />David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-12187479392600987752019-10-20T11:24:00.000-07:002019-10-20T11:26:02.309-07:00November 5 School Election Update<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Superintendent News & Views<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">November 5 School Election Update<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By David Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_heading=h.gjdgxs"></a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">City and school district elections will be held across Iowa on
Tuesday, November 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District, voters will select four
candidates to serve on the Board of Education and will vote on a special ballot
measure as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Four of the seven Board of Education
seats at G-R will be decided in the November election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Incumbents Matt Wyatt, Susan Kerns-Petersen,
and Lisa Swanson have filed papers to run for re-election, and Donovan Devore has
also filed nomination papers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne Boyer
has opted to not seek re-election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In a recent <i>SUPERINTENDENT NEWS
& VIEWS </i>column, I shared with you that the Iowa legislature has
extended the statewide one-cent sales tax for school infrastructure until 2051,
requiring the passage of a new Revenue Purpose Statement before a district may
access the funds that will be generated starting in 2031.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At their September board meeting, the
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Board of Education decided to move forward with this process
by bringing to our patrons a ballot issue regarding the allowed uses of the
one-cent sales tax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several other area
districts are holding similar ballot measures in this election, and we’ll see
ballot measures just like this one all over the state of Iowa between now and
the expiration of the current law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Provided below in a “Question &
Answer” format is information regarding Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s Revenue Purpose
Statement ballot issue and the process prescribed by state laws for our
district to continue to use these funds beyond 2031. If you have any other
questions after reviewing this information, please do not hesitate to contact
me by phone at (319) 345-2712 or by email at david.hill@gr-rebels.net.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, you may wish to attend the Informational Meeting
that we’ll be holding on Wednesday, October 23 at the Amvet Hall in Lincoln at
7:00 p.m. in order to as questions in person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">WHAT IS A REVENUE PURPOSE
STATEMENT</span></u></b><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">?</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is a ballot issue that describes the allowed uses
for the 1-cent sales tax in the State of Iowa that is dedicated to all Iowa
school districts. This one-cent sales tax is known as SAVE (Secure an Advanced
Vision for Education). Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s current Revenue Purpose Statement –
originally passed in September 2009 – received overwhelming support from
district patrons with 84.552% of voters casting a YES vote. Now that the
Iowa Legislature has extended the sales tax to last until 2051, a new Revenue
Purpose Statement is needed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">WILL THIS RAISE MY TAXES?</span></u></b><b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The outcome of this vote will absolutely <b><u>NOT</u>
</b>raise your taxes - regardless of whether the YES or NO vote prevails. The
one-cent sales tax is already being collected statewide and the legislature has
now extended the one-cent sales tax until 2051. The sole purpose of the Revenue
purpose Statement is to describe and outline the uses for which the one-cent
sales tax may be used at Gladbrook-Reinbeck.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">WHAT DO WE CURRENTLY DO
WITH THE ONE-CENT SALES TAX REVENUE?</span></u></b><b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Over the past 10 years
Gladbrook-Reinbeck has used SAVE revenues for just about every type of
infrastructure expenditure allowed by law. Here are some examples:</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Replacement and Repair of Roofs</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Installation of Energy-Efficient Lighting</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Improving Building Security (including secured access
doors & security cameras)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Daycare/Preschool Improvements (additions and major
remodeling at Daycare Centers in Gladbrook & Reinbeck, installation of new
water main and sprinkler system at Crayon Corner in Gladbrook)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Purchase of School Buses and Vehicles</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Transportation Repairs (repairs over $2500 may be paid
from SAVE)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">HVAC Improvements (including boilers)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Parking Lot, Driveway, and Sidewalk Improvements</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Student Computers and 1-to-1 Devices as well as
Teacher Computers</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Back-End Technology Infrastructure</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Athletic Facility Improvements</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Flooring Improvements, (including gym resurfacing,
classroom flooring replacements, and installation of stair treads for increased
safety)</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Asbestos Removal</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">IF THIS BALLOT MEASURE IS
APPROVED BY VOTERS, HOW WILL THE DISTRICT’S USE OF THE ONE-CENT SALES TAX
REVENUES CHANGE?</span></u></b><b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For the most part, I would expect the district’s
spending of the one-cent sales tax revenues to look very similar to the types
of uses listed in the previous question: to maintain and improve district
facilities, equipment, and infrastructure. Our current Revenue Purpose
Statement (which expires at the end of the current SAVE legislation) was
written with the same goal in mind as the newly proposed statement: to allow
maximum flexibility for the school district. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One possible change may be the consideration of some
larger projects that would require bonding against future revenues. The
approval of a new Revenue Purpose Statement now would allow the district to
bond against future revenues from the one-cent sales tax through 2051 if
necessary for more expensive projects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some projects that may require bonding include the
demolition (or partial demolition) of the former school building in Gladbrook,
and accessibility improvements such as the installation of an elevator in our
7-12 building and other accessibility features in all of our
buildings. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">WHY IS THIS NEEDED
NOW? </span></u></b><b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This isn’t <b><i>absolutely </i></b>needed now, but it
is needed sometime before the current SAVE law expires and the new, extended
SAVE law begins on January 1, 2031. You’ll see ballot measures just like this
one all over the state of Iowa between now and that date. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A new RPS is needed before a district can structure
revenue bonds against SAVE revenues that will be generated on or after January
1, 2031. So, the approval of a new Revenue Purpose Statement may be
needed before any very large, expensive infrastructure projects can take place
in the district. The Gladbrook-Reinbeck Board of Education believes that the
demolition (or partial demolition) of the former school building in Gladbrook
may be one such large expense that may require bonding. The demolition of
the Gladbrook building (and any other very expensive facility projects) may be
delayed if the RPS doesn’t pass. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">WILL PASSAGE OF THE
REVENUE PURPOSE STATEMENT REQUIRE A “SUPER-MAJORITY”?</span></u></b><b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">No. A simple majority (50% +1) is needed for
passage.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">WHAT WILL
GLADBROOK-REINBECK DO IF THE REVENUE PURPOSE STATEMENT IS NOT APPROVED?</span></u></b><b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is possible that the demolition of the former
school in Gladbrook and any other large infrastructure-related projects such as
an elevator may need to be put “on hold” until a new Revenue Purpose Statement
is passed. Iowa law requires a minimum of six months to elapse before
another Revenue Purpose Election can be held. If the Revenue Purpose Statement
considered by voters in November is not approved, either the same or a revised RPS
can be brought back to our voters. If the Board of Education wants to avoid the
cost of holding a special election, they may opt to wait two years until the
next regular school election. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">WHAT IF I HAVE ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS? </span></u></b><b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you have any other questions after reviewing this
information, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at (319) 345-2712 or
by email at </span><a href="mailto:david.hill@gr-rebels.net"><span style="color: #1155cc; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">david.hill@gr-rebels.net</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. The same questions and answers that you read
above are also posted on our website. As I receive questions from district
patrons, I may add to the “Q&A” document for further clarification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can find the online “Q&A” at </span><a href="https://tinyurl.com/RPSQandA"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://tinyurl.com/RPSQandA</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For those that would rather ask questions in person,
you are invited to attend our Informational Meeting being held on Wednesday,
October 23 at the Amvet Hall in Lincoln at 7:00 p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This meeting is not intended to be a
candidate forum…simply an opportunity to learn more about the ballot measure
for the Revenue Purpose Statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I encourage your feedback
on this column, along with any questions you may have. You are welcome to visit
my blog at </span><a href="http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> where you can read
all of my columns and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to
follow me on Twitter, where my handle is </span><a href="https://twitter.com/DavidRobertHill"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">@DavidRobertHill</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-36398754718944861682019-10-11T11:11:00.000-07:002019-10-20T11:12:40.954-07:00What Parents Need to Know About Vaping<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Parents Need to Know About Vaping</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">By David Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent</span></div>
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“Vaping” is a term often used to describe the use of a nicotine vaporizer – also known as electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes. Studies show that vaping is becoming increasingly popular with young people. In a recent nationwide survey, nearly 1/3 of high school seniors reported that they have tried vaping at some point. The U.S. Surgeon General recently referred to teen vaping as an epidemic.<br />
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A vape can be small, discreet, and odor-free. They often resemble USB flash drives or pens and can be easily purchased online and at many gas stations and convenience stores. The easily concealed and odorless nature of these products makes it possible for them to be used without detection in many situations. <br />
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Nicotine is delivered through replaceable pods or tanks of liquid. The liquid nicotine is often flavored and smells fruity or sweet when exhaled. One pod can have as much nicotine as 20 cigarettes. Vapes can also be used for marijuana and other substances. <br />
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These devices have become popular among young people because they are easy to obtain, taste sweet like candy, and difficult to detect. Many young people don’t understand that vapes contain nicotine – or they think vaping is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. That’s simply not true. With the high concentration of nicotine, they are much MORE addictive and much MORE harmful to young people. <br />
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What are the warning signs that your child may be vaping? Teens will sometimes exhibit withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, trouble sleeping, and extreme irritability. While vapes don’t have a traditional smoke smell, many do have a fruity or sweet smell. Marijuana vapes sometimes have a soapy or burnt smell. <br />
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Many teens will assume their parents don’t know the terminology related to vaping and might use “code words” with their friends. If you hear your child or one of his/her friends talking about “Juice” or a “Pod” (the nicotine liquid or cartridge), they may be referring to vaping. Other terms include “Juul” (a popular brand) or “Pen” (a popular term for a vape).<br />
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Parents and students should be aware that at school, we will treat the use of vapes and/or the possession of vapes in the same way as we would treat the use or possession of other forms of nicotine/tobacco. Our school board policy prohibits these items even if they don’t contain nicotine/tobacco. For nearly all of our students, possessing and/or using these devices is against the law and for ALL of our students, it is a violation of school rules. <br />
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As an educator and a parent, I urge all parents to have a conversation with their child about the dangers of electronic cigarettes and vaping. Contrary to what some may think, vaping is NOT safe. Nicotine use during adolescence has been shown to impact brain development. Because of the high concentration of nicotine contained in vapes children are becoming hooked and addicted to at a much faster rate. Furthermore, studies have shown that teens who vape are four times more likely to start using tobacco cigarettes. <br />
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I encourage your feedback on this column, along with any questions you may have. You are welcome to visit my blog at <a href="http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/">http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/</a> where you can read all of my columns and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidRobertHill">@DavidRobertHill</a>.David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-83624568721374920052019-09-24T12:36:00.000-07:002019-09-24T12:36:01.606-07:00G-R Welcomes New Teachers<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 22pt;">Superintendent News & Views</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">G-R Welcomes New Teachers<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">By David Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">The 2019-2020 school year started on August 23, and the first five
