The Iola-Scandinavia School District hosted its second Strategic Task Force planning meeting on the evening of Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Task force members discussed the question: "If Iola-Scandinavia could invest in five key items, what would they be?" Responses to that question, along with the questions from the first planning session on September 16, were used to identify emerging themes.
District Administrator Chris Nelson then gave task force members an overview of the non-recurring operational referendum, including information on student achievement, district finances, and the history of state education funding.
Following Mr. Nelson's presentation, participants prioritized the themes that emerged from both planning sessions. The six top-ranked themes were:
Academic Excellence and Student Achievement
Educational Staff and Leadership
Student Opportunities and Experiences
Facilities, Technology, and Operations
Career, College, and Future Readiness
Financial Stability and Resources
The district planning team will now develop a strategic plan that reflects the priorities set by the community task force. A draft of the plan will be presented at the third Strategic Planning Task Force meeting on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.