School Board Secretary Retires

Shirley Lundgren has spent more than 30 years dealing in education finances, including the last eight in Glenwood, as a school board secretary.

During that time she attended hundreds of board meetings, jotting down notes and clarifying school financial protocols. But at last Monday’s Glenwood Community School District Board of Directors meeting, Lundgren did something she’s never done.

She sat in the audience and watched.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever just sat in the audience,” she said. “It’s a whole different experience being in the audience than at the table. It was hard not to take notes.”

Lundgren will have to get used to being a spectator at future board meetings. She announced earlier this year she would be stepping down from the position Dec. 31. Kristi Buman was formally approved at last week’s meeting as Lundgren’s replacement, but Buman had already assumed her duties before the meeting.

The decision to step down wasn’t an easy one for Lundgren but one she doesn’t regret.

“I have put in 35 years and I just felt it was time to go,” she said.

Lundgren doesn’t have firm retirement plans and may still do some consulting if the right opportunity strikes her. Her only firm plans are spending time with family and a cruise she and husband Gordon are planning for next year.

Lundgren has a 13-month old granddaughter in Missouri and a son in Plano, Tex. she’d like to see more.

“I plan to enjoy life,” she said.

Leaving the Glenwood district won’t be easy. For many years, Lundgren commuted from Shenandoah. It’ll be nice to just be home, she said, even though she’ll miss Glenwood and the work.

“This is a great community,” she said. “We have a great school system here and there have been a lot of accomplishments. We finished the high school since I’ve been here, which was started before I came. We passed the Instructional Support Levy and we funded all the bonds to save some money.

“I love school finance and always have. If I get bored in retirement, I can always go back and try and consult or fill in for business managers who are off for various reasons.”