Date: January 22, 2021
On January 22, 2021 the Bondurant Chamber of Commerce presented the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District with the 2020 Organization of the Year award, an award the district is honored to share with the Bondurant Community Library.
Statement from the Bondurant Chamber of Commerce:
“The schools were again praised for their amazing job navigating the craziness of COVID-19, coordinating the hybrid model into the school district, and doing their best to provide superior education for our youth. Bondurant Community Library was praised for their online library reading times, ability to change and evolve with the curve balls of COVID-19, offering curbside pick up, and staying open when they could have closed.”
With the sudden shift to virtual learning in March of 2020, the district quickly began working to ensure each student had access to a technology device as well as the internet to allow for at-home learning. An important partner in this process was the Bondurant Community Library. Using the library’s hot-spot check out program, numerous students were able to connect to the internet while learning virtually. Through this partnership with the library, the district was able to ensure all students had access while transitioning to virtual and hybrid learning. The district is honored to be named a co-recipient of the 2020 Organization of the Year award with the library.
In preparation for the 2020-21 school year, district staff revamped learning models and implemented a variety of measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, ensuring students were able to safely return to the classroom. Our teams continue to get creative to meet classroom and operational needs. Staff members are stepping into roles they might be unfamiliar with to help with coverage and are working together to overcome the challenges of today’s school environment.
Of the award, Bondurant-Farrar superintendent Rich Powers says it is a testament to district staff. “I am really proud of the effort put forth by our entire staff. It has not been easy on them personally or professionally, yet they have persisted. They have continued to focus on what we could do to best support our students and families,” said Powers.
To accept this award on behalf of the district, representatives from the Bondurant-Farrar Board of Education were joined by staff from a variety of departments which is representative of the collective effort and dedication of all staff.
The Organization of the Year award is part of an annual recognition program through the Bondurant Chamber of Commerce and also includes recognition for Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, and Business Person of the Year. Award recipients are selected by the community through a nomination and voting process.
Pictured accepting the award on behalf of the district (left to right):
- Ray Sauer; custodian, bus driver, volleyball coach
- Karen Shroer; food service
- Chris Freese; school board member
- Susan Ugulini; school board member
- Joannie Sanger; dean of students (Morris)
- Shannon Cline; dean of students (MS)
- Lori Mathis; nurse