weeks of school have been <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>GR</u></b>eat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We welcomed five new teachers to the
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebel family this school year, and I’m pleased to introduce them
to the community in the paragraphs below. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">MS. LAURIE SEIDL, 7-12 SCHOOL COUNSELOR</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Laurie Seidl is the new 7-12 School Counselor
at Gladbrook-Reinbeck Jr./Sr. High School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A native of Urbandale, Iowa, she is a graduate of Dowling Catholic High
School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She holds a bachelor’s degree in
Child, Adult, and Family Services from Iowa State University and is completing
a Masters of School Counseling degree program at the University of Northern
Iowa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has two years of teaching
experience, having taught special education at the preschool level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Commenting on the positive, welcoming environment at G-R, Ms. Seidl
said, “The people at GR seem like a family and have been nothing short of
welcoming to me so far!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">MR. HUNTER HAMILTON, HIGH SCHOOL AGRICULTURE TEACHER/FFA ADVISOR</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lone Tree, Iowa native Hunter Hamilton joined
the G-R staff as the new High School Agriculture Teacher & FFA Advisor this
past summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is Mr. Hamilton’s
first teaching position, as he graduated from Iowa State University last
spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just before graduation, he
completed his student teaching experience at Wester Dubuque High School in Epworth,
Iowa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Mr. Hamilton’s schedule is a busy one...he spends half of his day
at G-R and the other half at Dike-New Hartford, where a new agriculture program
is being established.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s also advising
a new, joint FFA chapter that is shared between the two schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When asked about his initial impressions of Gladbrook-Reinbeck,
Mr. Hamilton said, “I am excited to be back in small-town Iowa!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I haven't been here long, I can
already feel the community support.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">MS. AUDREANNA BEDNARZ, EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The district’s new Early Childhood Special
Education Teacher joined the district this fall with three years of experience as
a preschool teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Audreanna
Bednarz was raised in the small community of Springville, Iowa and is excited
to join the positive and caring community at G-R.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I am from a small town in rural Iowa where
everybody cares about everyone,” she stated recently. “G-R seems like a very
tight-knit community where everyone supports each other, and I am excited to be
part of such a positive and caring community.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Ms. Bednarz is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, with
a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She previously worked in the field of social
work, but eventually realized that she could have the most impact on the world
around her by working directly with students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">MRS. HEATHER MARA, ELEMENTARY SPECIAL EDUCATION</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">: The new special
education teacher at G-R Elementary is already quite familiar with the school
and the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heather
Mara is returning “Home” to G-R schools where she previously taught 1<sup>st</sup>
and 4<sup>th</sup> grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She re-joins
the district with over 20 years of teaching experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Speaking about her return to G-R, Mrs. Mara said, “Last year I
subbed at GR and got to know the staff and students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was excited to be back teaching in a
small-town district and elated to have the opportunity to meet a new generation
of students/parents here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way the
whole community has welcomed me back, has warmed my heart and confirmed my
decision of returning ‘home’ to GR."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Mrs. Mara was raised in Hampton, Iowa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a graduate of the University of
Northern Iowa where she majored in Early Childhood and Elementary
Education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">MR. SAMUEL ROGERS, K-12 TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR/TECHNOLOGY
INTEGRATIONIST</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sam Rogers joined the G-R
district this summer as the new K-12 Technology Coordinator and Technology
Integrationist. He is a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Rogers most recently taught 7th Grade
Literacy at Central Middle School in Waterloo. Prior to that, he taught various
English courses at Waterloo West High for while coaching a variety of sports at
the middle and high school level. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Excited about his new technology-related role at G-R, Mr. Rogers
said, “Technology plays such an integral role in our students' learning
experience as well as their everyday lives, and I am excited to help teachers
continue to provide those experiences, help them learn new skills, and
generally make our students' learning experience the best it can be.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.0pt; tab-stops: .25in; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Mr. Rogers holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Teaching
and a master’s degree in educational leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">MORE FUN &
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT OUR NEW TEACHERS</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Which of these new teachers threw up during the dissection of baby pigs during
their high school years?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which one minored
in horticulture?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which one was once sent
home from school for smelling like a skunk?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What are our new teachers’ favorite books of all time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did these teachers decide to pursue a
career in education?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find the answers to
these questions and more on my blog, as we discover more in-depth information
and learn additional fun and interesting facts about each of our new teachers
in my series of blog posts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just type <a href="http://tinyurl.com/NewGR19">tinyurl.com/NewGR19</a>
into a browser window to be taken directly to this blog post, where you can
find links to a separate, more detailed article focusing on each of the new
teachers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/2019/09/introducing-ms-bednarz.html" target="_blank">Introducing Ms. Bednarz</a></div>
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<a href="http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/2019/09/introducing-mr-rogers.html" target="_blank">Introducing Mr. Rogers</a></div>
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<a href="http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/2019/09/introducing-mrs-mara.html" target="_blank">Introducing Mrs. Mara</a></div>
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<a href="http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/2019/09/introducing-mr-hamilton.html" target="_blank">Introducing Mr. Hamilton</a></div>
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<a href="http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/2019/09/introducing-ms-seidl.html" target="_blank">Introducing Ms. Seidl</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.0pt; tab-stops: .25in; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">I’ve always believed TEACHERS are a school’s greatest resource,
and G-R employs some of the very best in the business! These new additions to
the Gladbrook-Reinbeck teaching staff have been carefully selected for the
skills, abilities, and aptitudes that they will bring to our educational
community. We’re excited to have these new Rebels on board, and I encourage
everyone in our educational community to help them to feel welcome and
supported in the important work they do. Welcome, new Rebels!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.0pt; tab-stops: .25in; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">You are welcome to visit my blog at http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/
where this column and all columns I submit to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Northern Sun Print</u></i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Reinbeck
Courier</u></i> are posted. I also welcome you to follow me on Twitter, where
my handle is @DavidRobertHill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><br /></span></div>
<br />David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-10914322012056927332019-09-11T21:37:00.000-07:002019-09-11T21:37:09.406-07:00Update on the SAVE Statewide One-Cent Sales Tax for School Infrastructure<br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 26.0pt;">Superintendent
News & Views<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Update
on the SAVE Statewide One-Cent Sales Tax for School Infrastructure<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">By
David Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_heading=h.gjdgxs"></a>This past spring, Governor Kim Reynolds
signed a bill into law that will truly make a positive difference for Iowa’s
school districts, students, and property owners. House File 546, signed by the
Governor after receiving bipartisan support in the Iowa legislature, extends
the statewide one-cent sales tax for school infrastructure for an additional 20
years while providing additional property tax relief for property owners.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqUEKgOgBFdDxzKHw87s_Pz9yuY8cK1AuX-fxxmGHnvq0seikcr6Hb7ob8SdNhF5loB0KrKKjybtHB7VdG1cRXzsehxPZhTPB52yOLKPpK4JEu13Zgo1iiBh0P0Gp835B2XtBDeXsw1Y/s1600/SAVESigning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="960" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqUEKgOgBFdDxzKHw87s_Pz9yuY8cK1AuX-fxxmGHnvq0seikcr6Hb7ob8SdNhF5loB0KrKKjybtHB7VdG1cRXzsehxPZhTPB52yOLKPpK4JEu13Zgo1iiBh0P0Gp835B2XtBDeXsw1Y/s320/SAVESigning.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gov. Kim Reynolds signed HF546, the SAVE extension, into law on May 24, 2019 at the Sioux City Career Academy. The law extends the penny sales tax for school infrastructure to January 1, 2051.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_heading=h.wkocv1l2iejw"></a>Commonly called the “statewide
penny,” the official term is SAVE, which stands for Secure an Advanced Vision
for Education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since SAVE became law in
2009, it has allowed Iowa’s school districts to maintain and upgrade their
facilities and to provide students with increased school security, safer
transportation systems, and better access to modern technology as well as the
necessary technology infrastructure without increasing the burden on property taxpayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_heading=h.imjfig1o9b81"></a>Since the SAVE became law,
Gladbrook-Reinbeck has used these revenues to improve daycare and preschool
facilities in Gladbrook and Reinbeck, purchase buses and vehicles, improve
student safety by installing controlled-access systems and video security,
provide 1-to-1 computing devices, improve technology infrastructure, repair and
replace roofs, and to provide numerous other improvements to our academic and
athletic facilities in both Reinbeck and Gladbrook. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the same time period that all of this
has been accomplished, the burden on G-R’s property taxpayers has been
reduced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>G-R’s current property tax rate
of $10.06 per thousand is the lowest it has been in many years, and it is
certainly one of the lowest property tax rates in our region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_heading=h.3ly2ar4139jc"></a>The current statewide penny had
been set to expire in 2029. The year 2029 may seem like a long way off, but
that time frame is short enough to impact school districts’ ability to issue
bonds against future revenues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Realizing
this, leaders in the Iowa Statehouse had been working to achieve bipartisan
support for extending SAVE for the last few legislative sessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A compromise was finally reached this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_heading=h.p2pgcgn6t2f"></a>The new SAVE law isn’t identical
to the previous one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among other
differences, the new SAVE commits additional funds for property tax
relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending on the annual growth
in statewide sales tax revenues, the amount dedicated to property tax relief
will increase each year by up to 1% until it reaches a cap of 30.0% of the
funds generated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another change in the
law requires a public hearing before SAVE revenues are spent on athletic
facilities that are not attached to a school building. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_heading=h.uaiehlk5uq86"></a>Consumers won’t notice a change
at all -- sales taxes paid on purchases throughout Iowa will remain the
same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funds generated by the SAVE go
into a statewide pool that is distributed to districts based on certified
enrollment...this makes the distribution of funds more equitable for school
districts, regardless of whether it is an urban district with a lot of retail
business or a more rural district with fewer retail transactions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_heading=h.d9ay07xtkxmg"></a>In the coming years, SAVE
revenues will continue to be vital for G-R to maintain our buildings, complete
our cycle of roof repairs, and to continue upgrades to facilities, technology
infrastructure, student technology, and transportation equipment. In addition,
our facilities need better accessibility for handicapped individuals.
Furthermore, SAVE revenues may be necessary for the G-R district to responsibly
dispose of a former school building that has been unused since the summer of
2015. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_heading=h.tf6u2zw0lxvt"></a>The price tag for the
improvements mentioned in the preceding paragraph is likely to be high.
