Clarifying the Nutrition Fund Report
Recently, a post was shared questioning the accuracy of the district’s September Nutrition Fund balance. I want to take a moment to explain what occurred and provide factual context.
Each fall, schools across Iowa finalize and reconcile data from the prior fiscal year before new-year reports stabilize. During July, August, and September, our team updates, recodes, and reports financial data to the state. We use two different software systems: Vista for daily accounting & Frontline for budget tracking and forecasting
Occasionally, these systems don’t sync perfectly. The September financial report—produced through Frontline and shared at the October board meeting—had just received uploads from our Certified Annual Report (CAR). That upload caused the Nutrition Fund to appear negative on that specific report. This same situation has occurred in prior years as well.
To ensure accuracy, our School Business Official and I have a meeting scheduled next week with Frontline to identify the cause and prevent the error moving forward.
Here’s what our actual day-to-day accounting (Vista) shows: Current Nutrition Fund Balance: approximately $285,000
Our total across bank and investment accounts: $297,059.42 (Lincoln Savings Bank + Iowa Schools Joint Investment Trust)
The difference between those figures simply reflects the timing of receivables and reconciliations—normal in financial reporting.
Our Nutrition Fund remains strong and continues to grow, in part due to our successful summer nutrition program that provided free lunches to all students. While we are required to spend down excess balances per audit recommendations, those expenditures are limited by regulation. We’ve already increased staff pay, provided uniforms and shoe reimbursements for safety, purchased equipment, and continue exploring responsible ways to reinvest in the program for students and staff.
I also want to recognize Jennifer Nicholas for her outstanding leadership of our Nutrition Department, as well as our central office team for their diligence and accuracy.
Our reports are snapshots in time, not indicators of missing funds or mismanagement. All records are public and available for review. Anyone with questions is encouraged to reach out directly to me or our central office—we’ll gladly provide clarification.
And finally, while I regret any potential embarrassment that factual clarification may cause, the facts don’t change as listed above. Transparency matters—and so does accuracy.
Reach out with any questions.
Caleb Bonjour
Superintendent
Gladbrook Reinbeck CSD
caleb.bonjour@gr-rebels.net
It’s an exciting week for Gladbrook-Reinbeck! As we celebrate our volleyball team’s incredible State Tournament run, let’s also shape our district’s future by voting in the School Board Election and Bond Referendum on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
✅ Vote Early — Avoid the Rush
You can still vote in person at your County Auditor’s Office through Monday, November 3.
Find your County Auditor: sos.iowa.gov/auditors
🗳️ Election Day — Tuesday, November 4 | Polls Open 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Find your polling place: bit.ly/iowapolling
Polling Locations by County:
Tama County
Polling locations (1)
Gladbrook / Crystal / Carlton / Howard / Spring Creek Townships: Gladbrook Memorial Building, 421 Johnston St., Gladbrook
Garwin Area: Garwin Community Building, 614 3rd St., Garwin
Lincoln Area: Amvets Post #10 (Lincoln Amvet Hall), 101 E Main St., Lincoln 50652
(Full list available at tamacounty.iowa.gov)
Grundy County
Reinbeck Area: Reinbeck Memorial Building, 208 Broad St., Reinbeck 50669
Absentee Voting: Oct 15 – Nov 3 at the Grundy County Auditor’s Office (regular hours; open late Oct 20 & Oct 31 until 5 p.m.)
Black Hawk County (Voorhies / Lincoln Township / Grundy Rd. Area)
Zion Lutheran Church, 5831 Grundy Rd., Hudson 50643
Marshall County
Green Mountain Community Park Building, 111 Woolston St., Green Mountain, IA
💙 On the Ballot
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District Board of Education Election
Bond Referendum addressing:
Safety: Secure-entry classroom addition
Accessibility: ADA compliance for students & visitors
Building Systems: HVAC & electrical upgrades
Infrastructure: Repairs to the 1921 building
Learning Spaces: Modern, flexible classrooms
🔗 Stay Informed
📘 Referendum Website -
- https://sites.google.com/gr-rebels.net/ref25/overview
🎥 Informational Videos -
- https://sites.google.com/gr-rebels.net/ref25/videos?authuser=0
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9EhGnMx2peg2XUusjZ1DwA3p4BYoPDCB
💰 Tax Calculator - https://sites.google.com/gr-rebels.net/ref25/tax-calculators
🧾 Learn About the Candidates
Profiles for school board candidates, including those who have filed official paperwork or notified the district of a write-in campaign, can be found on the district’s website and social media feeds. We encourage voters to read about each candidate and make an informed decision.
Kyle Rasmussen - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GZohArsV5/
Amanda Babinet - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BhCJQcZsM/
Megan Witt - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17WMCicEAL/
Doug Rowe - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AQefXNZBR/
Jennifer Wrage - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F9HyCEGA1/
Adam Bentley - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CsFdDn7D9/
Let’s show our Rebel Pride — in the stands and at the polls. Every vote helps build our future. #RebelNation #BuildingForward #VoteGR #RebelPride
