Superintendent's Message for September 2025

Hello, Chargers!!

We are off to a GREAT start to the 2025-2026 school year! I hope you and your child  had the opportunity to participate in our  back-to-school conferences, open houses, orientations for new students to the district, and transition activities for students planned by our teachers.  I believe our students entered their first day of school prepared and comfortable. I would like to thank our staff for all their hard work and effort in making our students and you feel comfortable returning to school. 

Math Counts Act

The Iowa Department of Education has released three new resources to assist Iowa schools in implementing the recent Math Counts Act. Under House File 784, the Math Counts Act addresses proficiency gaps in mathematics and ensures high-quality K-6 mathematics instruction for Iowa students.

To support Iowa schools, a Comprehensive State Mathematics Plan is now available to increase mathematics proficiency statewide. It serves as a roadmap for continuous improvement in mathematics education, providing aligned resources, actions and timelines for schools, area education agencies and educator preparation programs. The plan’s executive summary highlights year 1 priorities and outlines key goals, action steps and outcomes that will guide implementation, which begins during the 2025-26 school year.

The Comprehensive State Mathematics Plan includes the following four key goals, spanning over multiple years:
●    Strengthening universal instruction
●    Supporting teacher preparation
●    Improving interventions
●    Expanding stakeholder engagement

The Department anticipates releasing additional resources to assist in implementing the Math Counts Act in the future. To learn more about Iowa’s mathematics instruction initiatives visit the Iowa Department of Education’s website.

School Bus Seat Belts Required 

This year, we are requiring students who ride the bus to and from school to wear seatbelts in our buses that are equipped with them. Our drivers did a wonderful job of contacting the parents of students who are regularly assigned to their buses.  All other students and parents, specifically in-town shuttle riders, are being informed by various methods, including but not limited to:  Superintendent board report, the superintendent message on our website,  messages sent on Parent Square by the Superintendent and buildings, and directives from their bus driver.  The expectation is that students wear seatbelts at all times while riding the bus. If it is discovered that they have not, they will follow our standard procedures and punishments, just like any other rule or expectation they violate, while riding our buses.  If they fail to comply with this safety regulation and expectation, they could ultimately not be allowed to ride any CCSD school bus.

Annual Notices

Each year, our school is required by the Department of Education to communicate annual notices to the public and stakeholders.  This information can be found easily on our district’s website at https://www.charitonschools.org. I have also included that information in the following link for your convenience. 2025-26 Annual Notices 

Open enrollment information 

Open Enrollment is the process by which a parent or guardian residing in an Iowa district may enroll their child(ren) into another Iowa school district. We hope you choose to attend our school district and thank everyone who has. The State of Iowa has created deadlines that were changed this year during the 2024 Iowa Legislature session.  Below are two links with information from the Open Enrollment Handbook available on the Iowa Department of Education website:  https://educate.iowa.gov/media/10193/download?inline= 

Open Enrollment Deadlines 2024

Open Enrollment Transportation Guidelines 2024

School Board Election Information

Key Dates for 2025 School Board Elections

Future Items and Dates

• The next Board meeting will be on October 13th at 6:00 PM.  The meeting entrance is through the Chariton Pre-School doors.  Please attend to hear all the good things happening in our school district and listen to the school board members conduct the business of our district.
• Homecoming is September 26th, and school will be dismissed 90 minutes early.
• Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on October 22nd and 23rd. There will be no school on Friday, October 24th.
• School Board Elections are on November 4th. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Please visit our website at https://www.charitonschools.org/ for additional information about our school district. Below is what the website looks like and the tabs you can click for specific information.  

GO CHARGERS and THINK BIG !!!!  

Mr. Baker, #LBE

Phone - 641-774-5967

Email- brad.baker@chariton.k12.ia.us