Accomplishing these items within a reasonable timeframe may require bonding for
a period of more than ten years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
extension of SAVE makes that possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_heading=h.83e663bk3ts7"></a>When SAVE first became law, G-R
voters approved a Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) that gave the district the
greatest amount of flexibility allowed by law when using SAVE revenues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>G-R’s RPS ballot measure in September 2009
received 85% voter approval. Voters at that time realized that a “Yes” vote
didn’t cost them anything and gave their school district the flexibility to use
SAVE funds to meet the needs that had been prioritized locally. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_heading=h.l8yxq1mm3ff"></a>Now that SAVE has been extended by
the legislature, school districts must pass another Revenue Purpose Statement
ballot measure before bonding against future revenues beyond the original SAVE
sunset date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the September school
board meeting, the G-R board will be considering whether to have a Revenue
Purpose Statement measure included as part of the November election ballot. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_heading=h.ne1ale5aulqm"></a>Whether it is on our local ballot
this November or not, I’m sure voters across the state will be voting on Revenue
Purpose Statements over the next few years as the sunset of the original SAVE
approaches. It is my guess that voters across Iowa will once again vote in
support of these measures, as it really is a “no-brainer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consumers statewide will pay the sales tax
either way, and school districts statewide will receive the revenues either way
-- the RPS just gives districts a little more flexibility with the dollars they
are already receiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_heading=h.fm6xjh9odzq4"></a>If you’d like to hear the school
board’s discussion as they consider this topic, consider attending the
September school board meeting on Thursday, September 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the
Jr./Sr. High School Vocal Music Room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
will keep you posted on the board’s decision in this column.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the RPS is on the ballot, I will use this
column to provide detailed information and to answer any questions submitted by
district patrons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_heading=h.sqlg09aqo3bk"></a>As I close this column, just a
reminder to all G-R district patrons that there will be four school board seats
up for election this November, and that nomination forms for school board
candidates are now being accepted in the district office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forms can be picked up during business hours
from board secretary Deb Oleson, and completed forms with the appropriate number
of signatures must be returned to our office no later than September 19 at 5:00
p.m.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I encourage your feedback on this column,
along with any questions you may have. You are welcome to visit my blog
at </span><a href="http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="color: black;"> where
you can read all of my columns and leave comments if you wish. You are also
welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is </span><a href="https://twitter.com/DavidRobertHill"><span style="color: blue;">@DavidRobertHill</span></a><span style="color: black;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-59890060647703453272019-09-06T09:28:00.000-07:002019-09-06T09:28:34.808-07:00Introducing Ms. Bednarz!<br />
<br />
<br />
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Introducing Ms. Bednarz!</span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3IqXR2hNhWvLSVPzq7E1HggHmVAbg7I4piSkJGoHKUwoU4MYElXpgfQuy2KBSfJ6HTC0i83-nqdeiNPeMib1KjExc-EO-2IdywLG5NRRbsIC-VpdCn5aqj45GUqk3f7ogogVn3MDZ1w/s1600/Audreanna.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3IqXR2hNhWvLSVPzq7E1HggHmVAbg7I4piSkJGoHKUwoU4MYElXpgfQuy2KBSfJ6HTC0i83-nqdeiNPeMib1KjExc-EO-2IdywLG5NRRbsIC-VpdCn5aqj45GUqk3f7ogogVn3MDZ1w/s320/Audreanna.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b>One of the new faces at
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Elementary and the Preschool classrooms at Little Rebels Learning Center is Ms. Audreanna Bednarz.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms.
Bednarz is the new</b> <b>Early Childhood Special Education teacher, working
primarily with 3 and 4 year-old students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was raised in the small community of Springville, Iowa and is
excited to join the positive and caring community at G-R.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are a few more facts on Ms. Bednarz:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Name: </b>Ms. Audreanna
Bednarz<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Position</b>: Early Childhood
Special Education<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>College(s) & Degree(s): </b>University
of Northern Iowa, Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Prior Teaching/Coaching
Experience:</b> I taught 4 & 5-year-old preschool in Waterloo for the past
3 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Initial Impressions of G-R: </b>I
am from a small town in rural Iowa where everybody cares about everyone. G-R
seems like a very tight-knit community where everyone supports each other, and
I am excited to be part of such a positive and caring community.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Last book you read: </b><u>Star
Wars: Bloodline</u> by Claudia Gray<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Favorite subject when you
were in school: </b>History or PE<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Favorite sport or activity in
high school: </b>Volleyball & Track<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Hometown: </b>Springville,
Iowa<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Favorite sport/team: </b>Oakland
Raiders<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Why did you become a teacher?
</b>Helping children was something I always knew I wanted to do. I dabbled in
Social Work for a short time before realizing that Education was the field
where I needed to be to have the most impact.<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Hobbies: </b>Reading, outdoor
activities, music/concerts<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b>Please join us in welcoming Ms.
Bednarz to the G-R rebel family!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-13520830445181012242019-09-06T04:23:00.000-07:002019-09-06T04:23:00.864-07:00Introducing Mr. Rogers!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Introducing Mr. Rogers!</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b>Mr. Sam Rogers joined the district this summer as the new K-12 Technology Coordinator and Technology
Integrationist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s a former middle
school teacher and coach who loves reading and basketball, and he is excited
about the opportunity to provide leadership at G-R. Here are some more facts
and background on Mr. Rogers:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eTzVzio_8grKH_fF0wTm6ydprGsqXwBV7QKUkPiZzQOmXMGtCGRXpRGveKC-uJtPD9VjPjkDCJdlM9nCooxy7xopfDtgX-u9xPeaX-aVxf5ir4t6qFhh9ostAxgWTi2P40TLtj-QEvA/s1600/SamRogers.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="647" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eTzVzio_8grKH_fF0wTm6ydprGsqXwBV7QKUkPiZzQOmXMGtCGRXpRGveKC-uJtPD9VjPjkDCJdlM9nCooxy7xopfDtgX-u9xPeaX-aVxf5ir4t6qFhh9ostAxgWTi2P40TLtj-QEvA/s200/SamRogers.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Name: </b>Mr. Sam Rogers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Position: </b>K-12<b> </b>Technology
Coordinator/Technology Integrationist<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>College(s) & Degree(s): </b>M.A.
Educational Leadership; B.A. Secondary English Teaching<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Prior Teaching/Coaching
Experience: </b>Most recently taught 7th Grade Literacy at Central Middle
School in Waterloo. Prior to that, I taught various English courses at West
High for 6 or 7 years while coaching a variety of sports at the middle and high
school level. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Thoughts on Technology & Learning:</b>
Technology plays such an integral role in our students' learning experience as
well as their everyday lives, and I am excited to help teachers continue to
provide those experiences, help them learn new skills, and generally make our
students' learning experience the best it can be.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Last book you read: </b><u>The
World As It Is</u> by Ben Rhodes<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Your all-time favorite book
& why: </b><u>Slaughterhouse 5</u> by Kurt Vonnegut<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Favorite author: </b>Kurt
Vonnegut<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Favorite subject when you
were in school: </b>Social Studies and French<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Favorite sport or activity in
high school: </b>Soccer and basketball<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Hometown: </b>Cedar Falls<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>A funny story from your
school days: </b>I threw up in science class the day we dissected baby pigs. I
think it was the smell. No one laughed. I'm getting kind of queasy thinking
about it right now. I'm not sure if that story was funny or traumatic...<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Favorite sport/team: </b>Iowa
Hawkeyes<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Who was your most influential
teacher & why?</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Hoeft, my
French teacher. Even at such a young age, I was able to notice how much time and
effort he put into his work and his students. It didn't matter how a student
presented themselves to his class, he was always going to bring out the best in
every kid that walked through his door. He was just a fantastic human being and
an even better teacher. He made me want to strive to make an impact like that
on students' lives today. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Hobbies: </b>I play
basketball early in the morning and read books late at night. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Favorite Superhero: </b>My
wife, Amanda - she must have been ordained with magical powers to be able to
effectively juggle our lives every single day in the manner that she does.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b>Please join us in welcoming Mr.
Rogers to the G-R Rebel family!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-13626263806709761812019-09-05T13:47:00.000-07:002019-09-05T13:47:00.788-07:00Introducing Mrs. Mara!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Introducing Mrs. Mara!</span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqncEDO86PnPegCSeBxMKuCQ-oxa4eX7tRick55rQfbv1Ha1CBnBELQv39gIMDLYpcQ3mufHYh8ThBn0WgpI6dz8_Suj0h0LKtqZkmb_wk8eX_pYBi-bqKBCW-lkA8yf_MB1Vj1QHGmjk/s1600/Heather+Mara.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqncEDO86PnPegCSeBxMKuCQ-oxa4eX7tRick55rQfbv1Ha1CBnBELQv39gIMDLYpcQ3mufHYh8ThBn0WgpI6dz8_Suj0h0LKtqZkmb_wk8eX_pYBi-bqKBCW-lkA8yf_MB1Vj1QHGmjk/s320/Heather+Mara.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b>We’re pleased to introduce
Mrs. Heather Mara to the G-R family!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mrs.
Mara is returning “home” to G-R, where she previously taught 1<sup>st</sup> and
4<sup>th</sup> grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most recently, she
taught Title 1 Reading in Waterloo. Here are some more facts and background on Mrs.
Mara:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Name: </b>Mrs. Heather Mara<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Position:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Elementary<b> </b>Special Education<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>College(s) & Degree(s): </b>UNI-
Early Childhood/Elementary Education<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Prior Teaching/Coaching
Experience: </b>I began my teaching career here at GR teaching both 1st and 4th
grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there, I taught Title 1
Reading in Waterloo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I re-enter GR with
20 plus years of teaching experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Initial Impressions of G-R: </b>Last
year I subbed at GR and got to know the staff and students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was excited to be back teaching in a small-town
district and elated to have the opportunity to meet a new generation of
students/parents here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way the
whole community has welcomed me back, has warmed my heart and confirmed my
decision of returning "home" to GR.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Last book you read: </b><u>The
Hate U Give</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Your all-time favorite book
& why: </b><u>The True Story of The Three Little Pigs</u> – (Love the humor)<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Favorite sport/team: </b>The
Hawkeyes/ Panthers/ Rebels<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Hobbies: </b>Movies, eating
out, boating<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Your most influential
teacher:</b> Kim Koth - She was warm and friendly and sang with us every
Friday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Favorite subject when you
were in school: </b>Math<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Favorite sport or activity in
high school: </b>Volleyball<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Hometown: </b>Hampton, Iowa<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>A funny story from your
school days: </b>I once got sent home from school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not for being naughty, but for smelling like
a skunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The joys of living on a farm.<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b>Why did you become a teacher?
</b>My love of children<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b>Please join us in welcoming Mrs.
Mara back to Gladbrook-Reinbeck Schools!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-52343281855129788072019-09-03T14:49:00.000-07:002019-09-03T14:49:08.413-07:00Introducing Mr. Hamilton!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Introducing Mr. Hamilton!</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahMIq5DcUeeCA_dNFtukL2SRQHUbh7MGpGdu5OPLAtBvXTjPkdrsFjlm0MTrJSgHF8uUFI-CWEdssPSeztZ-UtZ59zAunMMerwZmKrebjvAH0xeoYKgAGzEaUOo9u4e8MBLEVaKVAhgY/s1600/HunterHamilton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahMIq5DcUeeCA_dNFtukL2SRQHUbh7MGpGdu5OPLAtBvXTjPkdrsFjlm0MTrJSgHF8uUFI-CWEdssPSeztZ-UtZ59zAunMMerwZmKrebjvAH0xeoYKgAGzEaUOo9u4e8MBLEVaKVAhgY/s320/HunterHamilton.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>This is the second in a
series of five posts introducing the new teachers at Gladbrook-Reinbeck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Up next is Mr. Hunter Hamilton, the High School
Agriculture Education Teacher & FFA Advisor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Hamilton was raised in the small
community of Lone Tree, Iowa and is a graduate of Iowa State University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a little more background on Mr.
