Superintendent's Message for February 2026

Happy February!  

GREAT News to share: all our school buildings have been nominated as National Showcase Schools.  Recommendations are based primarily on the fidelity of implementation,  CKH Mid-Year Survey results, and the campus strategist's awareness of how CKH is impacting the campus. Our principals have now submitted all the necessary documents and evidence of your hard work.  Congratulations on this accomplishment. 

 Regardless of the outcome - WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE WORK OF OUR STAFF!!!!

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Middle School Project

The school board conducted a work session concerning the planned middle school remodel.  As we moved deeper into the project planning stage, it became apparent that the project would affect several other projects within the building.  Mainly the HVAC system and building technology components.  The board, on the recommendation of 10Fold, Corey, and me, decided to pause on the timeline, which included construction starting this year.  We have engaged 10Fold to analyze and develop a comprehensive design for the entire building.  This also allows us to gather more data from the scans we have conducted on the building and become more familiar with the current state.  

4 Day School Days

The school board directed me to investigate and explore the 4-day school week.  Given recent conversations among school districts around us, we decided to accelerate the discussion and gather our staff and parents' initial feelings about the topic. We have been looking at the feasibility and impact of transitioning to a four-day school week. This exploration is driven by our commitment to student achievement, staff retention, and the responsible use of district resources. We believe it is our responsibility to thoroughly research any model that could potentially enhance the learning environment for our students and the working environment for our educators. Please understand that the school board has not yet held formal discussions on this topic.  We believe that before continuing our investigation and fact-finding on this concept, the opinions of our stakeholders matter. 

We Value Your Voice

A change of this magnitude cannot be explored in a vacuum. It is now time to seek direct input from all stakeholders in our district—including parents, students, staff, and community members. Your perspectives on childcare, extracurriculars, academic pacing, and daily schedules are vital to this process.

Next Steps: Community Survey

To ensure every voice is heard, we will release a comprehensive survey through Parent Square in the near future. This survey will be your primary opportunity to share your thoughts, concerns, and questions directly with the administration and the School Board. We thank you for your continued support and for being an active partner in our mission to provide the best possible education for our students.

CKH Mid-Year Survey Results for the District

Below is some district compiled data from a survey conducted for our district initiative - Capturing Kids Hearts or CKH.  It included survey data from our families and students.  We use this information to guide our professional development and shape how we guide the program forward. Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey - we need more parents’ input in the future.  This information is used by the district to initiate growth. 

• The reports below present detailed survey results from the CKH Premium Implementation and Culture/Climate Surveys at the campus and district levels.
• The baseline column in this report shows the minimum recommended performance levels for National Showcase Schools, based on campus grade levels (Primary, Secondary, or K-12). 
• Survey results that meet or exceed the baseline score are highlighted in green.

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Please visit our website at https://www.charitonschools.org/ for additional information about our school district. 

GO CHARGERS and THINK BIG !!!!  

Mr. Baker, #LBE

Phone - 641-774-5967

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