Sergeant Bluff-Luton Primary School

The Board of Education of the Sergeant Bluff-Luton CSD is seeking a highly qualified, visionary, and fully certified educational leader to serve as the next Elementary School Principal, beginning July 1, 2024. Questions regarding the process or position should be directed to Superintendent Chad Janzen. Applicants should follow the process found on the district website at www.sblschools.com/page/employment

School will be 2 hours late on January 19, 2024. With the winds, road conditions are deteriorating.

School will be closed Monday, Jan. 15. No activities, no practices.

Thank you to the Sergeant Bluff PD for helping with safety training in the elementary and primary buildings today. The new Crisis Plan requires training with the local PD every other year. The other year we train internally with our SRO. Training is also required annually with students. Building principals will communicate with parents before this occurs so they are aware and can talk to their children if they wish.

The primary and elementary buildings worked collaboratively last year to select a new reading curriculum. This morning building leadership consisting of the building principals and instructional coaches visited classrooms to assess implementation of the new curriculum and discuss ways to support teachers in their practice.

The District is concerned as it continues to receive comments and is hearing feedback from the community containing erroneous information related to the recent resignation of a school administrator.  As has been previously stated, the District is restricted in what information it can provide the public about a specific confidential personnel and/or student matter.  However, given the type and amount of misinformation circulating in the community the District feels it is necessary to try and communicate the following additional information about the general process on certain complaints and investigations to help clarify as much as it can the disinformation that is being wrongfully spread. First, and foremost, no investigation or subsequent resignation occurred as a result of any school employee lawfully breaking up a fight on school grounds.  The District supports, and the law allows for, appropriate actions and protocols taken by staff to protect students and property. Second, and equally important,  at the conclusion of the investigation in this situation, the administrator chose to resign.  He was not forced to resign by the superintendent or the board.  He resigned voluntarily.  The resignation agreement approved by the Board states it was a voluntary resignation. As a general matter, when a certain type of complaint is received against any school employee for alleged conduct toward a student a Chapter 102 investigation must be conducted and Iowa law requires that the employee be placed on administrative leave during the process.  A Level 1 investigation is then commenced.  The investigation is conducted by a previously designated Level 1 investigator that must be named annually by the District. A Level 1 investigator must receive specific training to serve in that role. A Level 1 investigation is NOT performed by District administration or board members.  The purpose of a Level 1 investigation is to talk to both the complainant, the employee and any witnesses to determine if an incident alleged in a complaint is more likely than not to have occurred.  Based on the findings of a Level 1 investigation, a Level 2 investigation may become mandatory under the law. The Level 2 investigation is NOT conducted by District administration or the school board.  The investigation may be conducted by someone with specialized training in Level 2 investigations and who is not connected to the school district/community.  Generally, a school district will work with its legal counsel to seek guidance on the appropriate Level 2 investigator.   The charge of the independent Level 2 investigator is to look at the Level 1 investigation and then conduct any additional investigation the Level 2 investigator believes is warranted to ascertain the facts.  Under Iowa law, the Level 2 investigator must consider and apply a list of possible exceptions to the incident that may justify the employee’s actions and ultimately protects school employees for appropriate conduct necessary in certain circumstances.  If it is determined, however, these exceptions do NOT apply and the employee conduct was not otherwise justified under the stated law, then the investigator reports the incident as founded.  If the incident is founded, the law requires certain actions be taken the District.  At each step in both the Level 1 and Level 2 investigative process, the employee is given due process, meaning they are provided information regarding the complaint and then given the right to be heard and give his/her side of the story.  The role of the superintendent in a Chapter 102 investigation process is limited.  Typically, the superintendent is not involved at all.  The role of the superintendent is to merely ensure the District complies with state law and District policy and the Superintendent will work with legal counsel to ensure compliance occurs.  More specific information about Chapter 102 investigations can be found here:  https://educateiowa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Ch102-Handbook-REV-April-2018.pdf. As previously stated, whenever the District is involved in personnel investigations related to specific complaints, it works closely with legal counsel to ensure the law and proper policies are followed, including making any required reports to state agencies as a result of any investigation findings. -Chad Janzen, Supt of SBL Schools

