Explore

Iowa City Community School District Initiates Superintendent Search, Seeks Community Input

Iowa City Community School District Initiates Superintendent Search, Seeks Community Input

The Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) has officially commenced its search for a new superintendent. The district is collaborating with Grundmeyer Leader Services to manage the search process. A key component of this process involves gathering feedback from various stakeholders, including families, staff, students, and community members. This feedback will be collected through an online survey and a series of focus groups. The online survey, which is open from November 13-29, 2026, allows participants to anonymously share their perspectives on the desired personal and professional qualities for the next superintendent. Additionally, Grundmeyer Leader Services will conduct stakeholder focus groups on December 2, 2026, to gather further insights. The results of the survey will be presented to the Board of Education at its meeting on December 8, 2026. The application period for candidates is scheduled from November 12, 2026, to January 17, 2027, with finalist interviews planned for March 1, 2027.

Iowa City School Board Faces $13.8 Million Budget Cut Decision by March 2027

Iowa City School Board Faces $13.8 Million Budget Cut Decision by March 2027

The Iowa City school board is tasked with making decisions by March 2027 to cut $13.8 million from its budget for the 2027-28 school year. This is part of a larger plan to reduce spending by $32.5 million over the next four years. The Attendance Boundary Committee, a 50-member ad hoc group, is currently developing scenarios for school closures and attendance boundary adjustments. Committee members have expressed concerns about the tight timeline and lack of comprehensive data to make informed decisions. Interim Superintendent Amy Kortemeyer acknowledged the short timeframe but emphasized the need for a decision before spring break to allow for communication and support for staff and families. The district's financial challenges stem from a projected 1% annual increase in per-pupil state aid, a sharp decline in projected enrollment, and past financial mismanagement under previous leadership, which led to a significant cash-strapped situation.

Cobb County Schools Engage Students and Communities to Honor Veterans

Cobb County Schools Engage Students and Communities to Honor Veterans

Across the Cobb County School District on November 11, 2026, schools organized various events to honor veterans, bringing together students, educators, and communities. Activities ranged from veterans breakfasts and parades to school assemblies, musical performances, and personal stories of service. Pickett’s Mill Elementary School hosted 100-year-old U.S. Navy veteran Lieutenant Richard Stroud, whose story was shared by Lt. Col. Matt Gerber. Sprayberry High School featured military displays and music, while Lassiter High School held a breakfast and presentation. Elementary schools like Nickajack, Powers Ferry, Keheley, Mountain View, Davis, Bullard, Russell, and Murdock also held breakfasts, parades, and special remarks. Middle and high schools, including Durham and South Cobb, organized assemblies and ceremonies, ensuring veterans felt appreciated and students understood the meaning of service.

Dunkin' Rewards Wyoming Teacher of the Year Brian Cox with Free Coffee for a Year

Dunkin' Rewards Wyoming Teacher of the Year Brian Cox with Free Coffee for a Year

Brian Cox, Wyoming's 2027 Teacher of the Year, was surprised with a year of free Dunkin' coffee. The surprise was orchestrated by the franchisees of the new Pershing Avenue Dunkin' location, who visited Cox's agricultural science class at South High. In addition to the free coffee for Cox, his students received free donuts and $5 Dunkin' gift cards. Cox expressed his gratitude, noting that he knew something was unusual when school administration inquired about his presence in class that day. He emphasized that being recognized as Teacher of the Year is an unplanned honor, often stemming from student nominations and district-level wins. Cox highlighted his campaign's focus on providing opportunities for students and praised the dedication and eagerness to learn exhibited by the students at South High School.

De Soto Area School District Appoints Scott Kelly as Middle High School Principal

De Soto Area School District Appoints Scott Kelly as Middle High School Principal

Scott Kelly, a veteran educator within the De Soto Area School District, has been appointed as the new principal of De Soto Middle & High School. Kelly is a familiar face in the district, having worked there for 13 years. He began his tenure teaching science at the Middle & High School and, by his second year, also took on the responsibility of chartering and running the district's online virtual school, a role he continues to hold. Prior to this new appointment, Kelly served as an elementary principal for two years, first at Prairie View Elementary in Retreat, and then concurrently at both Prairie View and Stoddard Elementary. His transition to the Middle & High School principal role is part of a broader district board plan, which saw previous Middle & High School principal Tim Fergot become superintendent, and Derek Fuglsang take over as principal for both Prairie View and Stoddard Elementary for the 2026-27 school year.

Ferndale High School Teachers Secure Compensation After Classroom Flooding Incident

Ferndale High School Teachers Secure Compensation After Classroom Flooding Incident

Teachers at Ferndale High School in a Detroit suburb successfully advocated for compensation after multiple classrooms were flooded due to the school's dilapidated building. On the eve of professional development week, seven classrooms were found with industrial fans and dehumidifiers, rendering them unsuitable for preparation. Despite an email from the principal stating the classrooms were 'ready for our return,' teachers discovered the spaces were far from functional. This led to a collective action where six teachers marched to the principal's office to demand either paid time for classroom setup or an exemption from professional development sessions. Initially met with a dismissive response, including the principal filming them for TikTok, the teachers' unified front ultimately resulted in the approval of three hours of paid time for classroom setup. This incident highlights ongoing issues with the school's infrastructure, which has experienced three floods in the past nine months, including one where ...

