Community members in New London are being invited to help shape the town’s plans for the coming year.

The New London Partnership is calling on local businesses, community leaders, volunteers, and residents to attend a public planning meeting for 2026 activities.

The meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 27th at 5:00 p.m. at the New London Community Hall.

Organizers are looking to expand community engagement and are planning several possible initiatives, including more events along Main Street, a New London Farmers Market, and potentially additional community celebration days.

Leaders with the New London Partnership say volunteers and organizations from across the community are encouraged to attend, including local businesses, churches, volunteer groups, and vendors or makers interested in participating in local events.

Organizers say community involvement will be key as they work to bring new energy and opportunities to New London in the year ahead. Mark your calendar for the community meeting Monday, April 27^th at 5pm in the New London Community Hall.

The New London School Board held a special session this week to review potential building restructuring plans, driven by financial pressures and ongoing staffing shortages—particularly in high school math.

The meeting began with minor technical delays before board members heard a detailed financial presentation from Ken Sturgis of the Iowa School Finance Information Services.

Financial Pressures Driving Decisions

Sturgis outlined long-term financial challenges facing not just New London, but school districts across Iowa. He explained that state funding increases have not kept pace with inflation or rising wages.

“Budget growth has lagged behind what it actually costs to run a school,” Sturgis said, noting a roughly 16.5% gap over time when factoring in wages and inflation.

A five-year financial projection presented during the meeting showed the district dipping into reserves in the short term, with plans to rebuild those funds through spending adjustments—potentially including about $240,000 in reductions.

Board members also noted a significant recent drop in the district’s fund balance, raising concerns about long-term sustainability.

Staffing Shortages Prompt Structural Discussion

A major driver of the restructuring conversation is the district’s inability to hire a qualified high school math teacher.

Superintendent Chad Walls said the district has posted the position multiple times since January with only five applicants—none meeting qualifications.

“We need two people, and we currently have only one in the high school to do that,” Wahls said.

To address the issue, administrators proposed restructuring grade configurations to better utilize existing staff certifications.

Three Main Restructuring Options

District leaders presented three primary options:

• Maintain current structure (PK–5 and 6–12): Would likely require reducing an elementary teaching position and continuing the search for a math teacher.
• Shift to a PK–6 and 7–12 model: Moves sixth grade to the elementary, but creates space constraints.
• Hybrid option (recommended by administration): Keep sixth grade in the current building but separate from older students, allowing flexibility in staffing while avoiding overcrowding.

Wahls ultimately recommended the hybrid approach, citing space limitations and staffing needs.

“I feel the best [option]… is that we would keep sixth grade up here… but contain it to two rooms,” he said.

Academic Impact: No Clear-Cut Answer

Curriculum Director Allison Lair presented student achievement data and research on grade configuration changes.

She explained that while older data once showed a noticeable drop in performance when students transitioned to middle school, more recent results are less conclusive.

“Our data doesn’t show a lack of student achievement… it shows unstable growth,” Lair said.

National research reviewed during the meeting suggests:

• Some decline in performance can occur when students transition earlier
• Strong teaching and team structures matter more than grade configuration alone
• No single model consistently outperforms others

“It really comes down to good teaching,” Lair added.

Board Tables Decision for Further Review

After extensive discussion, including concerns about classroom space, student experience, and financial impacts, the board voted 3–2 to table the restructuring decision.

Board members requested additional time for administrators to work directly with teachers—especially in the math department—to explore creative staffing solutions.

A final decision is expected at the next regular board meeting, ahead of an April 20th deadline tied to potential staff reductions.

Additional Business

The board also:

• Accepted a resignation for a 6–12 science teacher
• Approved a new band and music teacher hire
• Approved a football coaching contract after discussion about compensation and program size
• Adopted an updated reduction-in-force (RIF) policy

Iowa’s volunteer community scientists have identified 13 species of bumble bees, including five of seven priority target species, as part of the Bumble Bee Atlas, a national survey collecting information on species present and their distribution in the state.

The national survey was coordinated by the Xerces Society, who partnered locally with the Iowa Department of Natural of Resources (DNR) and Iowa State University.

“We were pleased with the participation last year and hope to build on that momentum,” said Stephanie Shepherd, wildlife biologist with the Iowa DNR.

Since 2024, Iowa participants have conducted 644 surveys and counted 7,198 bees. And in 2026, there are more opportunities for Iowans to support the Bumble Bee Atlas and help with the survey.

To get involved, volunteers go through two to three online trainings led by Xerces Society with an optional in-person field day to get comfortable handling and photographing bumble bees. Signup at www.bumblebeeatlas.org, and search for Iowa. Events will be posted online.

She said 62 volunteers have participated so far and she would like to see that increase to 100 this year.

“It’s a fun but challenging survey,” Shepherd said. “It requires you to be outdoors for a while in the heat capturing bumble bees. Bumble bees are incredibly docile, especially when foraging. The only time they may be aggressive is near their nest.

“If you’re interested but not yet ready to commit, you can still submit bee pictures and locations online at bumblebeewatch.org.”

The Iowa DNR has a video of a survey on its YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@iowadnr/videos then scroll to Iowa Bumble Bee Atlas.

The online trainings are scheduled for April and May. Field trainings will be available in June or July across the state. Surveys begin in June and run through October. Iowa has four survey blocks that have yet to be surveyed – one covering parts of Mills, Montgomery, Fremont and Page; one covering parts of Winnebago, Worth, Hancock and Cerro Gordo; one covering parts of Woodbury and Ida; and one covering parts of Jones and Linn counties.

Iowa is part of a three-year, four state-specific study along with Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska, designed to learn more about habitat and foraging needs of certain bees. This is the final year of the inventory portion of the survey.

“After this year, we will be shifting into long-term monitoring,” she said. “The survey will be similar but will shift a little bit for all species of greatest conservation need, including the rusty-patched bumble bee.”

Last year rusty-patched bumble bees were discovered during bumble bee atlas surveys in a handful of counties, including a couple of new locations in Boone County. It’s known to frequent urban areas and has been found in neighborhood yards.

Spring is also a great time to add native plants around the home to benefit bees and other pollinators.

“Plan to include natives that bloom at different times of the year and incorporate trees and shrubs that are important early bloomers,” she said.

Look for native plant sales at farmers markets or offered by county conservation boards and avoid plants that may be infused with insecticides, she said. You can also find a list of native plant sellers on the Tallgrass Prairie Center webpage (tallgrassprairiecenter.org) under Resources.

Mount Pleasant Community School District students are gaining hands-on experience and real-world skills through recent career and culinary activities.

Students recently spent a day at the Carpenters Union Training Center, where they worked on building projects, explored career opportunities in the trades, and learned directly from industry professionals. The experience gave students a chance to see what careers in carpentry and construction look like beyond the classroom.

Meanwhile, the district’s Iron Chef team showcased their culinary talents during a recent cooking competition focused on Italian cuisine. Students prepared a variety of dishes while receiving feedback from guest judges, including the owners of Sal Vitale’s Italian Restaurant, who sampled the meals and offered professional insight to help students refine their skills.

School leaders expressed appreciation to community partners who took part in the events, noting that opportunities like these help students build confidence, develop career-ready skills, and explore future pathways through hands-on learning experiences.