News : Vinton-Shellsburg to Host Community Facilities Forum, Monday, May 12th

The Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District invites families, staff, and community members to participate in tonight's community forums focused on our school facilities and future planning. These forums are a continuation of the important conversations we've been having around our facilities, grade alignment, and the long-term needs of our district.

Forum Details:

• Monday, May 12 at Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School - 6:00 p.m.
  
  

The event will begin with a guided tour of the building, followed by an open forum discussion with members of the Vinton-Shellsburg School Board. This will be an opportunity for community members to ask questions, share feedback, and learn more about the results of the recent Facilities Feedback Survey.

At the April board meeting, we shared the findings from our community-wide survey. Some of the key takeaways included:

• A strong desire to keep Shellsburg Elementary open and concerns about

  consolidating elementary campuses.
  
  

• Mixed opinions about moving 5th grade to the middle school, with

  concerns centering around student readiness, safety, and social-emotional

  development.
  
  

• High importance placed on modernizing classrooms, improving school

  safety, upgrading infrastructure, and expanding early childhood spaces.
  
  

• A need for more public meetings, data sharing, and transparent

  decision-making.
  
  

We heard clear themes about the importance of:

• Maturity and developmental appropriateness in grade alignment decisions.
  
  

• Equity and fairness across the district, particularly for rural families.
  
  

• Maintaining manageable class sizes and consistent peer groups for

  students.
  
  

• Minimizing travel times and school transitions for younger students.
  
  

This forum will provide a valuable space for community members to continue the conversation, see the facilities firsthand, and help shape the future of Vinton-Shellsburg schools. Your voice matters - we hope you'll join us!