Hamilton:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Name: </b>Mr. Hunter Hamilton<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Position: </b>High School
Agriculture Educator/FFA Advisor<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>College(s) & Degree(s): </b>Iowa
State University. B.S in Agriculture Education and a Minor in Horticulture<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Prior Teaching/Coaching
Experience: </b>I recently completed my student teaching at Western Dubuque
High School<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Initial Impressions of G-R: </b>I
am excited to be back in small-town Iowa!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even though I haven't been here long, I can already feel the community
support.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Favorite subject when you
were in school: </b>Agriculture and History<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Favorite sport or activity in
high school: </b>FFA<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Hometown: </b>Lone Tree, Iowa<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>A funny story from your
school days: </b>We used to have "Spirit" Day during Homecoming
Week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some reason, I was the only
guy dressed as a ghost on that day...weird. <b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Hobbies: </b>Traveling,
Hiking, Being Outdoors<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b>Why did you become a teacher?
</b>I became a teacher to help students realize their potential and support
them as they accomplish life goals and aspirations.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b>Mr. Hamilton spends half of
his day at G-R and the other half at Dike-New Hartford, where a new agriculture
program is being established.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’ll also
be advising a new, joint FFA chapter that is shared between the two
schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please join us in welcoming Mr.
Hamilton to the G-R rebel family!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-59298078872315383042019-09-03T06:06:00.000-07:002019-09-03T06:06:44.910-07:00Introducing Ms. Seidl!<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Introducing Ms. Seidl!</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bgOADbVb2tcgxE6z_UP9b0bp9SkZfVFfx4yCeGXzCeKrVO4TjizAHJv9ixcfkxrPvIbmbmujNt9Pb3u8EOc1G1OnENDamf6A7JwMa2vWYQo5YnecHTunL5niG6oXT7vM0JjHvwk6uAE/s1600/Seidl.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="478" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bgOADbVb2tcgxE6z_UP9b0bp9SkZfVFfx4yCeGXzCeKrVO4TjizAHJv9ixcfkxrPvIbmbmujNt9Pb3u8EOc1G1OnENDamf6A7JwMa2vWYQo5YnecHTunL5niG6oXT7vM0JjHvwk6uAE/s320/Seidl.jpeg" width="239" /></a></span></b></div>
<b><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b>Over the next few days, we’ll
be introducing you to the new teachers at Gladbrook-Reinbeck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll start with Ms. Laurie Seidl, the new 7-12
School Counselor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s originally from
Urbandale, Iowa and is a graduate of Iowa State University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are a few interesting facts about Ms.
Seidl: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Name: </b>Ms. Laurie Seidl<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Position: </b>7-12 School
Counselor<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>College(s) & Degree(s): </b>Iowa
State University - Child, Adult, and Family Services degree<b>; </b>UNI -
Masters of School Counseling degree<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Prior Teaching/Coaching
Experience: </b>I taught pre-school Special Ed for two years after my
undergraduate studies and recently am completing my School Counseling degree at
UNI.<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Initial Impressions of G-R: </b>The
people at GR seem like a family and have been nothing short of welcoming to me
so far!<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Last book you read: </b><u>Forgetting
Alice</u><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Hometown: </b>Urbandale, Iowa<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Your High School: </b>Dowling
Catholic High School<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Favorite sport/team: </b>Iowa
State Cyclones/Cubs/Chiefs<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Hobbies: </b>Sports,
Exercise, Photography (mainly of sunsets), Hiking, Rollerblading<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
<b>Why did you become a teacher?
</b>I love watching students develop into someone I always knew they could be
and seeing them find that potential is very rewarding!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.0pt;">
<b>Please join us in welcoming Ms.
Seidl to the G-R educational community!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-54579160887433457802019-08-28T15:22:00.000-07:002019-08-28T15:22:04.881-07:00Time Management<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 4.0pt;">Superintendent News & Views</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 26.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 28.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;">Time Management<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">By David Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We all have access to the
same 24 hours each day, yet it seems some people can get so much more done than
others. Are you often late to school, work, appointments, or class?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you usually the last one to arrive at
practices and meetings?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you typically
finish assignments at the last minute?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Do you often feel like you have too much to do, and do you wish you had
more time for the things you want to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, now is the time to work
on improving your time management skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The beginning of a new
school year is an ideal time to think about effective time management.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new school year started on August 23, and
this year will provide our students with numerous opportunities to practice
their time management skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learning
to master time management will give you more time for everything you NEED to
do, which will hopefully leave you more time for the things you WANT to
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The following ideas are
provided by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re likely to see a difference even if you
implement just a few of the tips below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The result will be reduced stress levels and a greater feeling of
control…which may lead to your best school year yet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider implementing as many of these ideas
as possible: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MAKE TO-DO LISTS: Each
day, make a list of all the things you need to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may consider prioritizing the list or
categorizing each item as to whether it needs to be done today, in the next few
days, or someday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cross things off as
they get done, and revisit the list often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PLAN: Use a planner to
keep track of assignments, tests, appointments, and due dates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can use digital planner on your smart
phone, a Google calendar on your computer or tablet, or an old-fashioned paper
planner…just select one and use it faithfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PREPARE: Get everything
ready for the next day before you go to bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Each Sunday night, consider your schedule for the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it doesn’t look like you can realistically
get it all done, think about what items are the lowest priority and make
arrangements for those things to wait until a future time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">COMBINE TASKS: For example,
study while you’re doing laundry or review your notes while you’re waiting for
a ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LOOK FOR WASTED TIME:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Social media, TV, and video games can all be
huge time wasters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Schedule smaller
chunks of time for these activities and stick to your schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about how you can use the time you gain
in a more effective way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CREATE ROUTINES: A good
morning and nighttime routine can save you time and will help your day run more
smoothly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">William Penn once said, “Time
is what we want most, but what we use worst.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope the information and ideas provided in this column will help you
to use as least some of your time in a more effective way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is my hope that these tips will help the
new school year be your best year yet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKSf5oIKQmfhjj9S8S8o1zn4t70amcZIcjRx-DbQRUfe99nLCvF9F8TGJiGyYqP1ALWhQ4-Shx8rIjX7dqQsORhAOaLGsbuCSeBhGgUL50JIFM-y8cXfINQFFNKfrDyD0lD1v6q813T8/s1600/Time1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKSf5oIKQmfhjj9S8S8o1zn4t70amcZIcjRx-DbQRUfe99nLCvF9F8TGJiGyYqP1ALWhQ4-Shx8rIjX7dqQsORhAOaLGsbuCSeBhGgUL50JIFM-y8cXfINQFFNKfrDyD0lD1v6q813T8/s1600/Time1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKSf5oIKQmfhjj9S8S8o1zn4t70amcZIcjRx-DbQRUfe99nLCvF9F8TGJiGyYqP1ALWhQ4-Shx8rIjX7dqQsORhAOaLGsbuCSeBhGgUL50JIFM-y8cXfINQFFNKfrDyD0lD1v6q813T8/s1600/Time1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I encourage your feedback
on this column, along with any questions you may have. You are welcome to visit
my blog at </span><a href="http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> where you can read all of my
columns and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to follow me on
Twitter, where my handle is </span><a href="https://twitter.com/DavidRobertHill"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">@DavidRobertHill</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKSf5oIKQmfhjj9S8S8o1zn4t70amcZIcjRx-DbQRUfe99nLCvF9F8TGJiGyYqP1ALWhQ4-Shx8rIjX7dqQsORhAOaLGsbuCSeBhGgUL50JIFM-y8cXfINQFFNKfrDyD0lD1v6q813T8/s1600/Time1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKSf5oIKQmfhjj9S8S8o1zn4t70amcZIcjRx-DbQRUfe99nLCvF9F8TGJiGyYqP1ALWhQ4-Shx8rIjX7dqQsORhAOaLGsbuCSeBhGgUL50JIFM-y8cXfINQFFNKfrDyD0lD1v6q813T8/s400/Time1.jpg" width="400" /></a>David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-9569310055558028002019-08-08T15:40:00.000-07:002019-08-08T15:40:11.756-07:00Superintendent Update on Minor Fire at G-R Jr./Sr. High School on August 8, 2019:<br />
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Greetings! You may have seen a post on Facebook earlier today about a minor fi<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">re at the Jr./Sr. High School this afternoon. This post will provide a quick update on today's situation.</span></div>
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While working on the roof replacement project on the roof of the 3rd floor of the Jr./Sr. High School, workers from Service Roofing inadvertently ignited a wooden structural member surrounding the window of the south classroom on the 4th floor. Flames traveled upward alongside the window and spread about 2 feet into the classroom's true ceiling (above the false ceiling) before the fire was extinguished.</div>
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Initially, roof workers used fire extinguishers to control all visible flames until the Reinbeck Fire Department arrived. Firefighters applied water to stop the smoldering and ensure the flames did not return. They also removed a section of the classroom wall and a section 4th-floor roof above the classroom to determine the extent of the damage and ensure the fire had not spread farther into the building than was immediately evident. Of course, there was some minor water damage in the affected classroom and directly below on the 3rd floor as well.</div>
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The 4th-floor classroom that was affected was unoccupied at the time, but back-to-school registration was taking place on the first floor in the cafeteria and an internship meeting involving a few students was taking place in the library on the 3rd floor. The building was evacuated when the fire alarm sounded. Registration was moved to the elementary building. While the building has been cleared for re-entry, registration will continue at the elementary school location until 6:00 p.m.</div>
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A professional cleaning and restoration company will be onsite tomorrow to mitigate smoke and water damage and thoroughly clean the 4th-floor classroom. Service Roofing will repair the section of roof that was removed as a precaution yet today so the building will be water-tight overnight. They will also conduct repairs to the ceiling section and the area around the window as they continue to finish the roofing project. We expect that everything will be back to normal within a few days.</div>
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A few pictures have been provided with this post to give you an idea of the damage. The upper-lefthand picture shows the 4th-floor window where the fire originated. (Your superintendent isn't crazy about heights but yes, I did climb up there with the firefighters and roof workers to see things first-hand.)</div>
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I would like to thank the awesome volunteer members of the Reinbeck Fire Department for their quick response. This community is blessed! Thanks also to the Grundy Center Fire Department for sending some "just in case" backup firefighters and equipment. I'm pleased to say that our fire protection system did its job (including notifying building occupants AND automatically calling the fire department) and the damages are minimal. Most importantly, EVERYONE IS FINE and school operations will only be minimally affected.</div>
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I hope this communication helps answer any questions you might have about the incident. It's my hope that this update will be your "official" source of information, as we all know that rumors can and do spread quickly. Contact the superintendent's office with any specific questions you may have. We're looking forward to having the teachers back at school in the very near future as well as the students' first day back on August 23rd!</div>
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Mr. Hill, Superintendent</div>
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David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-2167728912691396512019-08-07T15:10:00.000-07:002019-08-07T15:10:01.584-07:00Get Outdoors! <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 5.0pt;">Superintendent News & Views</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 26.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 36.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 26.0pt;">Get Outdoors!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 20.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">By David Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was raised on a family
farm in Northern Tama County within close proximity of a beautiful county park.
