Recognizing Our School Board Members

Superintendent News & Views

Recognizing Our School Board Members

By David Hill, Gladbrook-Reinbeck Superintendent

May is School Board Recognition Month in Iowa, honoring the men and women who serve on the of Boards of Education in school districts across the state. These dedicated public servants become school board members because they are committed to improving public education and their communities.

Our board members devote many hours to making sure Gladbrook-Reinbeck is a safe and efficient place to work and learn. Their actions ensure that the dedicated educators are Gladbrook-Reinbeck Schools have the resources and instructional programs needed to educate children to their fullest potential.

School board members face complex and demanding challenges. Yet few people fully understand the scope and far-reaching implications of board members’ responsibilities. I hope that all citizens of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District appreciate the vital contributions of our board members for the crucial role they play in the education of our children. Their job entails an endless string of meetings and school functions to attend; reams of reports, agendas, proposals and other information to read and study; and a host of difficult decisions to make.

These volunteer leaders also are responsible for formulating school policy, approving curricular changes, maintaining school facilities and adhering to ever-changing state and federal education laws. Legal concerns and the complexities of school finance, including budgeting and taxation, require them to spend many hours in board meetings and personal study to enhance their understanding of these issues.

As elected leaders, school board members are accountable to the voters who elected them. This isn’t always easy, but our board members show again and again that they are up to the task. They each work tirelessly to do what’s best for all of our students. Although they may individually disagree on certain issues, their role as a board is to keep the district moving forward in achieving our goals.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s current school board members are Lisa Swanson, Josh Hemann, Rod Brockett, Anne Boyer, Doug Rowe, Matt Wyatt, and Susie Petersen. When you see these leaders, I hope you will express your appreciation for their dedication and their service to our school. They deserve our recognition for a job well done!

To our school board: we appreciate your dedication and hard work on behalf of our students, staff, and community. We appreciate you!