MOUNT PLEASANT — After two decades of leading school districts across Iowa, including recent years at the helm of the Mount Pleasant Community School District, Superintendent John Henriksen has announced that the 2025-2026 school year will be his last.

Henriksen’s announcement marks the beginning of a transition period for the district, as the school board prepares to begin the search for the next superintendent. While the timeline and process for hiring a successor have not yet been finalized, the board is expected to begin those conversations in the coming months.

Henriksen joined the Mount Pleasant Community School District as superintendent with a steady hand and a strong focus on academic achievement, staff support, and community engagement. His tenure has seen the district through statewide funding changes, pandemic recovery efforts, and the development of legislative priorities to support rural education.

More details on the superintendent search process will be shared as the board discusses next steps. Meanwhile, Henriksen says he’s committed to ensuring a smooth transition and a successful final year.

“There’s a lot of work yet to do, and I’m looking forward to seeing it through,” he said.

MOUNT PLEASANT — The Mount Pleasant Community School District Board of Education will convene for its regular meeting this afternoon, tackling a full agenda that includes staffing updates, legislative priorities, a resolution to continue participation in the Instructional Support Program, and early discussions about the superintendent search process.

The meeting will begin with a public hearing on the proposed resolution to continue the district’s participation in the Instructional Support Program, a funding tool that supplements the general fund to support student learning and district operations. A vote on the resolution is expected later in the meeting.

Superintendent Henriksen will provide an update on open teaching positions, noting progress and ongoing challenges in filling remaining roles before the start of the 2025-2026 school year. The board will also review its legislative priorities for 2025, aiming to finalize the district’s advocacy goals ahead of the Iowa Association of School Boards’ (IASB) submission deadline.

In other staffing-related topics, the board will discuss the FY26 Education Support Personnel funding amounts, continuing its commitment to transparency and planning in employee compensation. A follow-up on the district’s ELL presentation and the use of certified mail for attendance letters will also be presented, as part of efforts to strengthen communication with families and improve student engagement.

Key items under New Business include:

• A formal motion on the Instructional Support Program resolution.
• A motion to waive the open enrollment out-transfer ineligibility period for a student.
• Approval of a 28E agreement with New London Community School District for Home School Assistance Program services.
• A first reading of Board Policy Series 200, which governs school board operations.
• A review of the spring staff survey results, offering insight into employee feedback.
• A discussion on elementary section sizes, with attention to class size management as enrollment numbers solidify.

One of the most anticipated discussions of the evening will focus on the upcoming superintendent search process, as the board begins outlining its timeline and approach for hiring a new district leader, As Superintendent John Henriksen haa announced his planned retirement for June of 2026.

The meeting will conclude with an opportunity for citizen comments, followed by adjournment.

The meeting is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend or follow up with board members for more information.