Indianola board approves one-year Donovan Group contract, creates student success coordinator and adopts handbooks

The Indianola Community School District board approved a package of administrative actions at its meeting, including a one-year contract with the Donovan Group for communications services, the creation of a student success coordinator position aimed at the 7th–9th grade transition, and adoption of the 2026–27 transportation handbook and updated board calendar.

The board approved the Donovan Group contract by a recorded vote of 6–0 after a lengthy discussion about the vendor’s scope, performance measures and cost. Staff described the Donovan Group’s work as including branding, social-media posts, enrollment promotions and occasional video production; staff said the district’s branding guide and a recent video were developed by the firm. The monthly fee for the contract was stated in meeting discussion as $3,500 and the contract as presented is a one‑year agreement billed monthly. A staff member said the district had asked the vendor for a 30‑day extension to allow time for additional review and for the board to see more usage and engagement data before making longer-term choices.

"They came in and within a week were able to develop things very quickly for us," a staff member said, describing the firm’s early work on branding and crisis communications. Several board members said they wanted clearer performance metrics and greater clarity on how many hours the firm devotes to district work and whether a scaled or student‑involved option might be feasible.

Board discussion repeatedly raised the possibility of involving students through internships or school classes for social‑media and live‑stream production. Staff cautioned the board that the district currently lacks the curriculum and infrastructure to immediately assume full responsibility for production and recommended a measured transition. A motion to approve the one‑year contract passed 6–0; board members asked staff to return with a plan and set a March reminder to review progress.

In addition to the communications contract, the board approved a new student success coordinator position intended to support students identified by the early‑warning system during the 7th–9th grade transition. Staff provided a job description and said the position is not a master‑contract classroom teacher role but would follow the district salary schedule where appropriate and include five additional workdays. The motion to create the position carried 6–0.

The board also adopted the proposed 2026–27 transportation handbook as recommended by the transportation department and approved an updated board meeting calendar that consolidates some committee meetings into two monthly work sessions; both motions passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance: - One‑year contract with Donovan Group (communications services): approved, vote 6–0; monthly fee stated as $3,500; staff asked vendor for a 30‑day extension to supply additional usage data and will return with a plan. - Student success coordinator position (new position to support grades 7–9): approved, vote 6–0; job description and compensation structure discussed; position not part of the master contract. - Transportation handbook 2026–27: approved, vote 6–0. - Updated board meeting calendar (new work‑session format): approved, vote 6–0.

What’s next: Board members asked staff to collect data on Donovan Group performance and staff satisfaction, to explore scaled packages or student internship options, and to bring a progress report or plan back by March. Staff will post or publish the new job posting for the coordinator position as appropriate and implement the transportation handbook and calendar changes in the coming months.