Cedar Rapids Board Names Drzycimski President
The school board elected Scott Drzycimski as president and Laura Zimmerman as vice president in a 4-0 vote at its annual organizational meeting.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Administration
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The Cedar Rapids school board appointed Scott Drzycimski as board president and Laura Zimmerman as vice president in a 4-0 vote on Monday. Laura Zimmermann, Kaitlin Byers and Cindy Garlock were not present at the meeting.
Why it matters
The leadership change comes as the district implements a reconfiguration plan that closes schools and consolidates programs to address declining enrollment and budget pressures. The district selects a new board president and vice president each year.
The board voted 4-0 to appoint the new president and vice president, with three members absent from the meeting. The district's closure plan, approved in April by a 6-1 vote, projects $5 million in annual savings, though the source does not detail how that figure will be reached over time.
The players
Cedar Rapids Community School District
The public school district serving Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which oversees its schools and governing board decisions.
The details
Drzycimski and Zimmerman were elected to the school board in November 2025. Drzycimski, who served as vice president last year, replaces Jen Neumann as board president. Zimmerman will take the oath of office at the next meeting.
Timeline
November 2025: Drzycimski and Zimmerman elected to the school board.
April 2026: Board approved closure of five elementary schools and Truman Early Learning Center.
November 9, 2026: Board appointed new president and vice president.
December 14, 2026: Zimmerman to take the oath of office at 5 p.m.
Season Trajectory
The appointments carry forward a district-wide response to decades of declining enrollment and state aid that has lagged inflation. Leadership now shapes the implementation of closures and intermediate-school consolidation.
Families in Cedar Rapids and nearby communities such as Hiawatha face school closures and attendance boundary changes approved this year. The new board leadership will oversee how those changes are carried out for students and their families.
The takeaway
Local school boards set the direction for closures and boundary changes that directly affect where children attend class. Following board meetings is the most direct way for residents to see how those decisions are made.
Further reading
For more on how district leadership is handled locally, see Administration coverage for Cedar Rapids.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Gazette.
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