Iowa Falls and Alden CSD

Cadet Family,

I wanted to share another update on the work of our Unified Elementary Study Committee as we continue studying how our current elementary facilities can best serve our students and families in the years ahead.

The attached video provides an overview of where the committee is in the process, the work members have completed to this point, and some of the next steps ahead.

You may notice something different when you watch this update: you won't hear my voice narrating it.

After several recording attempts over the last few days — and repeatedly trying to eliminate the “ums” that seem to find their way between slides — I decided to use AI to help with the voiceover. I created the presentation and worked through and edited the script to make sure the message accurately reflected our work, while AI was used to generate the narration.

What would have taken me considerably longer through multiple recording attempts took the technology about 30 seconds.

I also wanted to be transparent about that because I think it provides a good example of how we should approach AI. These tools can create tremendous efficiencies, but there still needs to be a human-in-the-loop. AI did not determine what information should be shared with our community, decide how we should explain the committee's work, or determine whether the final message accurately represented our schools. Those decisions still required human judgment, editing, and oversight.

The technology simply helped make one part of the process more efficient.

The much more important part of this message, however, is the continued work of our Unified Elementary Study Committee.

As we have said from the beginning, this process is about determining how the buildings we already have can best serve our elementary students. We want committee members to have the opportunity to see our facilities firsthand, understand the strengths and limitations of each building, ask good questions, and carefully consider what grade-level configuration would provide the best experience for students.

There is no need to rush this work, and there is no predetermined outcome. Our responsibility is to provide the committee with good information, create opportunities for thoughtful discussion, and continue communicating openly with our staff, families, and communities as the study progresses.

I appreciate the time and commitment our committee members are giving to this process, as well as the continued questions, feedback, and engagement from our community.

Please take a few minutes to watch the latest update.

Together We Can continue approaching this work thoughtfully, transparently, and with what is best for our students at the center of every conversation.

And don't worry — for anyone who misses my actual voice and the occasional “um,” I am sure both will return in a future update.

Have a great weekend.

Unified Elementary Committee Update

Dr. Tony Neumann
Superintendent
Iowa Falls & Alden Community School Districts

🎉 **Welcome Back, Cadets!** 🎉

We are so excited to welcome everyone back for an amazing **2026–27 school year!** ❤️🖤💛

We hope you had a wonderful summer and are ready for a year filled with **learning, growth, connection, and Cadet pride!**

Let’s make it a great year, IFA! **Together, we can!** 💪

#IFAcadetpride #IFAtogetherwecan

Good Evening. We are sharing a three-part video series outlining the current realities facing the Iowa Falls–Alden schools — including enrollment trends, long-term budget forecasts, and an early exploration of a possible unified elementary system study. This presentation was given to both school boards at our Joint Board meeting on Monday, February 16th.

Our goal is simple: be transparent, provide clear information, and plan proactively so we can continue providing strong opportunities for students while being responsible stewards of community resources. No decisions have been made — these videos are meant to inform and start conversations as we look ahead together. Iowa Falls–Alden schools — including enrollment trends, long-term budget forecasts, and an early exploration of a possible unified elementary system study.

We encourage you to watch all three parts to better understand the context and the questions we are considering:

▶️ Part 1 — Enrollment
▶️ Part 2 — Budget Forecasts
▶️ Part 3 — Unified Elementary System Study

Thank you for taking the time to stay informed and for your continued partnership as we work to keep students at the center of every decision. Together We Can.