The Pella School Board invited state lawmakers to the annual legislative roundtable work session Monday evening.

This year, the board had a specific request for Senator Ken Rozenboom and Representative Barb Kniff McCulla, with presentations by teachers and staff members. The discussion centered around student mental health and the challenges the district faces.

The request from the Pella School Board to the lawmakers is for school districts to have additional funding to provide one mental health therapist for 1,000 students total. That individual(s) is employed by the schools, can meet with students at a private location, and could be available to public and private schools.

Kniff McCulla responded with details about work ongoing in the legislature on the use of computers in classrooms and a bill she co-sponsored last year related to allowing chaplains in the school buildings.

Rozenboom also responded at the end with personal anecdotes and discussed broader challenges faced by the broader society, including those related to spirituality and religion. He also cited the cost as a potential hurdle.

Following the hour with lawmakers, the board reviewed the certified enrollment number for 2025-26, which showed a decline in 50 students for the current academic year.

The board also approved new course proposals and college course offerings for the 2026-27 school year. Additionally, the Pella School Board approved of the Washington D.C. trip proposal for the Pella Marching Dutch and scheduled a public hearing on November 10th to extend the bus route time for Bus #9 by 15 minutes.