Meier’s last year in MS ends early

     After serving as Monticello Middle School Principal for seven years, Brent Meier is retiring at the end of the current school year, which was cut short when schools closed in mid-March due to COVID-19.

     “It has been weird, that is for sure,” remarked Meier of the short school year. “I miss having the students and staff here and having the opportunity to visit with and work with each of them. It is definitely bittersweet; not having the staff and students around is really tough.”

     Meier said it’s also disappointing knowing the eighth graders didn’t get their end-of-the-year canoe trip.

     “It is a great life skill activity that is way to end the year and neat to see them in a less structured setting,” he explained. “It’s a great way to end the year and send them off to high school.”

     Meier started with the Monticello School District in 2013 after then-Middle School Principal Bill Gilkerson retired. Prior to Monticello, he taught and coached at Guthrie Center. He’s been in the teaching profession for a total of 33 years.

     In late-February, the school board approved the hiring of Todd Werner as Meier’s replacement.

     “I thought with the transition to the new building (new middle school), it would be a good time to retire,” said Meier. “A new principal can come in and start new right away with the way they would want to do things.”

     Meier shared the phrase “out with the old, in with the new” as an analogy to the transition of a new school and new principal.

     “This way, all of the changes can happen at once,” he said.

     Meier also wants to spend more time with his family, and new grandchild, in Florida, and ride his motorcycle.

     He said with COVID-19, it’s hard to make concrete plans in retirement right now.

     After some time has passed, Meier would like to continue his service to the school district by driving bus for school activities or substituent teaching. He has to wait at least six months after his retirement, due to IPERS, before he can return in some fashion.

     “Education has been my life, so I hope to sill be active with the school system as a volunteer or something else,” offered Meier. He said he’d like to continue helping with sports like he’s done so many times in the past.

     Looking back on his time in Monticello, Meier said the most exciting thing for him has been the passing of the bond issue for a new middle school.

     “It has been a lot of fun working with everyone on the new building,” he expressed. “Also, it has been special working in the district where my parents and grandparents went to school.

     “To think I am the last principal in the building (pre-new addition) where they graduated from is really special to me. My father was his class president, and my mother was the secretary/treasurer of their class in high school.”

     In terms of what he’ll miss coming to school every day, Meier said it’s the students and staff.

     “We are fortunate here in Monticello to have such an outstanding school system for the top down, starting with our school board and Dr. Jaeger,” he praised. “They have been phenomenal to work for, and the administrative team works really well together.”

     On the flip side, Meier said he wouldn’t give a second thought to his office within the middle school. “It’s 90 degrees in there year round. It can be 10 degrees below outside, but it is still near 90 degrees in my office.”

     As the middle school students transition to a new building for the 2020-21 school year, Meier encourages them to enjoy their time in school because it goes by fast. Once these students leave high school, he encourages them to enjoy their career path, too.

     “I have truly enjoyed my years in education as a teacher, coach, activities director, and principal,” he said.

     Meier said the middle school staff have a love for the students and want what’s best for the kids. He encourages Mr. Werner to listen to those around him when it comes to making decisions. “He is lucky to have such a great staff and administrative team to work with.

     “I wish Mr. Werner the best of luck moving forward.”

     Meier wants to thank everyone who has been a part of the middle school the last seven years of his career.

     “It has been a great pleasure working in the MCSD and being a part of the Monticello community,” continued Meier. “Hopefully the community has appreciated our efforts in making the middle school one of the best in the State of Iowa!

     “As I always like to say, ‘Every day is a great day at Monticello Middle School!’”