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The Red Oak Community School District is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Jane Hall Chaillie to serve as the new principal at Inman Elementary School.  Chaillie will replace Gayle Allensworth who accepted a leadership position in a neighboring school district. In accepting the position, Chaillie stated, “I am super excited to return to Southwest Iowa and continue my quest to make sure our children receive a world class education. The district is doing amazing work in responding to student needs and developing teacher leadership and I am both honored and humbled to be entrusted with this position of leadership. I can’t wait to get started working collaboratively with the staff to meet the needs of all students.” 

Chaillie is a graduate of Cumberland-Massena High School. She holds a Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in Elementary Education from Graceland University and a Master’s degree (M.Ed) in Literacy Education from the University of Missouri.  She earned her Doctorate (Ed.D) in Educational Leadership at Creighton University.

Chaillie has nearly twenty years of experience in education.  She served as an elementary classroom teacher, literacy coach, reading teacher and cross country and track and field coach in the Griswold CSD.  She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Education, with a focus on literacy and early childhood education, at Graceland University, in Lamoni, IA. Chaillie also served as the Educational Director of Funshine Learning Center, which earned a five-star rating under her leadership.  The center provides hands on experience to Graceland education students. Chaillie serves on various committees and boards, including the SWI STEM Advisory Board and Central Decatur Board of Education.

Ron Lorenz, the new Superintendent of the Red Oak CSD, stated, “We are excited to bring someone with Dr. Chaillie’s background and expertise to our district. Her instructional prowess, collaborative style, personal demeanor and passion for education are going to add tremendous value to our team. Dr. Chaillie has distinguished herself in the classroom and as an instructional leader.  I have no doubt she will be an outstanding principal.”

Chaillie’s keys to leadership include, “listening and observing, thinking critically and moving ideas into action.” When asked what community members, teachers and students could expect of her, Chaillie explained, “I believe in the power of high expectations. I have always had high expectations for myself and expect the same for staff and students. At the same time, I see it as my job as a school leader to make sure all the resources are in place so that each student can achieve.” 

Chaillie went on to say, “Education is my passion and is the way I can contribute to the community and world. As educators we have the unique opportunity to work with students daily and to help inspire them to discover the world around them and become problem solvers. We are preparing children for an ever-changing world, so it is imperative that we equip them with the skills and drive to be life-long learners.”

Dr. Chaillie was selected from five finalists who participated in a comprehensive interview process. This process included remote screening interviews, pre-observation questionnaires for a hypothetical classroom observation, simulated staff meetings, instructional evaluations, formal interviews and in-depth reference checks.  Feedback was collected from Inman Elementary teachers, instructional coaches, the School Administrative Manager and district administrators. A team of five facilitators reviewed the comments from each stakeholder group and weighed the strengths of each candidate relative to the others. Dr. Chaillie distinguished herself in each phase of the interview process.  She was offered the position pending formal Board approval on Friday, May 15, 2020.

Dr. Chaillie, her husband John and their three children are eager to join the Inman Elementary and Red Oak communities.  Please join the Board of Education and district in welcoming Dr. Chaillie and her family to Red Oak.

1. May child care centers obtain meals from an open Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) site?  

Answer: Centers may obtain meals from a SFSP sponsor if they enter into a vending agreement and pay the SFSP sponsor for the meals. If the center is on the CACFP, the center must pay for the meals under the agreement terms and claim them for reimbursement through the CACFP. The SFSP sponsor is not allowed to claim the meals for reimbursement. CACFP form CNP120a must be used by CACFP organizations when entering into a vending agreement with an SFSP sponsor. The form is available in IowaCNP Download Forms - Form ID CACFP003a

2. Is the guidance the same if the center is not on CACFP?  

Answer: Yes. The intent of the SFSP is to serve meals to individual children on site, or as grab and go, or home-delivered meals as permitted now under COVID-19 non-congregate waivers (not as bulk meals to organizations). SFSP sites are not allowed to provide Program meals to centers that do or do not participate in CACFP without a vending agreement. A SFSP sponsor (not a feeding site) could act as a vendor or a contractor to provide meals for another organization or business entity. 

3. Can SFSP sponsors claim the meals if the center agrees not to claim them?  

Answer: No. SFSP sites serve meals to individual children or parents of individual children. SFSP sponsors may not serve or deliver bulk food or multiple meals to a center organization without a vending agreement. SFSP sponsors are only allowed to provide vended meals to centers through a written agreement so that accountability and liability issues are controlled, and managed by the State agency and participating SFSP sponsors.

4. Can CACFP Family Day Care Homes (FDCH) obtain delivery of meals from a SFSP sponsor?  

Answer: Yes, SFSP sponsors may deliver meals to FDCHs if the homes are located in the eligible area serviced by the SFSP. These Program meals can only be claimed by the SFSP sponsor. FDCHs must not claim the same meals under CACFP. Claiming Program meals twice (by both entities) or double dipping is not allowed.

Each year, Mindy Riibe does an outstanding job of leading a recognition of the crew from Taher in what is called Superhero Day.  The ladies get a certificate and small token of Mindy’s appreciation for their hard work and dedication to feeding our kids.  The ladies wear their capes throughout their workday in front of the kids and it is a day to help put the spotlight on them for their efforts.  This year was totally different.  They were not able to be in the spotlight of our kids.  They were not ever able to have their work recognized in front of the staff.  This year, they have continued doing their job behind the scenes. 