The District is concerned as it continues to receive comments and is hearing feedback from the community containing erroneous information related to the recent resignation of a school administrator. As has been previously stated, the District is restricted in what information it can provide the public about a specific confidential personnel and/or student matter. However, given the type and amount of misinformation circulating in the community the District feels it is necessary to try and communicate the following additional information about the general process on certain complaints and investigations to help clarify as much as it can the disinformation that is being wrongfully spread. First, and foremost, no investigation or subsequent resignation occurred as a result of any school employee breaking up a fight on school grounds. The District supports, and the law allows for, appropriate actions and protocols taken by staff to protect students and property. Second, and equally important, at the conclusion of the investigation in this situation, the administrator chose to resign. He was not forced to resign by the superintendent or the board. He resigned voluntarily. The resignation agreement approved by the Board states it was a voluntary resignation. As a general matter, when a certain type of complaint is received against any school employee for alleged conduct toward a student a Chapter 102 investigation must be conducted and Iowa law requires that the employee be placed on administrative leave during the process. A Level 1 investigation is then commenced. The investigation is conducted by a previously designated Level 1 investigator that must be named annually by the District. A Level 1 investigator must receive specific training to serve in that role. A Level 1 investigation is NOT performed by District administration or board members. The purpose of a Level 1 investigation is to talk to both the complainant, the employee and any witnesses to determine if an incident alleged in a complaint is more likely than not to have occurred. Based on the findings of a Level 1 investigation, a Level 2 investigation may become mandatory under the law. The Level 2 investigation is NOT conducted by District administration or the school board. The investigation may be conducted by someone with specialized training in Level 2 investigations and who is not connected to the school district/community. Generally, a school district will work with its legal counsel to seek guidance on the appropriate Level 2 investigator. The charge of the independent Level 2 investigator is to look at the Level 1 investigation and then conduct any additional investigation the Level 2 investigator believes is warranted to ascertain the facts. Under Iowa law, the Level 2 investigator must consider and apply a list of possible exceptions to the incident that may justify the employee’s actions and ultimately protects school employees for appropriate conduct necessary in certain circumstances. If it is determined, however, these exceptions do NOT apply and the employee conduct was not otherwise justified under the stated law, then the investigator reports the incident as founded. If the incident is founded, the law requires certain actions be taken the District. More specific information about Chapter 102 investigations can be found here: https://educateiowa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Ch102-Handbook-REV-April-2018.pdf. At each step in both the Level 1 and Level 2 investigative process, the employee is given due process, meaning they are provided information regarding the complaint and then given the right to be heard and give his/her side of the story. The role of the superintendent in a Chapter 102 investigation process is limited. Typically, the superintendent is not involved at all. The role of the superintendent is to merely ensure the District complies with state law and District policy and the Superintendent will work with legal counsel to ensure compliance occurs. As previously stated, whenever the District is involved in personnel investigations related to specific complaints, it works closely with legal counsel to ensure the law and proper policies are followed, including making any required reports to state agencies as a result of any investigation findings. -SBL School Board

This morning the Board of Directors of the Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School District accepted the resignation of Bill McKelvey as middle school principal, effective immediately. An interim middle school principal, Dr. LuAnn Haase, has been retained for the remainder of the 2023-24 school year. More information will be shared about Dr. Haase with our middle school families. The District is aware that there are some social media and other communications out in the community regarding this matter. While the District would like to share all the facts regarding this matter, and clear up any misinformation that may be circulating, it is barred by law from discussing confidential personnel and/or student matters. What the District can disclose to the community is that in all personnel and student matters, District policy, procedures and Iowa law are followed under the appropriate guidance from legal counsel and other outside personnel, as necessary. This matter was no exception. The Board would like to express its continued trust and confidence in Superintendent, Chad Janzen, and convey its appreciation for the efforts of all District personnel as they work to transition leadership in the middle school. The Board is confident that this will continue to be a successful and rewarding year for the students and staff of Sergeant Bluff-Luton. -Sergeant Bluff-Luton School Board

Football game time moved up to 4pm on Friday due to weather. See the news feed on the school app for more details regarding the day.

Monday morning we celebrated employees who worked for the district for 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years. We want to give special recognition to Craig Golden for 35 years of service to the students of Sergeant Bluff. Thank you Craig!

Welcome back to school!

Hello Little Warrior Families! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone for Open House on Monday, August 21, 5:00-6:30. The first day of school for TK-5 is Wednesday, August 23. ****Reminder: EVERY WEDNESDAY is a 2:20pm DISMISSAL.**** Preschool students start Thursday, August 24. Please take some time to explore the new SBL website and/or download the SBL app to your phone. The Student/Parent handbooks, lunch menus, newsletters, and calendars can be accessed. Let me know your thoughts or provide suggestions for making it more 'family friendly'. Serving Kids First, Kelly Adams SBL Primary School Principal