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Minds and Matter: Encouraged by majority support for school facility improvements
by Kevin Hatfield, School Superintendent · Op-Ed · February 16, 2017


Dear community stakeholders: ​The results of the bond referendum vote — 56 percent support — demonstrated that a majority of our community supported the facilities improvement plan placed before them.


Time will tell how we will move forward in these areas, but it is clear that significant facility improvements must happen in the West Branch Community School District.

School facilities improvements are happening for children in our surrounding school districts.

Why? 

Schools are the hub of a community. They have great re-investment and “return on investment” benefits; not just for a community’s students, but for the economic well-being of a town or region.

Great schools coupled with great school facilities attract families and businesses!

Great schools maintain housing values and promote steady growth. 

They are a source of community pride and are the life-blood of smaller, rural communities like ours.

Did you know that our current kindergarten students are the class of 2028?

We need our buildings and classrooms to optimize 21st Century teaching and learning opportunities for our students! 

All students will need personalized, technology-enhanced, flexible space, secure learning environments if they are going to have a chance at competing for jobs and in a globally-connected economy.

Meanwhile, our staff and leaders will continue to strive to improve what we do for students each and every day!

I’m proud of our team’s efforts and we will continue to work through our highly vetted, transparent, 15-Year Master Facilities Improvement Plan.

By the way, there is no need to start over when it’s the right work.

We will begin to gather input for improving the plans we have presented.​

On behalf of the Board of Education, our sincere thanks to the community, our parents, staff and students! 

Go Bears! 



Kevin Hatfield is the superintendent of West Branch Community Schools. You may reach him at 319-643-7213 or khatfield@west-branch.k12.ia.us.