Hello everyone!
Here is my video for the week or scroll down for a quick summary.
AND here is a fun video that makes us PROUD to be a PANTHER!
Have a great long weekend!
Brian Jaeger, Superintendent
Weekly Superintendent Update – Key Points
Weather & Heat Updates
Weather and heat have been a major focus this week, with several early dismissals at the elementary schools. With temperatures expected to fluctuate over the weekend, we will continue to monitor conditions closely. A decision regarding Tuesday will be made Monday, and we’ll provide an update if any changes to the school schedule are necessary.
Highway 38 Improvements
We are continuing to work closely with the City of Monticello and the Iowa Department of Transportation on potential improvements to Highway 38 in front of our facilities. Over the next six weeks, a traffic study will be conducted. The results will help the city pursue grant funding for possible improvements, including additional turning lanes. We’re hopeful these improvements will make traffic flow even more smoothly in the future.
Middle School Drop-Off
We’re also continuing to monitor morning traffic at the Middle School. A recent check of the parent drop-off area around 7:45 a.m. showed traffic moving efficiently, with the entire process taking only a few minutes. Our contractors have also done a great job avoiding deliveries during the busiest drop-off times. We’ll continue monitoring the situation and make adjustments if needed.
Future Use of Shannon & Carpenter Elementary Schools
As Shannon and Carpenter Elementary Schools will close at the end of this school year when students move into the new elementary school, we want to hear from our community about ideas for the future use of these buildings. Beginning in January 2027 and continuing through June 2027, community members will have an opportunity to address the School Board during board meetings and share their thoughts and ideas. Each person will have up to three minutes to speak. The goal is to gather a variety of community perspectives before the Board makes a final decision regarding the future of the two buildings.
A Proud-to-Be-a-Panther Moment
Finally, we’re sharing a special video from last night’s volleyball game. During the National Anthem, retired Monticello Express employee Pete Temple worked with our student body on a special moment where he pointed to the students and they finished the anthem together. It was a great example of Panther pride and a fun moment to share with those who weren’t able to attend the game.
Go Panthers!