Growing up, my family also had access to a large timber area near our farm,
along with a good number of wooded acres along Wolf Creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent countless hours hiking in the woods,
mountain biking, enjoying the creek, identifying trees and collecting insects
with my grandma, fishing with my grandpa, mushroom hunting with my mom, and
more. It was a great way to bond with my family, enjoy nature, and get some
physical activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re so fortunate here in the
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District to have access to some wonderful
parks and other opportunities for outdoor recreation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to issue a challenge to our G-R
students and their families to GET OUTDOORS AND ENJOY NATURE before the summer
gets away from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are numerous
opportunities to enjoy the outdoors right here in our area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Union Grove State Park</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> near Gladbrook is located within
the boundaries of our district.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
offers great sites for camping and picnicking, as well as trails for hiking and
a great lake for activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If walking or bicycling are your thing, try
the <b>Wolf Creek Nature Trail</b> starting at Gladbrook, which combines with
the <b>Comet Trail</b> in Grundy County to connect the cities of Gladbrook,
Beaman, and Conrad along with the <b>Wolf Creek Recreation Area </b>in rural
Grundy County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another great bike trail
can be accessed just outside of Reinbeck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Extending through Morrison and the <b>Wolfe Family Preserve</b> on a
former railroad bed, the <b>Pioneer Trail</b> runs concurrently with the
highway for a short section before rejoining the railroad bed in Grundy Center
and continuing to Holland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kayaking has become a
favorite activity of my family in recent years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It requires a relatively small investment in equipment and provides
hours of enjoyment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This area provides
numerous great places to enjoy a paddling excursion, including numerous parts
of <b>Wolf Creek</b> along with a designated “water trail” along <b>Black Hawk
Creek</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While paddling Black Hawk
Creek, be sure to enjoy the beauty of the <b>Grundy County Greenbelt</b> area
on the northern edge of Reinbeck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
city councils also maintain very nice park facilities within our communities, offering
multiple opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy nature along with some great
physical activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Iowa Department of
Natural Resources recently rolled out the “99 Counties, 99 Parks” initiative to
highlight the wide array of recreational activities our state offers within its
county parks and to expand awareness of the county park system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The state of Iowa has more than 1,800 county
parks encompassing nearly 200,000 acres.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcthIbl4raETsOIkCMnmITsM4VwwYXTn6SISBrP17exsu8ErezEpkOshshi2j3eAQbeJeQ9WWgCtLJD36fhGkqri4naBtEwI9rWXDBRLOuZzDjUeXXmxd-wRAg2RVoc5uLfJn9mjRCq-0/s1600/99Parks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="509" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcthIbl4raETsOIkCMnmITsM4VwwYXTn6SISBrP17exsu8ErezEpkOshshi2j3eAQbeJeQ9WWgCtLJD36fhGkqri4naBtEwI9rWXDBRLOuZzDjUeXXmxd-wRAg2RVoc5uLfJn9mjRCq-0/s320/99Parks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Governor Kim Reynolds introduced
the “99 Counties, 99 Parks” by inviting Iowans and others to visit our parks,
stating, “We have an abundance of natural beauty in this state, and we’re
thrilled to issue an invitation for people to experience it firsthand. I know
my family will be outside exploring all the county parks have to offer this
summer, so I hope my fellow Iowans and visitors to our state will join
us.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Visit
traveliowa.com/99parks to learn more about the campaign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Families are encouraged to download the “99
Counties, 99 Parks” Family Fun Guide, which features a variety of activities
including recipes, a scavenger hunt and art projects as well as information on
geocaching and creating nature sculptures. Participants can track their visits
to the featured parks on the “99 Counties, 99 Parks” checklist. Many of the
parks also include “selfie stands” where visitors can take photos and share
their experiences on social media using #ThisIsIowa or #99parks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To learn more about our
local county parks, visit </span><a href="http://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Grundy.aspx"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.mycountyparks.com/County/Grundy.aspx</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and </span><a href="http://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Tama.aspx"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.mycountyparks.com/County/Tama.aspx</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. I want to commend the County
Conservation Boards in Tama and Grundy Counties, as well as the dedicated
county conservation employees, for the good work they do in providing
high-quality outdoor experiences for area residents and visitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before the summer ends, I
hope each of our students and their families will take advantage of these
resources and enjoy some quality family time in the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it's boating, swimming, hunting,
fishing, kayaking, geocaching, bicycling, orienteering, or just taking a nature
walk – getting outdoors and enjoying our natural resources is a great way to
exercise your body and rejuvenate your spirit as you prepare for the new school
year that approaches!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I encourage your feedback
on this column, along with any questions you may have. You are welcome to visit
my blog at </span><a href="http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> where you can read all of my
columns and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to follow me on
Twitter, where my handle is </span><a href="https://twitter.com/DavidRobertHill"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">@DavidRobertHill</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-21546602295991353802019-07-18T15:01:00.000-07:002019-07-18T15:01:04.563-07:00Get “On Board”<br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 26.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Superintendent News & Views<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Get “On Board”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">School Board Election is November 5</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">By David Hill,
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Iowa Association of School Boards urges Iowans passionate about education to
consider running in the upcoming school board election. Public schools need
strong leadership and governance to ensure a bright future for all children and
communities across the state. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Strong
leadership is critical to moving education forward in our state. School board
members play significant roles in their communities – they must have
leadership, vision and dedication. They are charged with accountability for
student learning, determining educational goals, setting policy, overseeing
school finances and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcLlxIwO64KT5rwVIIQRdeuWLkw6dqsLVd6sgLbvQ2Ij_ndP500wY_iQvfRtU3wLKBRu2TEXolp1vXmBxw_e_UGodgs6-rDxSqKTyl_sE-EHYkFAP1oQlxLOjtlMbZHu843fbZnPECsM/s1600/logo_GetOnBoard-fullColor.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="1600" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcLlxIwO64KT5rwVIIQRdeuWLkw6dqsLVd6sgLbvQ2Ij_ndP500wY_iQvfRtU3wLKBRu2TEXolp1vXmBxw_e_UGodgs6-rDxSqKTyl_sE-EHYkFAP1oQlxLOjtlMbZHu843fbZnPECsM/s320/logo_GetOnBoard-fullColor.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">School
board members are elected to serve four-year terms, with elections taking place
in odd-numbered years. Those elected receive no pay. Experienced school board
members say the rewards of service lie in meeting the needs of children and
communities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Under
a new law which took effect on July 1, 2019, the date of regular school
elections will be shifted from September to November. Specifically, school
elections will be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November
in odd-numbered years. The stated goals for this change include increased voter
turnout, managing election costs through sharing among participating
governmental entities and maintaining the predominantly non-partisan nature of
school and city elections.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District has four seats up for election on
November 5. Nominations for open seats can be filed between August 26 and
September 19. Other key dates and deadlines related to this upcoming election
are as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Aug. 26</b>: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First day to file
nomination papers with the board secretary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sept. 19</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>Last day to file
nomination papers with the board secretary. Deadline is 5 p.m. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sept. 24</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>Last day
candidates may withdraw. Last day written objections to nomination papers or
eligibility of candidates may be filed. Deadline is 5 p.m. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nov. 5</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>School election
day. Polls are open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Watch your local newspapers for your
polling location, as <u>polling locations may not be the same as in previous
school elections</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 85.5pt; text-indent: -63.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dec.
19</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span>Organizational
meeting of the G-R board. Newly elected or re-elected board members must be
administered the oath of office at this meeting <b>or before</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to the law, the organizational
meeting must take place during the first regular school board meeting following
the canvas of votes. G-R’s organizational meeting has tentatively been set for Thursday,
December 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Vocal Music Room at the Junior/Senior High
School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 85.5pt; text-indent: -63.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nomination
papers for school board seats are available from the board secretary, Deb
Oleson at the district office located at 600 Blackhawk Street, Reinbeck,
Iowa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>School board candidates must
obtain the signatures of at least 1% of the qualified electors of the district
or 50 electors, whichever is less, but at least 10 signatures. For information
on rewards of board service, campaign finance disclosure law, conflict of
interest, key dates and candidate education, visit </span><a href="http://www.ia-sb.org/getonboard"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">www.ia-sb.org/getonboard</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
encourage your feedback on this column, along with any questions you may have.
