Munyon Says Goodbye to Urbandale School Board

At last, Cynthia Munyon will have her Monday nights to herself.

After 12 years as an Urbandale school board member, Munyon said goodbye to Monday night meetings. Monday was her last meeting. 

The board and the audience gave her a standing ovation.

"I want to thank you, Cynthia, publicly, for your leadership, your wisdom and your guidance," said Superintendent Doug Stillwell. He noted that Munyon served those years while working full-time and raising two children. 

Munyon thanked everyone. "I didn't expect this," she said.

The board held a short reception for Munyon, whose children, Adam and Catherine, were present. The children were in grade school when their mother began serving on the board.

Andrew just graduated from the University of Iowa in May and Catherine is an Urbandale High School senior. They grew up knowing that Mom would be gone on many Monday nights. 

Did they get any perks out of their mom's service? They tried to think of something.

"You always heard stuff slightly before everybody else," Andrew said, after awhile. Then someone reminded him that his mother was school board president the year he graduated.

"Oh yeah. She was the one who signed my diploma and the one who handed it to me when I walked across the stage," he said.

Catherine said she tried to get her mom to seek another term so she could get the same treatment, but she said her mom told her "it doesn't work that way."

Also Monday, Ryan Judas was voted as new president of the board. 

Incumbents Cate Newberg, Mark Wierson, and Adam Obrecht and newcomer Kyle Kruidenier were sworn in to their new terms. Wierson was thanked for serving as president the past year.