Just a little while ago, Mindy gave the lunch ladies their certificates and gifts.  They were fed lunch and were able to socialize a little bit with each other.  Their conversation topics were a true testament to their dedication.  Rather than talking about world issues, their families, or other things going on around them, they talked about their jobs and the kids.  And to make it even more apparent of their dedication, they work on Sundays now.  The Red Oak Community School District serves breakfasts and lunches on Mondays and Thursdays.  This means they come in on Sundays to prepare meals.  And no one was complaining.  I shared with them that we all owe them a huge thank you because when the “world around us” has been shutting down and many businesses are closed due to COVID-19, they continue to work.  They are making sure our kids are eating.  When there is nothing routine about our lives right now, they have changed their schedules and their own routines to prepare meals.  And they did it with very little notice.  Mindy and the Taher crew have demonstrated an extremely flexible attitude to make sure kids of all ages have breakfast and lunch for every weekday. 

If you ever get the chance, please make sure you let them know we appreciate them.  We depend on them every day of the school year, and we now depend on them in a whole different way.  So, when they do their job without anyone witnessing it in these times, we must make a point to tell them “thank you.” 

GRADUATION CEREMONY:

DATE/TIME: Sunday May 17 @ 2pm

LOCATION: South Red Oak Jr/Sr. High parking lot

ADMISSION: By Pass ONLY!  Each graduate will be issued two passes (one for themselves to park in North lot & another for family to park for viewing in south lot)  One additional pass will be issued by request, per student, for admittance to the Senior Parking Lot (South East Section).  All entrances to the HS will be gated off and require a parking pass for admission.

OTHER NOTES:  Seniors WILL WALK!  Seniors will be lined up 15 feet apart from one another and will be seated 9 feet from one another.  Spectators will NOT be allowed to exit their vehicle.  You can listen to the ceremony on KCSI radio 95.3 as well as view a special KCSI Facebook live broadcast featuring text layover features and senior pictures imbedded throughout.

GRADUATION REHEARSAL:

DATE/TIME: May 16^th @ 5:30 PM

DETAILS: This will take place in the North parking lot by the field house.  Staff will be there and direct you where to park.  STAY in your vehicle and await instruction.  If you cannot make it there in person, due to a graduation party or employment, please contact the school any weekday between the hours of 1-3:30, BEFORE Thursday 5.14 so we can make arrangements to get you the necessary information and parking passes associated with this your graduation ceremony.

SENIOR SALUTE CRUISE NIGHT (following graduation rehearsal):

DATE/TIME: May 16^th 7-9pm.

DETAILS:  

Following Graduation Practice, Seniors who wish to participate can go to the Fountain Square Park area in downtown Red Oak. 

Please wear your cap and gown!  With the help of school staff, students will be directed to park in every other parking stall around the inside and outside stalls around the square. If necessary parking along Coolbaugh and Reed streets will be used.

Please be in a parking stall and ready for cruise night by 6:40pm.  Remember to follow social distancing guidelines!

Once Cruise Night begins, Seniors will stand in front of their vehicle as the community cruises and celebrates you.

***DO NOT LEAVE YOUR SPOT TO VISIT WITH OTHER SENIORS OR PASSERBYs***

Once the community parade has looped through once, you are encouraged to join cruise night too!

Enjoy a Fireworks Show at approximately 9:00 pm from the football field parking lot as a SALUTE TO OUR SENIORS! 

 **Use of Fountain Square Park pending City Council approval on Monday May 4th**

Red Oak Community School District

New Superintendent Announced

The Red Oak Community School Board is pleased to announce Ron Lorenz has accepted their offer to serve as the next superintendent.  Ron was pleased to accept the position, saying "I am excited to join such a tremendous group of people and look forward to working with every member of the school and community to make the Red Oak CSD the premier district in southwest Iowa.” Ron and his wife, Jill, have one son, Levi, who is a sophomore at the University of Iowa.

Mr. Lorenz is completing his twentieth year in education leadership. During that time, he served as the Secondary Principal at the Mormon Trail CSD, Assistant Middle School Principal at the Ankeny CSD, Middle School Principal and Secondary Curriculum Coordinator at the Norwalk CSD, and Regional Director and Assistant Director of Special Education at Heartland AEA 11.  He is currently in his eighth year as the Assistant Superintendent at the Indianola CSD.

Ron is a Certified Professional Human Capital Leader in Education (PHCLE) and has introduced new recruitment, hiring, on-boarding, and performance evaluation systems at Indianola, as well as, serving as the lead negotiator for the district.  Ron has been heavily involved with policy, strategic planning, curriculum, professional development, equity, school based mental health supports, special education, and Section 504 programming in his role as Assistant Superintendent.

Mr. Lorenz earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Simpson College, a second BA in Secondary Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and an Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Drake University

From a field of 26 total applications, the School Board identified five semifinalists.  Semifinalists were interviewed electronically by the Board on April 8; from those semifinalists interviews, three finalists were selected.  Finalists interviews were conducted on Wednesday, April 15, and included a tour of community and district, an electronic interview with a mixed interview team consisting of various district stakeholders, and an interview with the Board.  The Board reviewed all the feedback data provided by the interview team in closed session at the end of the process.  Ultimately, the Board moved forward in offering the position to Ron which will be formally approved at a school board meeting next week.

Board President Bryce Johnson stated:  "Based on the community survey, we were very focused in finding a new superintendent who would check all the boxes on our desired qualifications.  It was evident both during the Board interview and in reviewing feedback data from the mixed interview team, Ron checked all the boxes. He is a strong leader that has vast experience that will serve our district well.  I would like to thank all the people who donated their time to participate in the electronic interviews with the finalists.  Your involvement and feedback were invaluable in the process.  We are excited to work with Ron and welcome him to the Tiger family!"

Ron will officially begin his duties on July 1, 2020.  Grundmeyer Leader Services assisted the Board in the superintendent search.