You are welcome to visit my blog at </span><a href="http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> where you can read all of my
columns and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to follow me on
Twitter, where my handle is </span><a href="https://twitter.com/DavidRobertHill"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">@DavidRobertHill</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-80676932108901260192019-05-08T14:34:00.000-07:002019-05-08T14:34:40.774-07:00Why Teachers are My Heroes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 26.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Superintendent News & Views<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Why Teachers are My Heroes<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">By David Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am honored to be
superintendent of Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community Schools, and I feel privileged
to work with and support the work of such dedicated and talented educational
professionals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next week is National
Teacher Appreciation Week, and I’d like to take this opportunity to share with
you why Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s teachers – and teachers in general – are deserving
of our respect and our appreciation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iCVDXMQq8CNkS-hjjSRbn00J3qLTo-2eHAcUYlYTuTPalIsA6kMXl5OZ_69JLM2Iz_ZaIKtZR4-rl0cdRmpIhCgzxzN49oaTRwGjJrl-FGZqpkbPULYzhXty9IBO6ZbxComodx7-6fs/s1600/heroApple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="236" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iCVDXMQq8CNkS-hjjSRbn00J3qLTo-2eHAcUYlYTuTPalIsA6kMXl5OZ_69JLM2Iz_ZaIKtZR4-rl0cdRmpIhCgzxzN49oaTRwGjJrl-FGZqpkbPULYzhXty9IBO6ZbxComodx7-6fs/s200/heroApple.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Think back to when you
were a child. Try to remember Kindergarten or another lower elementary
grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you recall what you wanted to
be when you grew up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you ask this
question of our district’s youngest students, some of the more common responses
you will hear include jobs such as firefighter, police officer, scientist, doctor
or nurse, teacher, and various military roles. Kids will also often tell you
that they want to grow up to do the same job that their mom or dad does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do we so commonly hear these
responses?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s because these are
examples of the people that our students look up to. These people are our kids’
HEROES, and I think it’s awesome that so many students aspire to one day be a
hero to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As for me, I first
remember wanting to be a teacher in the 4<sup>th</sup> grade. Over the years, I
probably changed my mind two dozen times as to the grade level or subject
matter that I wanted to teach, but I never wavered in my desire to become a
teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the best days of my life
was when I fulfilled my dream by joining the teaching staff at Benton Community
Middle/High School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhaps the reason I
wanted to teach is because I was influenced by so many wonderful teachers
during my formative years. In addition to the teachers in my school, my
grandmother was one of my greatest teachers. Grandma, a retired teacher, had so
many stories about her years in the classroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nearly every one of her stories reflected the LOVE that she had of her
job and for her students. One of Grandma’s greatest rewards in life came from
visiting with her former students and learning about how they have positively
influenced their workplaces, their families, and the world around them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The relationships teachers
build each day with our young people are helping to shape their future. The
efforts of Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s teachers today are inspiring and preparing the
next generation of innovators, community influencers, and world leaders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Teachers are role models
for our young people. They truly are HEROES. They help students to understand
that school is about so much more than learning information. Teachers help our
young people learn how to apply the knowledge they’re gaining to reach their goals,
fulfill their dreams, and change the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our teachers are part of a larger team that
works together to make a difference for our students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bus drivers, coaches, cooks, secretaries,
custodians, teacher associates, nurses, speech-language pathologists,
counselors, principals and others who work in our schools are part of this team,
and all of them deserve acknowledgment for the great services they provide to
our students each day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am very proud to play a
role in supporting the work that G-R’s teachers and staff do each day. Thank
you, teachers and staff, for your hard work and dedication – you help our
students achieve success in school, in their activities, and in their
communities; and, the work you do will pay dividends for MANY YEARS TO
COME!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I encourage your feedback
on this column, along with any questions you may have. You are welcome to visit
my blog at </span><a href="http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> where you can read all of my
columns and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to follow me on
Twitter, where my handle is </span><a href="https://twitter.com/DavidRobertHill"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">@DavidRobertHill</span></a><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></div>
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David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-38022111329368153322019-02-28T05:03:00.000-08:002019-02-28T05:03:26.816-08:00Gladbrook-Reinbeck Announces Makeup Days<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Gladbrook-Reinbeck Announces Makeup Days<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">By David Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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This has been an unprecedented year of extreme weather, with twelve canceled days of school and a total of 86.62 hours of school missed as of my submission of this article to the newspapers on February 25. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Most adults that grew up in Iowa can probably remember one or two especially bad years from when they were kids. I don’t recall the year, but I do remember attending school on a Saturday once back in elementary school in order to make up missed days. I also recall missing thirteen days of school due to weather during my early years as a principal. But all of those memories were under the “old” system when instructional days were counted differently. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A few years back, Governor Branstad signed a new law that allowed schools to count instructional HOURS (instead of days) with a minimum of 1080 hours required for students in first grade through eleventh grade. Ever since that time, the Gladbrook-Reinbeck district’s calendars have included approximately 1135 hours of instruction, allowing for about 55 hours of “cushion” to account for hours missed due to late starts, early dismissals, and for other reasons. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I mentioned above that we’ve missed 12 days and a total of 86.62 hours of school so far this year. You may be wondering how this year compares to recent school years, since the law changed to allow for the counting of hours: In 2017-2018, Gladbrook-Reinbeck had FOUR canceled days and ended the year on June 1 with 28.92 hours of cushion. In 2016-2017, we had FIVE canceled days and ended the year on June 6 with 45.5 hours of cushion. In 2015-2016, G-R had SEVEN canceled days and ended the year on June 3 with 25.34 hours of cushion. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We understand that people want to know when the last day of school will be. Families have travel plans, students have summer jobs and summer activities, and even teachers and staff need to be able to make plans for the conclusion of the year. Because this has been such an extreme year, the date of the last day of school has been a moving target – a lingering uncertainty. At the February school board meeting, the board approved a plan to remove that uncertainty. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The last day of school for the 2018-2019 school year will be Friday, June 7. There will NOT be an early dismissal on May 31 or on the last day of school. <o:p></o:p></div>
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School will now be in session on March 11 and April 22 (which were originally scheduled to be teacher professional development days), and on May 31 and June 3-7. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The adjusted calendar will restore a cushion of extra hours that will enable the district to conclude the school year without going into the second full week of June. In other words, if we have another snow day between now and then, we will NOT plan to make it up unless the cushion is completely exhausted again. This plan gives us a cushion of 25.52 hours as of this writing, so hopefully that will be sufficient.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You should note that under this plan, we will not be making up every day that has been missed to this point. As explained above, additional days that may be canceled after this writing will also not be made up unless the cushion of hours is completely exhausted. Teachers will report to work June 10, 11, and 12 and may work additional hours during the months of March, April, and May to make up missed teaching hours if additional cancellations occur. Our adjusted calendar will meet the instructional hours required by law and the number of work days in the teacher contract.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As always, I encourage your feedback on this column, along with any questions you may have. You are welcome to visit my blog at <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/">http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/</a></span> where you can read all of my columns and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is <u><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://twitter.com/DavidRobertHill">@DavidRobertHill</a></span></u>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-63418096538147988832019-01-14T03:53:00.000-08:002019-01-14T03:53:32.882-08:00I'm PROUD of our G-R Students & Teachers!<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 26pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Superintendent News & Views</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">I'm PROUD of our G-R Students & Teachers!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">By David Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In December, the Iowa Department of Education released reports showing how public schools performed in a new accountability system that meets the requirements of the federal government’s Every Student Succeeds Act. ESSA, as it is called, is a replacement for the No Child Left Behind Act. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Iowa School Performance Profiles include each school building's scores on a set of accountability measures and includes the overall rating plus the performance of “subgroups” of students. These subgroups include students of various ethnicities, special education students, students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, and non-native English speakers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Besides the performance measures (which rely on the Iowa Assessment, a test that is being replaced by a new state assessment in 2019), there is an indicator of school climate that is based on student surveys of engagement. Other measures include student participation in state assessments, academic achievement in reading and math, student growth in reading and math and graduation rate (at the high school level). Each category generates points for a building and then the categories are each weighted. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Based on the school building ratings, the Iowa Department of Education has identified some schools that need “Comprehensive Assistance.” There are 34 such schools across the state. There are 307 other buildings that qualify for “Targeted Support” based on having one or more subgroups that did not attain at the same level as all students.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">On last year’s state tests and the other accountability measures, G-R’s students did better than the state averages on nearly every measure. We have no building that needs "Comprehensive Assistance." Looking at our subgroups, students at the elementary level who qualify for free or reduced-price meals through the Federal School Lunch Program did not attain at the same level as all students. Since this single subgroup of students fell just forty-four hundredths of a percentage point below the expected performance level, the elementary will receive "Targeted Support." This targeted support will include additional federal funding along with the opportunity to complete a self-assessment of our instructional practices to determine whether adjustments should be made in terms of how we meet the needs of this subgroup of students. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our district ratings and the overall student achievement at G-R continue to be something that we can take great pride in. These ratings reflect the efforts of our teachers, associates, and administrators over the last few years to increase our students' growth and proficiency rates in reading and math. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As well as we did, I am cautious in making sweeping judgments based on these performance profiles. This is the state's first attempt with the rankings; the system relies heavily on the Iowa Assessment, an outdated test that is being replaced in 2019 and is certainly not a comprehensive reflection of the high-quality teaching and learning that occurs each day within our classrooms. Furthermore, each year we have a different group of students whose achievement is measured in this system. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m proud of the students at G-R and their outstanding academic achievements. I’m also proud of G-R’s teachers, teacher leaders, associates, and principals who work tirelessly to help each student achieve his or her full potential. 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 and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is @DavidRobertHill. </span></span></div>
David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-18891904111252672912018-10-11T09:30:00.000-07:002018-10-11T09:30:07.421-07:00FREE Literacy Resources for Parents<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 26.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Superintendent News & Views<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FREE Literacy Resources for Parents<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">By David Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Imagine if there was a “one-stop shop” where families could access free literacy resources for PreK-6th Grade children. Now, imagine if parents and caregivers could use a search and filter tool to select specific types of resources, targeted literacy skills to work on, and an appropriate age range. You don’t need to use your imagination any longer, as these resources exist and are just a click away. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Iowa Reading Research Center (IRRC) has developed a wonderful website to provide these types of targeted resources. The website continues to be expanded regularly to meet the needs of children of all ages. This high-quality collection of over 200 learning activities, videos, articles, and parent guides is a great resource that families can use to practice and build critical reading skills.<o:p></o:p></div>
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IRRC is collaborating with educators and parents across Iowa to make a multitude of resources available for families on their website at <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.iowareadingresearch.org/">http://www.iowareadingresearch.org/</a></span>. IRRC has worked extensively with trained educators and parents who have reviewed hundreds of resources for content, quality, and accessibility. Only those resources receiving the highest ratings are hosted on the IRRC website. The resources are free and no log-in is required. Visitors can search the collection by literacy skill, age/grade, and resource type, or search by keyword to find learning tools that are just right for each and every child.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Whether your child is a struggling reader or is one of the most skilled readers in his or her class, he or she will benefit from the resources provided on this website and the time spent with parents or other adults while using these tools. I encourage parents to visit the IRRC website regularly for current information and additional resources.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Parents and others who support children in their reading may also want to subscribe to the IRRC’s weekly blog at <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.iowareadingresearch.org/blog/">http://www.iowareadingresearch.org/blog/</a></span> Blog readers will learn more about the individual resources in the IRRC Family Resources Collection, get specific information how to best utilize the IRC family resources, and have the opportunity read about parents’ real-life experiences with using the tools from the collection.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You can also follow the Iowa Reading Research Center’s Twitter feed at <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://twitter.com/IAReading">https://twitter.com/IAReading</a></span> or their Facebook posts at <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/iowareadingresearchcenter">https://www.facebook.com/iowareadingresearchcenter</a></span>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Whether you are a parent, grandparent, older sibling, daycare provider, or anyone else who supports young readers, I hope you will take advantage of these free, high-quality tools. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I encourage your feedback on this column, along with any questions you may have. These SUPERINTENDENT NEWS & VIEWS columns, in addition to 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 <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/">http://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/</a></span><u><span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></u>where they are all posted. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter (@DavidRobertHill) where I occasionally post updates or other information not found on the blog.<o:p></o:p></div>
