Author: Theresa Rose

AGENDA

September 9, 2021

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

9:00 Caleb Waters, Conservation Update

Assessors

11:00 Conference Board Meeting

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

WINFIELD – MT. UNION COMMUNITY SCHOOL

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

TENTATIVE AGENDA ~Library, W-MU 6:00 p.m. ~ September 8th, 2021

1. Call to Order for
2. Roll Call
3. Public Comment
4. Consent Agenda

D1.  Minutes, Bills, Financial Reports

D2.  Personnel Hirings/Resignations

1. Reports

E1.  Elementary/Curriculum

E2.  Secondary

E3.  Superintendent

1. General Business

F1.  Consider Bus Driver Wages

F2.

F3.

1. Adjournment

2021 wasn’t a record breaking year for the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion but CEO and Administrator Terry McWilliams said it was definitely a good year. Hard ticket sales of multi and one day admissions indicate attendance of just a little over 34,800. This compares to 36,000 in 2019, the highest in the last five years. McWilliams said attendance was up on Thursday, four hours of rain affected Friday somewhat, Sunday was one of the best Sundays over the last five years but he described Saturday as a big day.  But it’s Monday’s numbers that McWilliams really pays attention to making sure the final day is still important to the five day event.  He was pleased with the preliminary figure of 1,000 attendees on Monday. McWilliams also thanked the volunteers, their families, the OT staff and their families as well as his own family and the community for making it another great reunion.

Mount Pleasant, IA – September 7, 2021 — This fall, Iowa Wesleyan University continued to see significant enrollment growth, posting its highest overall enrollment in over a decade and the largest number of new students in 86 years.

The University’s fall census boasted a total undergraduate enrollment of 669, a 13% increase over last fall. This enrollment growth is also a 20% increase over the past three years and a 41% increase over the past five years.

The overall enrollment of 835, a 15% increase over last fall, reflects growth in the University’s graduate and online programs and the undergraduate program.  This growth is a 58% increase over the past five years.

“We feel very fortunate to have this solid enrollment for fall 2021, especially amid all the challenges presented by the pandemic,” said President Christine Plunkett. “I am extremely proud of our faculty and staff for their remarkable devotion to our students as our enrollment trends are a direct reflection of a team effort on our campus.”

This growth in students has also pushed campus housing to its capacity.  As the University expects to continue to experience enrollment growth for the future, campus housing and facilities have been a focus of discussions throughout their strategic planning process that is currently underway. 

“We are tremendously excited to have the largest new student enrollment in over eight decades,” stated Meg Richtman, vice president for enrollment, marketing & communications. “While Iowa Wesleyan has focused on new student success initiatives to recruit and support our diverse community of students, the shift back to the NAIA athletic association provided new and exciting opportunities for students.”

The new partnership with Southeastern Community College (the Southeast Iowa Higher Education Alliance) also provided an immediate enrollment impact, with fifteen students transferring through the Alliance this fall.  The regional awareness has also increased the number of new Iowa students by 42% from last fall. 

The University was also able to bring back their international student enrollment to near pre-Covid numbers.  This fall, nearly 100 international students are on campus representing 34 countries. 

Iowa Wesleyan’s online and graduate programs continue to see solid enrollment growth. The University is proud to be an educational resource for all students, particularly in Southeast Iowa. 

The final day of the 2021 Old Threshers Reunion features the announcement of this year’s Miss Sweet 16.  There were 9 young ladies who devoted many hours during the reunion volunteering all over the grounds.  They are judged on an interview, a presentation and their interaction with the visitors.  The 2021 Old Threshers Miss Sweet 16 is Kalayana Durr of New London. Kalayana is the daughter of Tony and Ann Durr and Deana and Daniel Hester.First Runner-Up is Everlee Harvey. Second Runner -Up is Tristian Shull and Miss Volunteer is Sydney McElhinney.

The Mount Pleasant Fire Department, along with ambulance, police and sheriff’s department, responded to a call from the 700 block of south main Sunday night.  The call came in just after 9 pm.  KILJ news is working on getting details.

The Old Threshers Miss Sweet 17 is Ava Fisher of Altoona, Iowa.  She is the daughter of David Fisher and Susie Fisher.  The First Runner-Up is Kaitlyn Lee of New London, the daughter of Jens and Denise Lee, Second Runner-Up is Abby Blint.  She is from Mount Pleasant and her parents are Angie and Anthony Blint.  Miss Volunteer honors went to Emma Harvey of Argyle and the daughter of Leonard and Tonya Harvey.