Bridgeport Public Schools Considers State Financial Oversight Amid Budget Challenges

Bridgeport Public Schools Considers State Financial Oversight Amid Budget Challenges

Bridgeport Public Schools is exploring the possibility of seeking state financial oversight to address ongoing budget challenges. This consideration comes after the district faced a significant budget gap of approximately $38 million in its 2024-25 budget and a projected $39 million deficit for the 2025-26 school year, partly due to the expiration of over $150 million in federal pandemic relief funding. State law allows local and regional boards of education to request a fiscal intervention and oversight plan from the state Department of Education, which would then be reviewed by the Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB). While this process could potentially unlock additional state funding, it does not guarantee it. School board members, including Rob Traber and Joseph Sokolovic, have expressed reservations, citing unanswered questions about MARB's functionality and concerns about potential limitations on local control without assured financial benefits. The district had previously explored this opt...

Technology Access Foundation Celebrates 30 Years of Empowering Students of Color in STEM Education

Technology Access Foundation Celebrates 30 Years of Empowering Students of Color in STEM Education

The Technology Access Foundation (TAF), a Seattle-based nonprofit, is celebrating its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of efforts to provide STEM education and career opportunities for students of color. Founded by Trish Millines Dziko, who left Microsoft in 1996, TAF initially focused on teaching computer skills and securing tech internships. A notable moment in its history occurred in 2002 when then-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer publicly offered an internship to Miya McClain, a TAF student, during a luncheon. Over the years, TAF evolved its approach, moving into public education by co-managing a middle and high school in Federal Way, Washington, and coaching teachers to integrate STEM skills into broader curricula. The organization emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership, aiming to equip students for any field, not just technology.

Plante Moran Issues Clean Audit for Saline Area Schools Amidst Healthy Reserves and Enrollment Increase

Plante Moran Issues Clean Audit for Saline Area Schools Amidst Healthy Reserves and Enrollment Increase

Saline Area Schools concluded the 2025-26 fiscal year with a robust $23.1 million in general fund reserves and received a clean financial audit from independent auditors Plante Moran. This report was presented to the Board of Education on November 10. The clean audit opinion signifies that the district's financial statements accurately reflect its financial position in accordance with accepted accounting standards for the fiscal year ending June 30. The district's general fund balance saw an increase of $676,549, bringing total reserves to approximately $23.1 million. These reserves represent 27.9% of annual operating expenditures, which is higher than the latest statewide average of 24.6% for the 2024-25 fiscal year and equivalent to about 14 weeks of operating costs. Despite an 11.4% increase in expenditures, primarily due to salaries and benefits accounting for 85% of spending, the district maintained a healthy financial standing. Superintendent Rachel Kowalski also reported a slight increase of one stu...

On This Day in 1968, the Supreme Court Struck Down an Evolution Ban

On This Day in 1968, the Supreme Court Struck Down an Evolution Ban

The legal battle over teaching evolution in American public schools has a long and contentious history, deeply intertwined with religious and cultu...

Philadelphia Teachers Union Proposes Plan to Save 17 Schools from Closure

Philadelphia Teachers Union Proposes Plan to Save 17 Schools from Closure

The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) has unveiled a new Facilities Action Plan aimed at saving and improving 17 schools slated for closure by the School District of Philadelphia. The union's plan, announced on Wednesday, serves as an alternative to the district's proposal to consolidate and move students from schools deemed to be in poor condition or underperforming. The Philadelphia Board of Education, appointed by the mayor, approved the district's closure plan in April, drawing significant criticism from families, staff, students, and some City Council members. PFT President Arthur Steinberg stated that the union's plan holds the district accountable for years of 'negligence' that allowed minor facilities issues to escalate into major capital projects. The union argues that declining enrollment, cited by the district as a reason for closures, is partly due to poorly maintained facilities.

Jeanne Allen's 'The Education Avengers' Highlights Courageous Education Reformers Across the U.S.

Jeanne Allen's 'The Education Avengers' Highlights Courageous Education Reformers Across the U.S.

Jeanne Allen's book, 'The Education Avengers,' profiles 12 education reformers from various parts of the United States. The book emphasizes the concept of 'hope' as an active virtue, contrasting it with passive optimism, through the stories of individuals who have dedicated themselves to improving the education system. Among those featured are Mary Jo Fairhead, who runs a private school on the Pine Ridge Reservation; Aaron Frumin, founder of unCommon Construction in New Orleans; and Cris Gulacy-Worrel, co-founder of Oakmont Education in Ohio. Other notable figures include Eugene Slocum, who founded Alpha Academy in Fayetteville, North Carolina, making personal sacrifices to keep it operational; José and Ampy Suárez, who established Hope Ranch in Pasco County, Florida, initially for foster children and later expanding to serve autistic individuals; and JoAnn Mitchell, who founded Mission Achievement and Success Charter School in New Mexico. These individuals often left comfortable lives or overcame signific...