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David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-57000112309262054532018-09-10T13:28:00.000-07:002018-09-10T13:31:09.420-07:00G-R Welcomes New Teachers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: 22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Superintendent News & Views</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 60.85pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 45.45pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:/Users/david/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">G-R Welcomes New Teachers<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">By David Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.0pt; tab-stops: .25in; text-indent: .25in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">The 2018-2019 school year started on August 23, and the first few weeks of school have been <b><u>GR</u></b>eat! We welcomed six new teachers to the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebel family for the 2018—2019 school year. I’m pleased to introduce each of our new teachers in the paragraphs below. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><a href="http://a%20separate%2C%20more%20detailed%20article%20focusing%20on%20each%20of%20the%20new%20staff%20members./" target="_blank">Mrs. Emily Biederman, Teacher-Librarian</a></span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">: Mrs. Emily Biederman is the district’s new K-12 Teacher-Librarian. A native of Tama County, she grew up in Dysart and graduated from Union High School in La Porte City. She holds a bachelor's degree from UNI in English Education with a 5-12 reading endorsement and a minor in creative writing. She is also currently attending UNI working on a Master's degree in School Library Science. This is Mrs. Biederman’s first full-time teaching position, having previously worked in the private sector. G-R is sharing her time with the Grundy Center Schools, where she is also serving as a Teacher-Librarian. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Commenting on the positive, welcoming environment at G-R, Mrs. Biederman said, “From the minute I stepped into the door on my first day of new teacher orientation, I was greeted by a member of the maintenance staff, who said she is there if I have any questions. As I am meeting each new teacher and member of staff, everyone has let me know they are there for support with any questions I may have, no matter how ‘silly’ my question is. G-R is not just a group of people dedicated to the education of students, but also a family who treat each other with respect and are constantly helping each other be the best educator they can be. I look forward to being in an environment which facilitates personal educational growth, but also enjoys each other's company.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><a href="http://a%20separate%2C%20more%20detailed%20article%20focusing%20on%20each%20of%20the%20new%20staff%20members./" target="_blank">Mr. Ryan Smiley, Jr. High Special Education</a></span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">: Mr. Ryan Smiley joins the Rebel Nation this year as the new Jr. High Special Education teacher at Gladbrook-Reinbeck Jr./Sr. High School. Coach Smiley has also joined the football program staff. He’s a 2015 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, with a major in PE/Health and a minor in coaching. He has experience as a teacher in the Valley Lutheran School System in Cedar Falls, where he taught K-12 Physical Education, high school health, and served as the athletic director.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Having attended the Northern University High School and taught at Valley Lutheran School, Coach Smiley appreciates and feels right at home in G-R’s small-school environment. Asked why he is excited about becoming part of the G-R Rebel family, he said, “I’m excited to be part of a small school that offers a ton of opportunities for kids. I am also excited to be coaching football again.” Mr. Smiley and his wife Alicia have two children that are attending Gladbrook-Reinbeck schools: daughter Ellie is in 9th grade and son Nathan is a 5th grader. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><a href="https://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/2018/09/get-to-knowmrs-degener.html" target="_blank">Mrs. Lacey Degener, Kindergarten</a></span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">: Mrs. Lacey Degener recently relocated to our area to join us as a new Kindergarten teacher at Gladbrook-Reinbeck Elementary School. She is a native of Minden, Iowa and a graduate of Tri-Center High School as well as Iowa State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">At Audubon, she taught 5th grade for the last five years and 6th grade English for one year prior to that. She coached 8th grade volleyball for 4 years, 9th grade volleyball for 1 year, 7th grade basketball for 2 years, and varsity tennis for 5 years. When asked about her initial impressions of Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Mrs. Degener stated, “Everyone has been very welcoming and I'm excited to start a new adventure with G-R!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><a href="https://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/2018/09/get-to-knowmiss-sauerbrei.html" target="_blank">Mrs Mackensie Sauerbrei, Secondary Spanish</a></span></u></b><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">: </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"> Miss Mackensie Sauerbrei is the new Spanish teacher at Gladbrook-Reinbeck Jr./Sr. High School. Miss Sauerbrei taught high school Spanish and coached middle school volleyball at Tipton for one year before joining the G-R staff. She has also coached high school volleyball at Waverly Shell-Rock. She is a graduate of Iowa Valley High School in her hometown, Marengo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Miss Sauerbrei attended Wartburg College in Waverly, where she majored in Secondary Education and Spanish. Her educational preparation also included a period of studying abroad in Sevilla, Spain which deepened her understanding of other cultures and the importance of learning a second language. She hopes to provide one or more international learning opportunities for G-R students. Miss Saurbrei is pleased to have the opportunity to become a G-R Rebel, explaining, “I’m excited to be a part of such a welcoming school district and community.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><a href="https://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/2018/09/get-to-knowmrs-sabotta.html" target="_blank">Mrs. Laura Sabotta, 5-12 Band & 4-6 Music</a></span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">: Mrs. Laura Sabotta is the new band director for grades 5-12. She is also teaching music to students in grades 4 & 6. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree and a Master of Music Degree from the University of Northern Iowa in Music Education, as well as an Artist Diploma in Bassoon Performance. She’s a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota and a graduate of Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">While this is Mrs. Sabotta’s first year as a teacher, she did previously serve as a graduate assistant in the music program at UNI and teach lessons while working on her master’s degree at UNI. She explained that she’s excited to be at G-R because, “The staff and students are kind and easy to work with. I feel appreciated and supported in what I do.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><a href="https://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/2018/09/get-to-knowmrs-sabotta.html" target="_blank">Mrs. Sydney Kauten, 5th Grade</a></span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">: Mrs. Sydney Kauten joins G-R this year as a 5th Grade Teacher at Gladbrook-Reinbeck Elementary School. A native of Iowa City, she graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with degrees in Early Childhood and Elementary Education with minors in Mathematics and Literacy. Prior to teaching at G-R, she taught for six years in the Waterloo Community School District. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">When asked about her initial impression of the school after her first few days at Gladbrook-Reinbeck Elementary, Mrs. Kauten replied, “It’s been phenomenal. The students are respectful and come to school excited to learn. The staff has been extremely welcoming and act as a team so that students receive the best education possible.” She went on to add, “When I interviewed for the fifth grade position last spring, I told Principal Bradi Johnson that I was looking for a home -- and I think I have found that in Gladbrook-Reinbeck Elementary.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">More Fun & Interesting Facts About Our New Teachers:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Which of these new teachers didn’t like the subject they are currently teaching when they were a student in school? Which one enjoys reading comic books and playing strategy games? Which one can be found on YouTube lip syncing badly? What are our new teachers’ favorite books of all time? Why did these teachers decide to pursue a career in education? Find the answers to these questions and more in the </span><i style="font-size: 10pt;">“Get to Know…”</i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> series of blog posts, which includes a</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px; text-indent: 0.25in;"> separate, more detailed article focusing on each of the new teachers:</span><br />
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<li style="background: none; border-top-color: rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.5); border-top-style: dashed; border-width: 0px; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="https://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/2018/09/get-to-knowmrs-degener.html" style="color: #100077; text-decoration-line: none;">Get to Know…Mrs. Degener</a></li>
<li style="background: none; border-top-color: rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.5); border-top-style: dashed; border-width: 0px; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="https://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/2018/09/get-to-knowmrs-biederman.html" style="color: #100077; text-decoration-line: none;">Get to Know…Mrs. Biederman</a></li>
<li style="background: none; border-top-color: rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.5); border-top-style: dashed; border-width: 0px; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="https://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/2018/09/get-to-knowmrs-sabotta.html" style="color: #100077; text-decoration-line: none;">Get to Know…Mrs. Sabotta</a></li>
<li style="background: none; border-top-color: rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.5); border-top-style: dashed; border-width: 0px; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="https://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/2018/09/get-to-knowmrs-kauten.html" style="color: #100077; text-decoration-line: none;">Get to Know…Mrs. Kauten</a></li>
<li style="background: none; border-top-color: rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.5); border-top-style: dashed; border-width: 0px; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0.25em 0px; padding: 0.25em 0px 0.25em 1.3em;"><a href="https://rebelsupt.blogspot.com/2018/09/get-to-knowmiss-sauerbrei.html" style="color: #100077; text-decoration-line: none;">Get to Know…Miss Sauerbrei</a></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">I’ve always believed TEACHERS are a school’s greatest resource, and G-R employs some of the very best in the business! These new additions to the Gladbrook-Reinbeck teaching staff have been carefully selected for the skills, abilities, and aptitudes that they will bring to our educational community. We’re excited to have these new Rebels on board, and I encourage everyone in our educational community to help them to feel welcome and supported in the important work they do. Welcome, new Rebels!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-69349877848467928882018-09-09T12:52:00.000-07:002018-09-09T12:52:00.332-07:00Get to Know…Mr. Smiley!<br />
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<span style="font-family: roboto; font-size: 12pt;">Mr. Ryan Smiley joins Gladbrook-Reinbeck this year as the new Jr. High Special Education teacher. He feels right at home in G-R’s small-school environment, having graduated from Northern University High School and taught at Valley Lutheran School in Cedar Falls prior to joining the G-R staff. He’s a 2015 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, with a major in PE/Health and a minor in coaching. At Valley Lutheran, he taught grades K-12 Physical Education, high school health, and served as the athletic director. Here are a few interesting facts about Mr. Smiley:</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Why did you become a teacher? </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To help teach young people to become men and women of empathy and integrity who will lead, be responsible and change the world for good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Your favorite teacher: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jann Miller, Neil Phipps, Bob Lee, Tracy Johns. All of them played a very important role in my education but also in what kind of person I wanted to be. They were able to fill gaps when I was struggling with things at home/Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Hobbies: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Kayaking, Golf, Disk Golf, Watching football<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Favorite subject when you were a student</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">: </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">PE/Anatomy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Favorite activity while in high school: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Football-Track<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Favorite Superhero: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Superman 1978<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Favorite sport/team: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Notre Dame<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Last book you read</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">: </span><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sacred Acre: The Ed Thomas Story</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> by Mark Tabb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">All-time favorite book:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">InSideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> by Joe Ehrmann. In his book, he talks about how impactful coaches can be <u class="">IF</u> they are coaching for the right reasons, and how to examine yourself before and during your coaching/teaching to help ensure that the kids are getting the best out of you and you are getting the best out of the kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Initial impressions of G-R</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">:</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #db4437; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I am excited to be part of a small school that offers a ton of opportunities for kids. I am also excited to be coaching football again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">What did I forget to ask? </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wife- Alicia; Daughter-Ellie 9th Grade at G-R Jr./Sr. H.S; Son Nathan (Nate)- 5th Grade at G-R Elementary.</span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">The #RebelNation welcomes Mr. Smiley and his family to Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community Schools! </span></b></div>
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David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-20754419629309790532018-09-07T21:12:00.002-07:002018-09-07T21:12:47.726-07:00Get to Know…Mrs. Degener!<br />
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Get to Know…Mrs. Degener!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We welcome Mrs. Lacey Degener to the district as a new Kindergarten teacher at Gladbrook-Reinbeck Elementary School. She recently relocated to the area after teaching and coaching in Audubon, Iowa for the past six years. She is a native of Minden, Iowa and a graduate of Tri-Center High School as well as Iowa State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. Here are a few interesting facts about Mrs. Degener:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Initial impressions of G-R</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">:</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #db4437; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Everyone has been very welcoming and I'm excited to start a new adventure with G-R!</span><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Prior Teaching Experience:<span style="color: #db4437;"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I taught 5th grade for the last five years in Audubon as well as 6th grade English for one year. I coached 8th grade volleyball (4 years), 9th grade volleyball (1 year), 7th grade basketball (2 years), and varsity tennis (5 years).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSR4lIkIfExhqK-db_QXBkBea44itccdhS5oE33AnO3nKTiDRbAjF97S151_v3AzO0BR2ZBKoBUd2wkMZWrYI9cXnJYfcmaX1OVO5ih3QpnZOM0BwQkE4nPXeU_XEMmnRZZ2C3XLNvsA/s1600/Welcome+to+G-R%2521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="681" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSR4lIkIfExhqK-db_QXBkBea44itccdhS5oE33AnO3nKTiDRbAjF97S151_v3AzO0BR2ZBKoBUd2wkMZWrYI9cXnJYfcmaX1OVO5ih3QpnZOM0BwQkE4nPXeU_XEMmnRZZ2C3XLNvsA/s200/Welcome+to+G-R%2521.JPG" width="200" /></a><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Favorite subject when you were a student</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">: </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">History<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Activities while in high school: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Volleyball, Basketball, and FFA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Favorite sport/team: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kansas City Chiefs, Iowa State Cyclones</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Your favorite teacher:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My high school biology teacher, Miss Keogh. I wasn’t a fan of Science, but she helped me understand it and she is part of the reason I became a teacher as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Last book you read</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">: </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just starting <i>Girl, Wash Your Face</i> by Rachel Hollis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">All-time favorite book:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wonder </span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">by R. J. Palacio. I read this book with my 5th graders every year and the conversations we had while reading, after reading, and referring back were amazing. The book made such an impression on me both personally as well as seeing my kids sympathize and empathize with Auggie and grow as individuals as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">We’re excited to welcome Mrs. Degener to Gladbrook-Reinbeck Elementary and to the Rebel family! </span></b></div>
