Superintendent highlights ISU Extension collaboration, legacy partnership and proposes committee to explore new activity facility

Mike (superintendent, last name not specified) briefed the Ottumwa Community School District board on community partnerships and possible use of land the district recently acquired after demolitions. He described a recent collaboration with Iowa State Extension and Outreach and with Legacy and asked the board whether it wants staff to convene a small committee to explore potential uses for the cleared lots adjacent to the high school.

Mike said ISU Extension provided community survey data and outreach that the district used to inform long-range decisions about facilities and community perception, and he credited the group with helping the district’s downtown revitalization work and recruitment. “My hope for our community and hope for other communities is that they look at what we're doing and they realize they can do it as well,” he said.

The superintendent said Legacy is helping to expand the district’s “brain health” retreat rooms (one currently at the high school) and is discussing funding for a similar room at the middle school. He also described options under consideration for the lot created when houses burned and were demolished for training and other purposes: potential uses discussed included parking, a Morton-style building for indoor marching and storage, archery storage, a golf simulator or practice lanes for the school’s bowling program.

On the facility idea, Mike asked the board if any members would volunteer for a planning committee to gather stakeholder input and develop requirements. Board members expressed general support for exploring uses and several district activity coaches identified storage needs for archery and other programs. No formal action was taken; the superintendent said he would set up meetings to solicit input and report back.

Separately, the superintendent said the district is considering a 3.5-hour virtual make-up day to recover weather-related instructional time; he planned to consult the teachers’ union before finalizing and said a staff update would follow. He also thanked the fire department for participating in controlled burns of the houses, which the superintendent said saved the district money and provided local training opportunities for firefighters.

Announcements included upcoming high school theater productions and community events; board members noted a student budget exercise conducted by ISU Extension that engaged students in practical money-management activities.

No formal votes were recorded on the facility-exploration discussion or the partnership updates at this meeting.