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District Committees & Involvement

Board members sit on several district committees and are involved in community activities and organizations as a way of dividing work and bringing greater understanding of specialized areas to the board table.

Required Board Committees:

  1. Finance/Audit: The purpose of the committee is to assist the board in discharging its responsibilities relating to financial oversight, budget, internal controls, financial policies, capital structure, and other related matters while helping to achieve the mission and vision of the Linn-Mar District. The Finance/Audit Committee shall serve the following dual purpose for the district:

    1) Finance Role: Oversee the financial affairs of the district and review and make recommendations to the board regarding district financial affairs and policies.

    2) Audit Role: Oversight of external and internal audit processes.

  2. Policy/Governance Committee: The Board of Directors for the Linn-Mar Community School District calls for the board to appoint a Policy/Governance Committee to review and enact board policy to provide broad rules and guidelines governing the school district operations, which are developed within the overall framework of state laws and regulations as well as help to achieve the mission and vision of the district and to train board members in their work and the work of the district.
     
  3. School Improvement Advisory Council: The Code of Iowa (280.12) calls for the board to appoint a School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) to make recommendations to the board. The committee is charged to make recommendations to the board in several areas based on analysis of the needs assessment data. The board will use the committee's recommendations to adopt annual improvement goals that will help to achieve the mission and vision of the Linn-Mar District.
     
  4. Career & Technical Education Advisory Committee: The Board of Directors for the Linn-Mar Community School District calls for the board to appoint a Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee (CTE) to make recommendations to the board in the areas of career and technical education. The expected outcome of this committee is to ensure that students are exposed to a well-rounded experience in the career and technical education fields as well as help to achieve the mission and vision of the Linn-Mar Community School District.

Additional District Committees/Advisories:

  1. Diversity/Equity/Inclusion Committee:  The Linn-Mar Diversity/Equity/Inclusion Committee was established during the 2021-2022 school year to support Linn-Mar’s focus on equity for all students. The committee is made up of community members, students, staff, and a board member. The committee developed themes to focus and guide the work of the group including: 
  • Enhance the role of the educational program to give context, support, and tools for students to handle those that are different from them;
  • Increase allies and support systems across the district;
  • Build a strong communication system;
  • Align families with the most appropriate and most critical resources within the community;
  • Investigate restorative discipline policies for discrimination; and
  • Celebrate the beliefs and values of our district in regard to diversity and equity.
  1. Venture Academics Advisory Committee: Venture Academics is an innovative, project-based learning model which allows students to earn high school credits by meeting Iowa Core Standards and applying knowledge to real-world projects.  The Venture Academics Advisory Committee made up of community members, students, staff, and board members to influence and provide feedback on the growth of the program.
     
  2. Linn-Mar High School Counseling Advisory: The high school counseling team has a community advisory group that helps outline goals and growth for the program and a board representative is part of the request of the national model for school counseling. This group meets once every year or two.
     
  3. Facilities Advisory Committee: The district has a running 10-year facilities plan that includes small- and large-scale projects. The Facilities Advisory Committee, made up of community members, staff, students, and board members is convened every 3-5 years when the need arises in the facilities planning calendar to discuss large-scale needs of the district.

Additional Board Representation:

  1. Marion Economic Development Corporation: MEDCO works to create opportunities in the Marion community and Linn-Mar works in partnership to bring those opportunities to the students. Through initiatives like Community Promise and Community Build, Linn-Mar and MEDCO create programs and unique learning environments for the students that transcend the traditional classroom and bring career education and the working world to the students’ fingertips.
     
  2. Marion City Council: A member of the school board attends each Marion City Council meeting and reports to the board on any city business or plans that impact the district. Board members rotate this representative responsibility.
     
  3. Urban Education Network: The Urban Education Network (UEN) keeps the state’s lawmakers, the media, and the public informed about the progress and problems in the state’s largest and most diverse public school districts. The UEN does this through advocacy, legislation, communications, and research. Linn-Mar is a member of the UEN and is represented by the superintendent. Board members receive newsletters and advocacy updates throughout the year as well.

  4. Iowa Association of School Boards: IASB is the state association representing district school boards at the state level. IASB provides professional development and training for board members on the role of board members, school finance, governance and policy, as well as advocates on behalf of its members for public education. All board members are members of IASB and are encouraged to take part in the annual convention, webinars, and board development opportunities as they arise.
     
  5. Linn-County Conference Board: This conference board serves as the governing board for the office of the assessor. The conference board has the responsibility of appointing members of the Examining Board, members of the Board of Review, and the assessor. The conference board also establishes and adopts an annual budget, approves the position of deputy assessor and the number of deputy assessors, reappoints the assessor, and employs the appraisers and other technical help.
     
  6. Legislative Advocacy Representation: The board sets legislative priorities each summer as part of the Iowa Association of School Boards. The board also has two members on opposite election cycles that monitor bills and legislative work surrounding education and work with the superintendent on advocacy letters, meetings with representatives, and provide routine updates to the entire board.