School board approves one‑year Donovan Group communications contract at $3,500 per month; members urge student involvement

The Indianola Community School District board voted 6–0 to approve a one‑year contract with the Donovan Group to provide communications, branding and social‑media services for the district at a confirmed monthly cost of $3,500.

Board members pulled the Donovan Group item from the consent agenda for discussion and debated whether to continue the existing vendor package or scale services so district staff and students could assume more of the day‑to‑day social‑media work. Several trustees suggested developing student internships or class partnerships to give high‑school students real‑world experience in digital communications and to support live‑streaming of events.

During discussion the board confirmed the cost and contract structure. "The monthly amount is ... $3,500," the chair said while clarifying the contract is written as a one‑year agreement paid on a monthly basis. Members raised questions about how many hours the vendor devotes to district work and whether a reduced package could cover strategic communications while the district increases internal capacity.

Trustees asked staff to collect usage and satisfaction metrics and suggested a possible 30‑day extension while the district evaluates alternatives and gathers staff and student feedback. One board member recommended approving the one‑year renewal and directing the vendor to return with a plan that includes how students could be integrated and how the district would measure effectiveness.

The motion to approve the one‑year contract passed 6–0. Board members asked for a March update on the contract and discussions about student involvement and live‑streaming plans.

Next steps: staff will collect usage/engagement data and bring recommendations or revised packages for consideration; the board flagged follow‑up reporting in March.