PLEASANTVILLE, IA — The Pleasantville Community School District Board of Education has selected three finalists for the district’s next superintendent. The finalists are Dr. Jenni McCrory, Trevor Miller, and Brandi Wendt.

The board partnered with Grundmeyer Leader Services to assist with conducting the search and reviewing all qualified candidates.

McCrory currently serves as elementary principal and special education director for the Prairie City-Monroe Community School District. She brings more than 20 years of educational leadership experience and holds a doctorate in educational administration from the University of South Dakota. In her current role, McCrory provides district-level leadership for special education programming, leads implementation of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and facilitates professional learning communities focused on curriculum alignment and instructional improvement.

Additionally, McCrory is an active member of the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI), previously serving as president of the SAI Representative Council during the 2023-24 school year.

Currently, Miller serves as shared superintendent of the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton and Audubon Community School Districts. In this role, he leads instructional, financial, and operational systems aligned to board priorities and student outcomes. Miller has also partnered with Des Moines Area Community College and regional districts to open the Templeton DMACC Center, expanding access to concurrent enrollment opportunities. He holds a certificate of advanced studies in superintendency and a master’s in educational administration from Iowa State University.

Miller’s previous experience includes serving as superintendent of IKM-Manning CSD and as an elementary principal and Title coordinator for the Perry CSD. He also serves on the Board of Control for the Iowa High School Boys Athletic Association.

Wendt is the current assistant principal of Ankeny Centennial High School. In this role, she leads various building-wide systems, including MTSS, instructional leadership practices, and student support structures. She has experience overseeing districtwide special education and Section 504 systems and has led professional development aligned to instructional frameworks. Previously, Wendt served as an ESOL Specialist for Ankeny, an administrator and special education director at Perry CSD, and reading interventionist at Norwalk CSD.

Wendt holds superintendent licensure from the University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree in K-12 education from Capella University. She is also ALICE Training certified and CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) certified.

As a next step, the board and interview teams will conduct formal interviews with the finalists on Wednesday, April 29; the day will include a school/community tour, interviews with two mixed interview teams, and an interview with the board. The board intends to make a final decision shortly after concluding the interview process. The public will be notified as soon as possible after the interviews.

The next superintendent will begin leading the Pleasantville Community School District effective July 1, 2026.

OSKALOOSA — After years of evaluation and conversation, Oskaloosa Schools has found its next competitive home. Beginning in the 2028-29 school year, Oskaloosa will join the Southeast Conference, pending approval by the Oskaloosa School Board and the Conference Realignment Committee established by Iowa Legislative HF783. This is a move district leaders say better aligns with the community, strengthens competition, and enhances the experience for student-athletes.

The decision follows a multi-year process that began before Activities Director Jamie Jacobs arrived in Oskaloosa. A conference alignment committee initially determined the Little Hawkeye Conference was not the best long-term fit, though no immediate action was taken. That changed as conference membership shifted and district leaders revisited the conversation.

“This process started before my tenure,” Jacobs said. “When I joined, there was a push to reopen this committee and take another look at where we may fit in.”

The Southeast Conference, which includes Burlington, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Mount Pleasant, and Washington, offers a structure that more closely matches Oskaloosa in both size and community profile. All member schools are Class 3A, creating a more consistent competitive landscape.

“The move is right for Oskaloosa schools based on school sizes,” Jacobs said. “They are all 3A schools, and they are towns and communities that reflect our own.”

That alignment was a key factor in the conference’s unanimous vote to invite Oskaloosa to join. Conference leaders pointed to competitive balance, student experience, and community relationships as reasons for their support.

For Jacobs, that endorsement speaks to the district’s broader reputation.

“I think some of the things that stood out were our fine arts opportunities, the positive experiences we’ve created, and even our media presence,” Jacobs said. “Those are things we can contribute to the conference in a meaningful way.”

Beyond alignment, the move is expected to improve the day-to-day experience for students. While travel distances may increase, Jacobs sees that as an opportunity rather than a drawback.

“Some of the best memories are made on those bus rides,” she said. “That team time and sense of community is a big part of what makes activities special.”

On the field and court, the shift brings a more balanced level of competition. Historical results suggest Oskaloosa has found more consistent success against Southeast Conference opponents compared to its current conference, while still facing meaningful competition.

“It’s not a situation where we walk in and dominate,” Jacobs said. “It’s good competition that pushes us and makes us better.”

The transition timeline is set by conference bylaws, requiring a two-year window before departure from the Little Hawkeye Conference. While the Southeast Conference has expressed openness to accelerating the timeline, Oskaloosa will not be requesting this from the LHC due to its vision culture principles. Oskaloosa voted to hold Pella Community School District to the 2-year timeline when they requested to leave the conference in October of 2025.

In the meantime, district leaders are focused on preparation. That includes building schedules, coordinating with conference schools, and ensuring coaches and programs are ready for the shift.

“Right now, it’s a lot of planning to make sure it’s a smooth transition,” Jacobs said.

For students, families, and the broader community, the move signals more than a change in opponents. It reflects a long-term commitment to creating meaningful, competitive, and connected experiences for Oskaloosa students. As Jacobs put it, “It’s a very exciting time to be an Oskaloosa Indian, and the future is bright.”

Graphic photo courtesy DWS Photography

KNOXVILLE – Four Knoxville residents are displaced after a house fire on Saturday resulted in their home being deemed a total loss.

According to the Knoxville Fire Department, crews were dispatched to the 400 block of S. 7th Street on Saturday morning at around 9am following reports of a structure fire. When crews began to arrive on scene, they requested additional backup, as smoke was billowing high into the sky.

Crews found a two-story home with extensive fire coming from the roof and the rear side of the home. As they were fighting the blaze, crews noticed that the roof of the home had started to collapse, and they were thus pulled from the home. Master streams were eventually able to put most of the fire out in around 10 minutes. The fire was brought under control in roughly 45 minutes after the scene was secured and salvage operations began. The home and its contents were deemed a total loss.

The Knoxville Fire Department reports that the home had four residents, and they are now displaced and receiving assistance from the American Red Cross and First Resources Corporation.

The exact cause of the fire remains unknown at this time and is currently under investigation.

FAIRFIELD – Two individuals were arrested by authorities near Agency last week after a vehicle pursuit that began in Fairfield and spanned multiple counties, ultimately leading to a foot chase.

According to the Fairfield Police Department, on the evening of Thursday, April 23, at around 10:42pm, officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop near the intersection of South 3rd Street and Washington Avenue in Fairfield. The vehicle failed to stop, and so a vehicle pursuit began.

The driver fled to the south, eventually exiting city limits on Highway 1. The chase continued into Van Buren and Wapello Counties. The vehicle pursuit ended when the driver exited the roadway and put the vehicle in a small embankment just north of Agency. The driver then attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended following a brief foot chase.

This incident led to the arrest of 25-year-old Edward Steven Feeney of Ottumwa and 34-year-old Christina Marie Wagner of Ottumwa. 

Feeney was charged with Eluding (class C felony), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) – 2nd Offense (aggravated misdemeanor), Driving While Barred (aggravated misdemeanor), and Interference with Official Acts (simple misdemeanor). Wagner was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) – 3rd Offense (class D felony).

Feeney and Wagner were both transported to the Jefferson County Correctional Facility and held pending their initial court appearance.