New Linn-Mar Superintendent pledges to listen to community

MARION - New Superintendent Quintin Shepherd, at his first official school board meeting this week, pledged to be visible, approachable and listen to all members of the Linn-Mar community.

Shepherd presented board members and administrators with a '100-Day Plan” to introduce himself to the district, as well as to 'solicit input from both internal and external stakeholders” to highlight both the district's attributes and areas of potential growth.

Shepherd said the end result of his plan will be a 'State of the District” report to be presented to the board in January. followed by a board planning retreat in February or March to work on identified priority areas for the 2016-17 school year.

Shepherd said he planned to hold a 'Superintendent Meet and Greet” open to the public from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Aug. 18 and to hold 'dine-arounds” with staff during the lunch hour at each district building after classes resume Aug. 24.

'I'd also be happy to meet with small groups of parents, at their homes, if that's what they want,” Shepherd added.

Also at Monday's work session and meeting, project manager Chad Schumacher gave board members and administrators a hard-hat tour of ongoing renovations at Linn-Mar High School.

Highlighted areas included new arts, metals, woods and computer labs and shops that are scheduled to be opened for student use this fall.

Tour participants also got a look at recently installed gymnasium bleachers that include built-in handicapped access areas and will increase seating capacity from just under 2,000 to 2,100. The district also has added a filming room and will refinish the main gym floor before the fall sports season.

The high school is in the midst of a $30 million renovation project scheduled for substantial completion in December 2016. When completed, the school will have two new 'main entrances” with slightly different purposes, a collegiate style lecture hall and multiple small student gathering areas.