Superintendent Henriksen outlined summer facility projects during the recent school board meeting, noting improvements across every district building.

At the high school, several classrooms received new carpet and paint, while deteriorated sections of the 26-year-old parking lot concrete were replaced. The middle school saw sidewalk repairs, new parking lines, updated smoke detectors, and a full switch to LED lighting.

Lincoln Elementary expanded a seclusion room to meet code requirements and installed new adjustable basketball hoops. Van Allen upgraded hallway lighting, continued masonry and drainage work, and installed new guttering. Harlan added parking lot striping and a larger seclusion room, while Salem replaced worn concrete and improved drainage.

At Central Campus, locker rooms received new epoxy resin flooring, and the activity center gained a new HVAC unit to improve climate control. Henriksen said the projects, while varied in size, are all aimed at keeping facilities safe, functional, and up to date.

The Mount Pleasant Community School District Board of Directors continued shaping its superintendent search this week, working with consultants Shannon and Brian from Grundmeyer Leader Services to finalize the timeline, survey design, and job posting.

Community Survey
A district-wide survey will be open September 8–30 to gather input on the district’s strengths, challenges, and the qualities desired in the next superintendent. Results will be summarized and shared with the board. While the survey could include a box for volunteers interested in interview teams, board members weighed concerns about generating more names than available spots.

Application Timeline
The application window will run October 1–November 30, with weekly updates to the board. A full applicant report is scheduled for December 2, followed by preliminary interviews the week of December 15. Finalists will meet with multiple interview teams—including staff, parents, students, and community members—before interviews with the board.

Posting and Salary
The job posting will go live after Labor Day and include both required and preferred qualifications. Iowa licensure will be required, while finance, facilities planning, and prior superintendent experience may be listed as preferred.
Consultants recommended posting a salary range of $185,000–$205,000 to remain competitive with similar districts. The board discussed balancing competitive pay with taxpayer concerns, as well as benefits and relocation stipends.

Grundmeyer Leader Services emphasized the importance of transparency throughout the process, while noting that confidentiality will be maintained until finalists are named. The district hopes to have a new superintendent in place early in 2026.

At a recent school board discussion, Activities Director Scott Lamm outlined the process the district follows when determining athletic eligibility for students transferring into Mount Pleasant schools.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association requires that students who move into a new district must complete a transfer form, verifying residency and the circumstances surrounding their move. Lamm explained that the process is designed to ensure fairness and prevent students from moving between schools solely for athletic purposes.

“If a family moves into our district, I verify that address. Sometimes that means driving by the home, checking with a landlord, or following up with a realtor,” Lamm said. “We also reach out to the student’s previous school to confirm eligibility.”

By rule, most transfer students face a 90-day ineligibility period for varsity athletics, though they may still participate in choir, band, junior varsity contests, and other school activities. Exceptions exist, such as cases involving documented bullying or harassment, or situations where a family move is tied to employment or custody arrangements.

Incoming ninth graders are generally exempt from the 90-day rule unless they previously competed in varsity-level baseball or softball as eighth graders.

Lamm emphasized that the paperwork is not about denying opportunities, but about documenting eligibility so the district is prepared if questions arise. “This form protects the district,” he said. “If the state asks why a student is playing here, I can show exactly what steps were taken to verify their eligibility.”

He also noted that while superintendents and boards of education can approve eligibility waivers, they cannot deny them. “Ultimately, the board has the final say if a waiver is challenged,” Lamm said.

Board members acknowledged the challenges of balancing student opportunity with statewide rules designed to prevent recruiting or school-hopping. Lamm reminded the board that the rule is clear: a student can only be eligible in one district at a time.

The First Presbyterian Church in Mount Pleasant is inviting the community to enjoy its annual Spaghetti Supper tonight, and tickets are still available.

The meal will be served at the church, located at 902 South Walnut Street, beginning this evening. The event runs for an hour and a half, with both drive-thru and dine-in options offered. Guests are asked to enter through the north entrance, and parking will be available for those who choose to stay and eat after picking up their meals.

Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased by calling 319-986-5851 or by stopping at the church office between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. today.

Organizers are looking forward to welcoming as many as 700 friends and neighbors for a night of food and fellowship.

Des Moines, Lee, and Henry Counties are partnering together to host the Responsible Expansion of the Cowherd program on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Houghton, Iowa. The event begins at 6:00 p.m., with a meal provided at 5:30 p.m. courtesy of the Lee, Henry, and Des Moines County Cattlemen and Quality Plus Feed.

This educational program, led by Iowa State University Extension Beef Field Specialists, will provide valuable insight for cattle producers considering herd expansion.

Topics of discussion will include:

• Nutritional management of first-calf heifers
• Breeding strategies for yearling heifers
• Animal selection
• Raising replacements versus buying

Producers will have the opportunity to learn strategies and best practices to make informed decisions for long-term herd success.

Registration is required. To sign up, call your local Extension office:

• Des Moines County: 319-671-7165
• Lee County: 319-835-5116
• Henry County: 319-385-8126

Or register online here: https://form.jotform.com/252176277374161

Iowa farmers had 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 24, 2025, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The week began with warm temperatures before giving way to a much cooler weekend. Field activities included oat and hay harvests, while reports noted rising levels of crop disease across the state.

Topsoil moisture levels were reported at 1% very short, 5% short, 74% adequate, and 20% surplus. Subsoil moisture was similar, with 1% very short, 5% short, 77% adequate, and 17% surplus.

Corn progress remained slightly behind average. Eighty-eight percent of corn has reached the dough stage, one day behind last year and three days behind the five-year average. Corn in the dent stage reached 45%, a day ahead of last year but one day behind the average. Overall, corn condition rated 1% very poor, 2% poor, 13% fair, 56% good, and 28% excellent.

Soybeans also showed steady progress, with 90% setting pods. That’s one day ahead of last year, but four days behind normal. Soybeans coloring reached 8%. Crop condition was rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 17% fair, 59% good, and 20% excellent.

Oat harvest is nearly complete, with 97% of the crop harvested for grain. The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 78% complete. Pastures continued to hold strong, with 80% rated in good to excellent condition.

Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center’s West Burlington campus will host A Time To Heal, Survivorship 101, a nine-week program designed to support cancer survivors as they adjust to life after treatment. The program begins Tuesday, September 17, and will run weekly through Tuesday, November 12.

The program provides cancer survivors with the tools and support needed to embrace their “new normal.” Led by specially trained facilitators, the program offers a safe and welcoming space for participants and their caregivers to share experiences, build community, and gain practical strategies for moving forward.

Each week, participants will explore topics rooted in current research, including nutrition, exercise, intimacy, stress management, and reducing anxiety. In addition to evidence-based guidance, the program emphasizes fellowship and encouragement among survivors.

“This program helps survivors take the next step in their healing journey,” said program coordinator Carey Wellington. “It’s about giving people the confidence, community, and knowledge they need to thrive.”

Registration for Survivorship 101 is free but required. The deadline to reserve a spot is September 10. To register, call 319-768-4248.