Please take a moment and register for the 2025-26 school year! You can log in to the Parent Portal or click 'Register a Student' on our website at grinnell-k12.org.
Do you have fond memories of Davis Elementary School from your days as a student or staff member you would like to share? Take our community survey! https://bit.ly/44yYkFu
Please take a moment to read the open letter to the community. This is a collaboration between The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation, The Ahrens Foundation, The Early Learning Center, The City of Grinnell, and Grinnell-Newburg Community School District.
Update: Service has been restored!
Phones across the District are currently down. If you need assistance, please reach out to the building admin assistant via email. Thank you for your patience.
12/16/24: Grinnell-Newburg Families: There will be a two hour delay today due to the fog. Stay safe.
We want you to stay in the know with all of the messages from the school district! If you did not get the test email, text, and phone call yesterday (12/4), please log in to Infinite Campus and update your preferences for Emergency Messages. Stay warm!
Tonight wraps up the two part series with Dr JR Paulson: Mental Health Solutions for the Digital Age. Please join us at the Middle School for this free event. Pizza served at 5 pm with the Presentation starting at 6pm.
Reminder: School is in session today and tomorrow this week then closed for fall break the rest of the week. All buildings including the District Office will be closed Wed-Fri. Wishing a Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels to all.
Grinnell-Newburg CSD Board of Directors Vote to Extend
Interim Superintendent Contract Through 2025-2026
At a Special Board meeting on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, the Grinnell-Newburg CSD Board of Directors voted to extend current Interim Superintendent Lisa Beames contract through June 30, 2026 (end of the 2025-2026 school year). The district will start actively working with Grundmeyer Leader Services in the fall of 2025 in finding a permanent superintendent for the district; the new superintendent will begin on July 1, 2026.
Originally Ms. Beames was hired to serve as Interim Superintendent for the 2024-2025 school year. Members of the Board of Directors held focus meetings with staff in evaluating where the district is with various initiatives, as well as the status of climate and culture within the district and individual schools. Board members also elicited input from various community people on their perspective of where the district is at and where it is going under the direction of Ms. Beames. The findings of these focus meetings and community conversations were shared with the entire Board in a closed session at a Special Meeting on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. After reviewing the data, the Board voted unanimously to extend Ms. Beames contract through the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
Board President Chris Starrett shared: “Our original intent was to start the search for a permanent superintendent this past fall in order to fill the position for the 2025-2026 school year. However, it became obvious the work Ms. Beames is spearheading this year truly is making a positive difference for our students and staff. She has been working tirelessly with our administrative team in building and rebuilding processes that must be part of a quality school organization and school. Part of this work is also supporting and leading our current administrative team in both efficiency and consistency throughout the entire district. Lisa is also carefully analyzing the budget and assisting in making reliable budget forecasts for the district; no one wants to get in the situation again where large-scale cuts are required. Finally, Lisa is working closely with Dr. David Stoakes in building a data-based plan on the status and needs of our current school structures. Dr. Stoakes was hired part-time to support the work of facilitating the development and implementation of a facilities plan because of his background, knowledge, and success in working with facilities, as well as his love and support for the Grinnell-Newburg school district.
Because of the current positive direction of the district, the Board decided to ask Lisa to serve another year; her primary focus will be continuing the work she has started this year and putting the district in the most optimal position for the new superintendent. Lisa has openly shared she will not be a candidate for the permanent position, but will work diligently to make sure this district is positioned extremely well for the future, which will be very attractive to the superintendent candidate pool by the fall of 2025. We are thrilled Lisa will be continuing to serve the students, staff, and communities through the 2025-2026 school year.”
Interim Superintendent Lisa Beames shared: “I have not been here that long, but I have come to love Grinnell-Newburg schools and communities. I had no intention of staying more than this year; however, our administrative team, teachers, and staff have been so great to work with, I am excited to continue our work another year. We are always focusing on how best to serve the students of this district, and how we can position the Grinnell-Newburg CSD to be the most attractive position possible for the new permanent superintendent in the 2025-2026 school year. This is important work and I am honored, thrilled, and excited to be part of it! There is no place I’d rather be serving than Grinnell-Newburg.”
Math Club for Girls at Davis Elementary!!!
The Math Club is an after-school program for 3rd and 4th grade girls at Davis Elementary, designed to enhance math skills through fun and engaging activities. The club meets every Wednesday from October 9th to December 18th (excluding Thanksgiving week) in the media center, with sessions ending at 4:45 PM. The program is led by Sarah Dahlby Albright, with support from volunteers and SHE Counts. See the google form to sign up and for more information: https://forms.gle/KfPYwQWRYMPiuqDS8
Parade for Edith Renfrow Smith!!!
We got the chance to participate in a parade to honor Edith Renfrow Smith on Friday! Our students enjoyed taking the opportunity to honor, celebrate, and welcome back Ms. Renfrow Smith to Grinnell. She is an important historical figure to our community and it was a great experience for our students to be a part of.
Tigers of the Week!!! Each week we get the chance to recognize students and staff who are caught being safe, respectful, and responsible. Below you will find a picture of our Tigers of the Week! We enjoy the opportunity to recognize our students for all of their hard work in being great kids of character.
Annual Dogs For Dollars TONIGHT! Thursday, October 3rd, 5:00 P.M. Find us in Central Park get your meal before and after the parade! $5 Hot Dog (Veggie Dog by Request), Chips, Drink. This is the main fundraising event for the Tiger Scholarship Fund. 100% of graduating seniors who apply receive a minimum of $500.
Another High-5 Friday in the books. Thanks to all of our great high school role models who came to play for recess with our students. Go Tigers!!!
We had a chance to celebrate Dot Day last Friday. International Dot Day is based on the book, The Dot written by Peter Reynolds. The book shares the story of a girl who begins a journey of self-discovery after a caring teacher challenges her to “make her mark.” Kids were challenged today to celebrate their individual differences and use creativity to make their mark! We had lots of fun activities for the kids this afternoon!
