Woodward-Granger students return to school on Friday. Here's what's new for the 2024-25 school year:

Allison Ullmann, Des Moines Register
The exterior sign at the Woodward-Granger Middle and High School building.
The exterior sign at the Woodward-Granger Middle and High School building.

Woodward-Granger students are heading back to school on Friday.

Here's what's new in the Woodward-Granger Community School District as the 2024-25 school year gets underway, according to Superintendent Mark Lane.

When is the first day of school at Woodward-Granger?

School begins Friday for Woodward-Granger students.

Are there any new building projects this year?

  • New parking lot at the Early Learning Center

  • New raised bleachers to increase spectator capacity at Hawk Stadium

  • Regrading, installation of an irrigation system, and reseeding of practice fields in Woodward

  • Design development for new middle school - Bids are expected to be opened in early December. And the district expects to break ground in early 2025. The project is part of a $23 million bond referendum Woodward-Granger voters approved last November.

Woodward-Granger school district voters approved a $23 million referendum for projects like a new middle school in November 2023.
Woodward-Granger school district voters approved a $23 million referendum for projects like a new middle school in November 2023.

Who are the new principal or other administrative hires?

The Director of Special Education and Programs and Early Learning Center Principal positions are new positions associated with the district's enrollment growth.

"We will serve between 1,100 and 1,200 students this school year, and these positions will help us ensure our special education services and early childhood services are meeting the needs of our growing student body," Lane said.

The new administrative hires include:

Mark Finken
Mark Finken

Mark Finken, principalat Woodward-Granger High School — Finken previously served as Associate Principal at Marshalltown High School with Marshalltown Community Schools. Earlier in his career, Finken taught writing and literature and coordinated the student advisory program with Waukee Schools.

Lindie Truitt
Lindie Truitt

Lindie Truitt, principal at Woodward-Granger Early Learning Center — Truitt previously served as an instructional coach at Valerius Elementary with Urbandale Schools. In her time with Urbandale, Truitt has also served as a Facilitator of Curriculum and Professional Development, a first grade teacher and a kindergarten teacher.

Jadyn Crnkovich
Jadyn Crnkovich

Jadyn Crnkovich, principal at Grandwood Education Center — Crnkovich previously served as a teacher at Grandwood since 2017. She is also a graduate of Woodward-Granger High School.

Rebekka Maass
Rebekka Maass

Rebekka Maass, Director of Special Education and Programs — Maass has served as principal of the Grandwood Education Center Consortium Program Special Education School for the past nine years. While Grandwood Education Center is a school within Woodward-Granger CSD, the program serves as a consortium school for students with special needs for numerous school districts throughout central Iowa.

Shaylena Bell
Shaylena Bell

Shaylena Bell, activities director and assistant principal — Bell previously served as an instructional coach with Perry Community Schools. In her 12 years in education, Bell has also been a general and vocal music teacher, and coached track, cross country, cheerleading, dance and colorguard.

What are administrators looking forward to about the new school year?

"Now that I am in my third year with Woodward-Granger CSD, I know our students and community," Lane said. "It is rewarding to have strong relationships with students and their families, and to continue to watch them learn and grow into great people."

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: New administrators: What's new in Woodward-Granger schools

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