Dear I-35 Students, Families, Staff, and Community Members,
By now, many of you have likely heard that the I-35 bond referendum did not receive the supermajority vote necessary for passage. While this is not the outcome some of us had hoped for, I want to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to everyone who took the time to participate in the process and exercise their right to vote.
Whether you voted yes or no, please know that your voice matters. I recognize that members of our community have different perspectives, priorities, concerns, and expectations for our district. Those perspectives deserve to be heard, respected, and thoughtfully considered. The feedback we received throughout this process, including the message communicated through the election results, has been heard and received. As a district, it is our responsibility to listen, learn, and use that information to inform the decisions we make moving forward.
While the referendum may not have passed, our responsibility and commitment have not changed. Today, we still have students to educate, families to serve, and a community that depends on us to be thoughtful, responsible, and forward-looking stewards of our schools. Our mission remains the same: to develop life-long learners and responsible, productive citizens in an ever-changing society.
We will remain steady and steadfast in that commitment. We will not allow an election outcome to distract us from the important work in front of us. Instead, we will approach the road ahead with purpose, humility, and a renewed commitment to making sound decisions that secure a stable future for our students and our communities.
As we begin moving forward, I want our community to know that we are already taking meaningful steps to position the district for long-term success.
First, I have engaged Edge Construction to conduct a comprehensive facilities assessment. This work will help us identify areas of immediate need, evaluate the condition of our existing facilities, and establish a sustainable preventative maintenance plan. Our goal is to move away from addressing issues only when they arise and toward a more proactive approach to maintaining our buildings and infrastructure. Equally important, this process will help us prioritize investments, promote financial stability, and ensure we are responsible stewards of the resources entrusted to us.
Second, I have engaged the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) to conduct a comprehensive review of our district policies. This process will help ensure our policies are aligned with current state guidance, reflect sound governance practices, and provide a
consistent framework for district operations. We will also establish a structured policy review cycle so that our policies remain current, relevant, and effective rather than allowing them to become outdated or addressing them only when circumstances demand it.
Third, in the very near future, I will begin working alongside our Board of Education and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for I-35. This is an important opportunity to bring our district and communities together around a shared vision, establish clear priorities, and identify the steps necessary to achieve our long-term goals. I believe we have an opportunity to transform reactive, day-to-day management into a proactive, unified roadmap for student achievement, organizational effectiveness, and long-term community success. This work should not simply be about where we want to go, but how we intend to get there together.
These initiatives are not simply administrative exercises or items to check off a list. They represent an intentional commitment to building a stronger foundation for our district. We must understand what we have, take care of what we have, ensure our practices and processes are sound, and thoughtfully plan for what comes next.
There is a quote often attributed to John Wooden that I believe is particularly fitting:
“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”
I think there is considerable wisdom in that thought. We cannot always control the circumstances or outcomes we encounter, but we can control how we respond, what we learn, and the direction we choose to take from here.
I would also offer this reminder:
“A community is not defined by a single decision, but by its willingness to continue working together toward a shared future.”
As your superintendent, I recognize that earning and maintaining the trust of our community is something that must be demonstrated through our actions, transparency, communication, and decisions. That responsibility is not lost on me. I am committed to listening, being accessible, asking difficult questions, and ensuring that our decisions are grounded in what is best for our students and the long-term health of our district.
We may not all agree on every decision, every priority, or every path forward, and that is okay. What I hope we can agree on is that our children deserve our very best, our educators deserve our support, and our communities deserve a school district that is thoughtful, responsible, and committed to continuous improvement.
We have important work ahead of us, and I am optimistic about what we can accomplish together. Let us take what we have learned, respect the perspectives of our neighbors, and move forward with a shared sense of purpose. Our communities are stronger when we work together, and our students benefit when the adults around them demonstrate what it means to listen, collaborate, disagree respectfully, and remain committed to something bigger than themselves.
Thank you for your investment in I-35, for your willingness to participate, and most importantly, for entrusting us with the opportunity to serve your children.
Our circumstances may change, our plans may evolve, and our challenges may look different, but our commitment to the students and families of I-35 will remain constant.
With gratitude and optimism,
Dr. Michael Gossen
Superintendent of Schools
I-35 Community School District