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Muscatine school board praises community response after recent tragedy, pledges ongoing support
Summary
The Muscatine Community School District board on June 8 heard the superintendent detail district and community support after a recent tragedy, thanked first responders and staff, and pledged ongoing resources and counseling as the district moves into summer and next school year.
At a June 8 meeting at the Muscatine Community School District administration center, the district superintendent told the school board the community’s response to last week’s tragedy had been “tremendous,” thanking Muscatine Police Department, first responders, counselors, AEA staff, SROs and district staff for immediate supports to students, families and employees. The superintendent said staff members Aaron Ryder and Michelle Jarrett led planning for a community event that helped begin the healing process and that community organizations and individuals repeatedly asked, “What do you need?” to offer help.
The superintendent said district and law-enforcement staff met with food-service workers and other employees at Susan Clark to provide support, including counseling and time to talk. He named Captain Jeff Ura of the Muscatine Police Department and Father Chris Weber among those who provided on-site support. The superintendent warned that recovery will not be quick and said triggers will reappear over the summer and into the next school year, so the district will continue to share resources and make supports available.
Board members praised the district’s response. One director noted therapy dogs and other supports at a recent vigil and thanked the superintendent and communications staff (named in the meeting as Matt) for crisis communications and media coordination. The board also recognized that many staff and volunteers provided food and supplies to district employees in the days after the event.
The superintendent said several training sessions originally scheduled for the week of the incident were rescheduled; a presentation planned for this meeting will be provided to the board in July. An active-shooter drill planned with the Muscatine Police Department at the high school has been postponed, likely until early August, because of ongoing construction and the number of activities on campus during the summer.
The board gave departing member Joel McConna applause and invited him to speak; the superintendent noted McConna’s years of service. The board closed by reiterating that supports remain available for staff and students and that district leadership will continue coordinating with law enforcement, the AEA and community partners.