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David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-6669921763915089122018-09-06T09:36:00.000-07:002018-09-06T09:36:29.284-07:00Get to Know…Mrs. Biederman!<br />
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Get to Know…Mrs. Biederman!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mrs. Emily Biederman is the district’s new K-12 Teacher Librarian. A native of Tama County, she grew up in Dysart and graduated from Union High School in La Porte City. She holds a bachelor's degree from UNI in English Education with a 5-12 reading endorsement and a minor in creative writing. She is also currently attending UNI working on a Master's degree in School Library Science. G-R is sharing her time with the Grundy Center Schools, where she is also serving as a Teacher Librarian. Here are a few fun facts about Mrs. Biederman:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Favorite subject when you were a student</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">: </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">English<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Favorite sport or activity in high school: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Show choir or the musical<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Hobbies: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Playing piano, cooking and baking, golf, reading, watching new movies (whether seeing them in the theater or watching movies from my own DVD selection repeatedly!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Initial impressions of G-R</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">:</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #db4437; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My initial impression of G-R was how welcoming all the staff is! From the minute I stepped into the door on my first day of new teacher orientation, I was greeted by a member of the maintenance staff, who said she is there if I have any questions. As I am meeting each new teacher and member of staff, everyone has let me know they are there for support with any questions I may have, no matter how "silly" my question is. G-R is not just a group of people dedicated to the education of students, but also a family who treat each other with respect and are constantly helping each other be the best educator they can be. I look forward to being in an environment which facilitates personal educational growth, but also enjoys each other's company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Prior Teaching Experience:<span style="color: #db4437;"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is my first year as a teacher. I had previously student taught at North Tama JH/HS in the fall of 2013 and substitute taught for North Tama and Union until accepting a non-teaching position for a Waterloo company. After being accepted back at UNI for my Master's degree, I am very excited to get back into teaching!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Your favorite teacher:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mrs. Ford, my now retired English teacher from Union High School. Some students thought she was too harsh, and I agree that she had a tough grading scale, but I learned more in one of her classes than I learned from other teachers in an entire school year. She was honest when grading my papers and by the end of each unit, I felt like I had grown and would grow even more in the next unit. She was constantly pushing each student to challenge themselves; if they didn't agree with the grade she had given them, or wanted to know why they had earned it, she took the time to sit down with us and explain her rationale. All she wanted was for her students to succeed, and if that meant tough love, that's what she did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">A funny story from your school days: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I earned the role of the Statue of Liberty for my fifth grade spring concert, but the night before the concert I slept in the wrong position and woke up with a sore neck. I went to the chiropractor and still could not straighten it by showtime, but I was not giving up this role that I had auditioned and memorized lines for, so I was the Statue of Liberty with a crooked neck!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Why did you become a teacher? </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My aunt, who taught middle school language arts, and was my teacher for three years, inspired me to become a teacher. She was an engaging teacher and made learning fun! I looked forward to coming to her class each day, not only because she was my aunt or because English was my strongest subject, but because of the way she taught her lessons. I wanted to have that same impact on students of my own someday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Favorite Superhero: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ironman - he is smart but still has a great sense of humor!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Favorite author: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Shel Silverstein</span><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Last book you read: </span></b><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book </span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">by Jennifer Donnelly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">All-time favorite book:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> by J. K. Rowling is probably my favorite book. It was really hard to choose my "absolute favorite" book because I have read so many good ones! I ended up choosing the first book in the Harry Potter series because the first time I read it, I remember thinking it was unlike any book or series I had ever read. The author had created an amazing new universe that was completely realistic. The book was written in such a manner that I was unable to put it down! I remember reading this in the summer after my sixth grade year and cozying up in my living room to read instead of going to the pool with all my friends. I not only read this book once, but have read the entire series at least three times (not including the most recent "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" book - I've only read that one once at this point)! I like that this book (and series) is enjoyed by audiences of all ages - from elementary kids to adults!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">We’re pleased to have Mrs. Biederman join the faculty and the G-R family! Welcome to Gladbrook-Reinbeck! </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-66626425709893200582018-09-05T07:09:00.000-07:002018-09-05T07:09:58.006-07:00Get to Know…Mrs. Sabotta!<br />
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Get
to Know…Mrs. Sabotta!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We’re pleased to welcome Mrs. Laura Sabotta
as a new member of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck teaching staff. She is our band
director for grades 5-12, and she is also teaching music to students in grades
4 & 6 at the elementary school. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree and a
Master of Music Degree from the University of Northern Iowa in Music Education,
as well as an Artist Diploma in Bassoon Performance. Here are a few fun facts
about Mrs. Sabotta: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Hometown: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Minneapolis, Minnesota<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">High
School: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cedar Rapids - Kennedy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Hobbies: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Reading comic books, playing puzzle & strategy games with friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Favorite
subjects when you were a student</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">:
<b> </b></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Math and music<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Why
did you become a teacher? </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I enjoy problem-solving, being creative,
and helping others - becoming an educator fits all three of those interests!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Prior
Teaching Experience:<span style="color: #db4437;"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I taught lessons as a music graduate assistant for
the past two years while completing my Master's degree at UNI. I also
substitute taught at Wapsie Valley CSD when my college classes were not in
session.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Initial
impressions of G-R</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">:</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #db4437; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I'm excited to be at G-R because the staff and students are kind and
easy to work with. I feel appreciated and supported in what I do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">All
of us in the #RebelNation are pleased to welcome Mrs. Sabotta to Gladbrook-Reinbeck
Community Schools! </span></b></div>
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David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-11390560417177937852018-09-04T05:58:00.000-07:002018-09-04T05:58:50.125-07:00Get to Know…Mrs. Kauten!<br />
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Get to Know…Mrs. Kauten!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9Iw2owLFWkkrBIdvpi7iwmynXaucXYiNvGUumsrO_q4pidUULjVgaKPvYf89soPM_QS0yFfb_Pz7wyFdrCYPq6VHT-1SeCqmZ-h-ziXKhEwle8JfLguKOqMC1jo3M1unQfA2mbtTSdw/s1600/Sydney+Kauten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1003" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9Iw2owLFWkkrBIdvpi7iwmynXaucXYiNvGUumsrO_q4pidUULjVgaKPvYf89soPM_QS0yFfb_Pz7wyFdrCYPq6VHT-1SeCqmZ-h-ziXKhEwle8JfLguKOqMC1jo3M1unQfA2mbtTSdw/s320/Sydney+Kauten.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the second in a series of blog posts introducing students, staff, parents, and district patrons to the new teachers at Gladbrook-Reinbeck. Each of the new teachers has answered a few questions to help us get to know them better - watch for a new blog post each weekday until all six of the new teachers have been introduced. Up next is the new 5th Grade Teacher at Gladbrook-Reinbeck Elementary School, Mrs. Sydney Kauten. Please join me in welcoming her to the G-R Rebel Family!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A native of Iowa City, Mrs. Kauten graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with degrees in Early Childhood and Elementary Education with minors in Mathematics and Literacy. Prior to teaching at G-R, she taught for six years in the Waterloo Community School District. Here are a few interesting facts about Mrs. Kauten:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Last book you read</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">: </span><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Girl, Wash Your Face</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> by Rachel Hollis</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Favorite subject when you were a student</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">: </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Science<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Favorite sport or activity</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">: </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Baseball<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Prior Teaching Experience:<span style="color: #db4437;"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I taught for six years in the Waterloo Community School District. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Why did you become a teacher?</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I became a teacher because I love working with kids and feel that making learning fun is vital to developing lifelong learners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Initial impressions of G-R</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">:</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> My first few days at Gladbrook-Reinbeck Elementary have been phenomenal. The students are respectful and come to school excited to learn. The staff has been extremely welcoming and act as a team so that students receive the best education possible. When I interviewed for the fifth grade position last spring, I told Principal Bradi Johnson that I was looking for a home -- and I think I have found that in Gladbrook-Reinbeck Elementary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;">We’re pleased to welcome Mrs. Kauten to G-R Elementary and to the Gladbrook-Reinbeck School System! </span></b><br />
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 15.0pt;"><br /></span></b>David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9046988208749799182.post-7820465341486498452018-09-03T15:06:00.000-07:002018-09-03T15:06:04.711-07:00Get to Know…Miss Sauerbrei!<br />
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Get to Know…Miss Sauerbrei!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Over the next few days, I’d like to introduce you to the new members of the teaching staff at Gladbrook-Reinbeck. Each of the new G-R teachers has taken time to answer a few questions to help us get to know them better -- and I’ll be sharing this information in a series of blog posts in the coming days. We’ll start with our new Secondary Spanish Teacher, Miss Mackensie Saurbrei. Please join us in welcoming her to the G-R Rebel Family.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">A native of Marengo, Miss Saurbrei graduated from Iowa Valley High School before going to college at Wartburg, where she majored in Secondary Education and Spanish. She taught high school Spanish at Tipton and coached middle school volleyball for one year before joining the G-R staff. She has also coached high school volleyball at Waverly Shell-Rock. Here are a few fun facts about Miss Saurbrei:</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Initial impressions of G-R</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">:</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"> </span><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #db4437; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"> </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">I am excited to be a part of such a welcoming school district and community<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Hobbies: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Running, traveling, reading & playing volleyball<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Favorite Author: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Jodi Picoult<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Last book you read</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">: </span><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Harry Potter y el prisionero de Azkaban</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"> by J. K. Rowling<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">All-time favorite books:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">The <i>Harry Potter </i>book series because I wish I could attend Hogwarts and do magic!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Favorite athletic team: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Golden State Warriors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Favorite Superhero: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Spiderman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Favorite subject when you were a student</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">: </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Art<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Favorite activity while in high school: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Volleyball<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">A funny story from your school days: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">I stared in my high school's lip dub and lip-synced a song that I still don't know the words to. Unfortunately, it can be found on YouTube.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Your favorite teacher:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Mrs. Megchelson (my HS Spanish teacher). I didn't appreciate her at the time or like Spanish in high school but I realized when I got to college and took Spanish how much she taught me and how great of an opportunity she gave me by taking us to Mexico.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Why did you become a teacher? </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">I want to show students the importance and value that learning a second language can have, whether it is Spanish or another language. I also want to have students experience Spanish in a fun, authentic way that encourages them to study abroad or travel to other places in the world; I am most hopeful to give students that opportunity through a trip abroad.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">What did I forget to ask? </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">What is the favorite place I have ever traveled to? Sevilla, Spain (where I studied abroad). </span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">We’re pleased to have Miss Saurbrei join the faculty and the G-R family! Welcome to Gladbrook-Reinbeck! </span></b></div>
David R. Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04106091402823177453noreply@blogger.com0