New Cedar Rapids school board leadership promises ‘accountability’

CEDAR RAPIDS — New Cedar Rapids school board President Jennifer Neumann spoke about taking “accountability” and establishing trust with the community before being appointed Monday by fellow board members in a 4-3 vote.

Newcomer Scott Drzycimski, facing no opposition, was unanimously appointed as vice president of the board, promising “a strong focus on communication and accountability.” He was elected to the school board this month.

The board also said goodbye to three outgoing members, including Nancy Humbles, the first Black woman to serve on the Cedar Rapids school board. Humbles served 16 years on the Cedar Rapids school board and was elected four times. She did not run for re-election this year.

In parting remarks, Humbles told the district’s Superintendent Tawana Grover — who began as superintendent in April 2023 — “to continue connecting with our community, staff and students.”

“As I prepare to step away, I do so with confidence in the future of our schools. I have seen the resilience of our educators, the brilliance of our students and the dedication of our families and community members,” Humbles said.

New board leadership

Neumann and Kaitlin Byers — who was elected to the school board in 2023 — nominated themselves for board president. They each gave statements and answered questions before a vote was taken.

Neumann was appointed president in a 4-3 vote, with herself, former board president Cindy Garlock, David Tominsky and Ashley Burns voting in favor.

Neumann was first elected to the Cedar Rapids school board in 2019 and reelected in 2023. Her term expires in 2027.

Since her time on the board, Neumann said they’ve navigated through “nothing but challenges,” including the pandemic, a derecho that damaged almost every school building in the district, the death of Superintendent Noreen Bush and two failed general obligation bonds.

Earlier this month, a $117 million school bond referendum that would have addressed facility needs and consolidated some schools in the Cedar Rapids district narrowly failed voter approval.

“All of us sat back after the loss of the bond and thought, ‘How did this happen? How did we get so close?’ And the fact of the matter is, the buck stops with the board, and it should stop with the board, and we all need to spend time understanding how we get there because our students and our staff need this. Our community needs this,” Neumann said.

“These events, combined with the declining enrollment in Iowa public schools and a shift of public funds to private education have created a landscape of constant flux and uncertainty. That uncertainty can cause mistrust and strife. Leadership takes accountability,” Neumann said.

Establishing a new board governance model

One of her first actions as board president will be exploring a new governance model the board agrees on.

“The board does not have a governance model in place, Neumann said. “We’re kind of flying by the seat of our pants right now. I only learned maybe six months ago that there are multiple board governance models out there, and I would like our board to work together to select a model that fits our needs.”

School board governance creates a framework for how district decisions are made, including defining expectations and creating board roles and responsibilities, creating transparency and accountability.

“It’s how we work together. It will be our working norms and our guiding principals,” she said.

The school board over the last couple of years has slowly moved away from a long-standing practice of having the board president serve as a spokesperson for the consensus of the board, discouraging the other six elected members from addressing the public.

“Individual board members have opinions. Individual board members absolutely should be able to speak to the media, as long as they share ‘I’m representing myself,’” Neumann said.

Neumann said she is proud of the district’s communications department’s work over the last six months building “a system of consistency and clarity,” focusing on communicating with staff and families first and then communicating with the public.

“But the board — we’re one of the most visible ways to speak to the community, and I do think it’s important we have that voice. We need to continue on this path of very consistent and clear communication,” she said.

The district needs ‘some wins,’ Neumann says

Student achievement and behavior is improving with the implementation of new curriculum, an emphasis on safe and secure learning and added support for students and staff, Neumann said.

“I don’t want to lose sight of the fact that as a district, we’ve also made a lot of progress over the years … There is work to be done,” she said.

“I believe in my heart that miracles happen in our schools every single day, and I say that all the time. Our teachers and our staff are the essential heart of this district. Their unwavering belief in every student’s ability to succeed is what fosters those daily miracles in our building. Our job as a board is to turn that belief into student success,” Neumann said.

“The next chapter demands a united board focused squarely on this goal, leading with accountability, active listening and compassion. To achieve this, we must establish trust with our community and commit to transparency and accessibility,” Neumann said.

“It’s easy when you have a district our size ... to chase after shiny objects, to get distracted. We need to pick a few things, and we need to get them done. We need to ensure we are notching some wins for this district, and we need to show this community what we are capable of, and that takes focus,” Neumann said.

Transparency a priority, Drzycimski says

Drzycimski said as vice president, he will bring collaboration, organization and a strong focus on communication and accountability to the board.

  Buy Photo

“I recognize that leadership on this board means ensuring meetings are effective, decisions are transparent and every voice is heard. In times of disagreement, I believe good leadership means listening first and finding common ground that moves us forward,” Drzycimski said.

“We face real challenges: student achievement, staff retention and building trust from our community. Meeting these challenges will take teamwork, clear communication and a shared commitment to what’s best for students and families,” he said.

Parting remarks from Humbles

In her parting remarks, Humbles said the school district “is stronger than any storm that comes our way.”

  Buy Photo

“As I close this chapter ... my heart is filled with deep gratitude and reflection. Serving this community has been an honor. When I joined this board, I could never have imagined the journey we would take together — a journey marked by trials, triumphs and transformation. We weathered the historic challenges, from the devastating floods of 2008 and 2016 to the unprecedented days of COVID-19 pandemic and the powerful derecho that tested our strength as a community. Each time, we rose together — educators students, families and community partners,” Humbles said.

“I am proud of the new elementary schools that now stand as a symbol of renewal and progress, and I look forward to the future schools that will continue to serve generations to come. These buildings represent more than brick and mortar. They are our investment in our staff and our students, providing hope, learning and opportunity,” Humbles said.

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