When classes open at the Clearfield Community elementary school this year, the school will have a new principal.

Jackie HOPKINS, who lives at Sun Valley Lake, will be the principal for the school this year, joining shared superintendent Joe DRAKE as the administrators for the district.

Faculty for the school this year includes:

Preschool - Beverly INLOES; kindergarten -- Nancy BROWN; first and second grade -- Martha LARSON; third and fourth grade -- SuAnn Cook; fifth and sixth grade -- Mandy MARSHALL.

Diana BOLINGER is the special education and Title I teacher; Julia WEISSHAAR-MULLIN is the band and vocal music teacher; Diana LARSON is the art teacher and Vera BRADLEY is the Librarian.

Support staff includes cook Marie CAMERON; custodian Dennis BROWN; paraprofessionals Jacquie BENNETT, LuElla NALLY, Lynne MABEN and Pat WILSON; bus drivers Allen BROWN and Stanley KNOX; board secretary Pam NICKELL; nurse Kim WEEHLER and technology director Kurtis CHRISTENEN.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2012

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 16, 2012, Page 7

There will be one new staff members when the Clearfield elementary school opens for classes Tuesday, Aug. 21. Joining the staff for the 2012-13 school year will be Lyndell DAVIS of Mount Ayr, who has accepted a paraeducator position with the pre-school program.

"She managed Clearfield's wrap around program this past summer and did a phenomenal job," principal Jackie HOPKINS said.

Many people may know her as the lady who does quilt paintings for barns. Her former emploment history includes O'Brian Brothers, Woodlink and Mount Ayr Health Care.

The school district is led by superintendent Joe DRAKE and principal Jackie HOPKINS.

Faculty for the year includes: Beverly INLOES, preschool; Nancy BROWN, kindergarten; Martha LARSON, first and second grade; SuAnn COOK, third and fourth grade; Mandy MARSHALL, fifth and sixth grade; Diana BOLINGER, special education/Title 1; Julia MULLIN, vocal and instrumental music/Talented and Gifted; Diana LARSON, art, and Vera BRADLEY, librarian.

Support staff includes Marie CAMERON, food service director; Dennis BROWN, custodian/bus driver; Jacquie BENNETT, para-professional; LuElla NALLY, para-professional; Pat WILSON, kitchen and para-professional; Lyndell DAVIS, para-professional; Allen BROwN, bus driver and Stanley KNOX, bus driver.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2012

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, April 04, 2012

The Clearfield board of education appointed members to a dissolution commission and approved teh 2013-2014 budget at its regular meeting Tuesday, March 19.

With no adjoining school district expressing an interest in reorganizing with the Clearfield district, the board of directors were forced to proceed with plans for dissolution of the district following the 2013-2014 school year.

The first step in the that process is the appointment of district patrons to a dissolution commission.

Named to the commission are Gina KNOX, Doug ENGLAND, Sara DESKIN, Michele SOBOTKA, Becky KERNS, Bob CAMERON and Patty PARRISH, with Mike KEMERY as alternate.

Board members considered geographic location of a number of registered voters in the Clearfield school district prior to appointing residents to serve on the commission.

. . . Ron BROWN asked who determines the future of the school building following dissolution. [Superintendent Joe] DRAKE said he had contacted Rick ENGLE, the district's legal counsel, who stated the dissolution commission will make recommendations to the school board in regard to assets and liabilities of the district. The board will make the final decision on the sale or disposal of district property.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2013

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 19, 2014

Clearfield is moving ahead with plans to convert their former school building into a community center.

After an auction this weekend to sell much of the contents and equipment belonging to the school, the city will take ownership of the building and create the Clearfield Community Center/Fitness Center>

The Clearfield Community Building Committee envisions a facility that will provide for alumni banquets, wedding receptions, graduation parties, family reunions or other large gatherings, as well as a fitness and recreation center for community members in order to maintain a center of focus for community pride.

Plans for the community center include a fitness room with reasonable membership rates. They have already received a number of donations of fitness related equipment.

Also planned is a game room, a tv lounge and computer lab, as well as using the school's gym for volleyball and basketball.

The kitchen and equipment will remain with the building in order to be utilized by the alumni association for their banquets, as well as being available for large family/community gatherings.

The school stage will provide a showcase for community theater/variety/music show productions and fund raising events.

The current playground equipment and walking track will be maintained as a park for the community and guests to use.

The community center committee believes this building will become a focus for community pride. They emphasize that the school building will continue to be an important part of the lives of those who live in Clearfield and the surrounding area.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker