— Submitted photo. Even though Dr. Mandy Ross retires as Webster City’s superintendent, she will still be an advocate for public education.

It may be her last day on the job here in Webster City, but Dr. Mandy Ross’ journey as an educator is not over.

The retiring superintendent of the Webster City Community School District will leave her position behind at the end of this fiscal year, but she is taking her passion for public education with her and, hopefully, to the next level.

She’s not sure what that looks like.

“I’m working on some consulting options,” she said in a written response to a few questions. “I’m also putting together my thoughts about how best to advocate for public education.”

It is the word public in that statement that troubles her. In the five years she has helmed the WCCSD, the politics of public education have shifted. Worryingly, in her opinion.

“I believe the greatest need right now is for our community to understand the systematic unraveling of public education in Iowa right now. Even if you don’t have children in school right now, the impact on the community will be felt over time. So advocating with our legislators is going to be increasingly important for everyone.”

She isn’t just talking to herself in this statement. It’s a response to this question: How can the community better step up to support our public schools?

Ross is alarmed by the state’s acceptance, and Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signing, of the Iowa Education Savings Accounts law, more formally known as Students First Education Savings Accounts. The Students First Act, introduced by Reynolds and signed by her into law on Jan. 24 this year, makes state money available to help fund all K-12 education in Iowa. That means taxpayers’ money can be used to pay for private education.

Ross believes the institution of allowing ESAs to draw much-needed money away from public school systems – Webster City’s included – is wrong.

“I’m most concerned about the long-term impact the Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), or vouchers, will have on all public schools, but especially rural schools like Webster City. Other states that have allowed ESAs have seen private schools pop up a few years after ESAs have passed, drawing resources and students from the public schools. Currently, the ESAs do not have the same stringent requirements for non-public schools as for public schools, including serving all students who wish to attend there,” she said.

“I fear this will create a system of haves and have nots.”

Though this may not rattle locals, she said the state’s education money being syphoned from public schools will likely have a very real impact on the local school district when it comes time to pay for a new high school.

“We’ve been working for the past five years to position the district to be able to build a new high school,” she said. “The pace was slowed a bit by the pandemic, but we are still on track to make that happen.”

But that new high school project will go up against other pressing community needs that are largely paid for with tax assessments, most significant among them a $78 million wastewater treatment system. Against that backdrop, every public dollar will count.

Positioning the school district to be able launch a new building project was a task to which Ross applied much of her energy in her years with the school district.

“We have made improvements in our facilities by making sure our schools have secure entries including cameras, added air conditioning at Pleasant View and Sunset Heights, sold the Riverview building to the daycare so they have the entire building for their programming, sold the rental house in Blairsburg, and are finalizing the sale of the Lawn Hill building on Beach Street,” she said.

“By selling under-utilized property, we save the district money, which helps us better manage our property tax rate.”

She values other successes.

“Over the past five years, we’ve been doing a lot of work to improve our systems approach to everything from our curriculum cycle to instructional practices to aligning district, building and individual goals,” she said.

“This allows us to provide students, parents, and staff with consistency in practices and expectations.”

Of course, Ross wishes the pandemic hadn’t happened.

“It truly slowed down some of the momentum we had started with regard to curriculum studies and instructional strategies that have begun to show promise in student learning,” she said.

“I believe that we might be further along with planning for a new high school, too.”

As she puts her departure into gear, Ross looks back with fondness for her family: “It’s not easy to be the spouse or child of the superintendent.” The support: “I’m grateful to the school board members who hired me and have supported me throughout my time here in Webster City. They often asked questions, challenged my recommendations, or pushed my thinking in any variety of ways, which I have truly appreciated.” The staff: “I’d also like to credit my administrative and support teams for their never-ending efforts to keep up the pace of all the work we’ve tried to accomplish.”

In the rear view, she sees great promise.

“Webster City is a just-right size district in a great location. As a result, we have been working to be a destination district.”

Ahead of her, she anticipates a new experience.

“At the top of my list is to see what it’s like to get bored, but I don’t believe that will actually happen.”