Each year the Marshalltown Community School District invites the Iowa Senate and House representatives to a school board meeting. Last night both newly elected officials, Kara Warme and David Blom, attended the Marshalltown School Board meeting. Dr. Theron Schutte, Superintendent of Schools, kicked off the conversation reemphasizing the 4 priority areas, starting with state supplemental aid.

Dr. Schutte shares that Branstad dropped that to a 2% increase unless the additional money was tied to a new initiative or program. Other priority areas are teacher recruitment and retention, youth mental health, and pre-school support. Warme was the first to reply back to the school board.

Warme mentions that she works with YSS and is involved battling mental health issues in youth. She shares that she is licensed substitute teacher, and wonders if that process could be tweaked. Blom, a Marshalltown High School Graduate, spoke next.

Blom, similar to Warme, plans to listen and ask questions while in the state house. This begins the relationship between the school district and our elected officials.

Both Warme and Blom plan to walk through a few of the buildings today, starting with Woodbury Elementary school.

Zach Tomesch, News Director KFJB