May is School Board Recognition Month, sponsored by the Iowa Association of School Boards. The month is designed to celebrate the contributions of board members to Iowa public education. Ottumwa Schools is celebrating the work of school board members, who are Launching Iowa’s Next Generation through their commitment to students, schools, and communities.
“While school board members are elected by the community, they serve as unpaid innovators who help our students and staff Be The Best by devoting their time to monthly meetings, reviewing board materials, communicating with citizens, exploring learning opportunities, and attending school functions and activities,” said Superintendent Mike McGrory.
The Ottumwa School Board is charged with being the navigator for our school district. They oversee the budget, develop policies, set the atmosphere for the district, and make decisions that impact the entire community. Most importantly, they are committed to student achievement.
“Our school board keeps the district on course. They serve 4,800 students and more than 600 employees and are responsible for an annual budget of $98 million. It’s a big job for no pay, but our board members say they serve to meet the needs of our students and our community,” said McGrory.
Ottumwa Schools shined a spotlight on our school board at the regular monthly meeting Monday, May 9. Board members received a certificate of appreciation and watched a video highlighting the district’s appreciation of their efforts.
The board members serving Ottumwa are: Morgan Brown, president; Becky Ingle; Brian Jones, Christina Schark, David Weilbrenner, Jeremy Weller, and Jan Wetrich.