Friday, March 30, 2007

A Mid-Morning Visit to Sgt. Bluff-Luton Schools


Our schedule permitted stops at three of the four buildings in the Sgt. Bluff-Luton Schools mid-morning on Wednesday. Our first stop was in the classroom of Deb Rinehart. Deb (pictured at left) leads her 1st grade students at the Primary building. As the students were released for their playground time, Deb gave us a tour of the building.


I had the chance to read-aloud a favorite book, Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type with the kindergarten class of Terri Gotch. Terri is pictured with her homeroom of kindergarteners here on the right.



We were next off to the Middle School. Sgt. Bluff-Luton EA president Brenda Zahner joined us over her lunch time at both the Middle School and Intermediate building. Brenda (pictured with me at left) is a former student of ISEA Vice President Chris Bern when Chris taught in Woodbine (Vice President Bern currently teaches in Knoxville).


Teachers and Education Support Professionals that took time to visit with us during their brief lunch time are pictured below.







Our final stop in the Sgt. Bluff-Luton Community Schools was at the Intermediate building. As we entered the building our eyes were drawn to the strikingly beautiful mural on the wall of the multi-purpose room. President Zahner shared that it depicts the history of Sgt. Bluff and was painted by the elementary Art teacher.


One of the first persons to join us in the staff lounge with their lunch was long-time association activist, member of the Negotiations team and 5th grade teacher Dan Hunter. It was fun to see Dan again--he's quite a character!


We weren't the only special guests in the Intermediate building on Wednesday. The Sgt. Bluff-Luton School Board held a board meeting earlier in the morning here to purposely be able to join us for a conversation during the staff lunch time. Pictured (from left to right) are school board members Neil Stockflth and Mark Rinders.


A third school board member to join us over their lunch was Brad Baird (at right). I thanked the board members for their service and we all agreed there is much more we agree on then disagree on. Teachers anxiously listened and asked many questions when I shared details of the SF277, the Teacher Quaility legislation that is now ready for floor action by the Iowa House. The majority party and Governor have promised an additional $280 million over the next four years to bring Iowa's teacher salary ranking from 40th to 25th in the nation by the 2008-2009 school year.

Joining our conversation were Lesli Lien (on left) a 5th grade teacher and Lynn Kerrigan (on the right) Music teacher.
It was great to see the familiar welcoming faces here at Sgt. Bluff-Luton. Thank you all for all you do every day for Iowa's students!

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