Alburnett schools search for new superintendent

ALBURNETT — The Alburnett Community School District is in search of a new leader after Danielle Trimble was named last month as the next superintendent of the Ballard Community School District in Huxley.

Trimble, who has led Alburnett schools for over a decade, resigned effective June 30. She will start her new position at Ballard schools July 1.

In a Dec. 16 letter to the Alburnett school board, Trimble said she submitted her letter of resignation with “mixed emotions.”

“Alburnett has shaped me as a school leader,” she wrote. "It is with great pride in and admiration for the employees of this district that I say that this district is an educational leader in this area of the state.“

Earlier this week, the Alburnett school board selected Grundmeyer Leader Services to lead a superintendent search. Trimble said she expects the process to take about eight weeks.

Trimble led the district in a successful $11.5 million bond issue passed by voters in March 2020. As part of the bond, classrooms were remodeled for an industrial technology, family and consumer science, agriculture and business programs.

Other construction projects soon to be completed are a multipurpose building with a full-size gym. The current gym in the original Alburnett school building is being remodeled to add eight more classrooms. An auditorium and new music rooms will be completed this spring.

The referendum required 60 percent approval from voters in the district on two ballot questions. The first was for the project itself. That was approved by 65.7 percent of the voters. The second ballot item was to allow the tax levy rate to exceed $2.70 per $1,000 of assessed taxable value, but not to exceed $4.05. That was passed by 64.3 percent of the voters.

The school board also authorized use of the district’s portion of an existing 1-cent sales tax for schools to add up to $3.4 million to the bond issue funds.

This year, the K-12 school district grew by 100 students — much of which is attributed to open enrollment — bringing the student body up to about 820 students. The bond referendum created room for this growth, Trimble said.

In an interview with The Gazette, Trimble said Alburnett “helped raise me and my children.”

“The way this community embraces the school district and vice versa was a beautiful lesson for my children growing up,” she said.

Trimble said she is looking forward to bringing her experience with her to Ballard schools, including working to constantly improve the school system every day “even when you’re already in a great spot to start with.”

The Ballard Community School District has four schools serving 1,850 students, about 1,000 students larger than Alburnett. Ballard school board members also worked with Grundmeyer Leader Services to conduct the search for a new superintendent.

“I am so excited to begin working with the Ballard community, employees, board members and students,” Trimble said in a news release from Ballard schools. “I believe my experiences have prepared me well to serve the district, and I look forward to earning your trust each and every day we work together.”

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com