Orient-Macksburg Community School

02/24/2026

REMINDER: Open Enrollment Forms for the 2026-2027 school year need to be received in the Nodaway Valley office by March 1st!

02/22/2026

Preparations for Historic O-M Campus Transition and Repurposing Underway

Orient, IA — A dedicated committee has been established under the umbrella of the Orient Area Betterment and Improvement Corporation (OABIC) to collaborate with the O-M School Board and the City of Orient in support of the thoughtful transition and long-term success of the O-M campus. This initiative represents a major step forward in preserving the campus while reimagining its role as a vibrant, community-centered events center, community asset, and mixed-use facility.

The committee is currently developing long-term operational strategies, planning upgrades to better serve current and future tenants, and evaluating operational costs and leasing rates for usable spaces. In addition, members are working to attract people, events, and businesses to activate the campus’s diverse spaces and expand its impact within the community.

Demolition and Beautification Plans

The 1921 vintage three-story school structure has begun demolition. Following demolition, the site will be seeded, with additional beautification efforts currently in planning stages to improve the appearance and usability of the grounds.

The contractor and OABIC are making efforts to salvage bricks from the former school structure for reuse on campus and for fundraising purposes, helping preserve a tangible connection to the site’s history.

How You Can Support the Transition

To support specialty projects, building improvements, and ongoing operations, the committee is launching a fundraising campaign. Opportunities for stakeholders, alumni, community members, and supporters to invest in the facility’s success will be announced in the coming months. This will include a historic brick campaign where you will have the opportunity to purchase a brick for a dedicated space on campus or for your home. More to come about the preserved bricks soon - please feel free to leave your contact information at the e-mail address below to be one of the first to know when pricing and ordering instructions are available.

To submit your information, please email [email protected]



Planned Upgrades and Improvements

Several areas of the facility are slated for upgrades and enhancements to better serve community needs. Space will be marketed for lease, these areas will include office space, former classrooms, events and gymnasium, bus barn, and ball fields.

Call to O-M Alumni and Families

If you are an O-M alumnus, the parent of an alumnus, or know an O-M alumnus, you are invited to share updated contact information to stay connected with this project. By providing your current name, former student name, graduation year, and email address, you will receive:

Two to three project updates over the next few months as plans and improvements take shape via

Invitations with dates and times for a grand opening celebration

Information on special events coming to Orient

Detailed opportunities for sponsorships and donations supporting the facility’s success

We will communicate through email, the OABIC website and our various social media outlets

To submit your information, please email [email protected]

02/03/2026

The following have FFA jackets at the school. If you would like your jacket please contact Orient Community Library to pick up.

Jordan Nelson
Rod Williams
Marlin Metzger
Dean Metzger
Cameo Walker
David Graham
Mark Crawford
David Trembly
David McKee
Kelly McCall
Monte McCall
Dusty Tracy
Merritt Caviness
Gregg Hochestetler

01/22/2026

Press release-Building Update

On Monday, January 19, 2026 the Orient-Macksburg Board of Education, following a public hearing approved to sell the school property to the city of Orient. The Orient-Macksburg School board has been doing improvements on the elementary building and gymnasium in preparation for the City of Orient when they take ownership on or before July 1, 2026. Some of the improvements are exterior doors in five classrooms and a sidewalk on the south side of the elementary. A new boiler has been purchased for the building and is being installed. This was necessary because the old boiler was located in the three story building. An air conditioner unit for the gym will be installed this spring. The board is working in cooperation with the city to make additional improvements to the building. New trophy display cases have been purchased for trophies and other memorabilia to be located in the lunchroom. Other projects being considered include continued improvements to the playground area and mini-splits for the elementary wing to areas without air-conditioning. The school board has been able to pay for these projects with our building funds, PPEL, PERL, and SAVE. Generally speaking, the building fund accounts were approved by the local voters of the school district. The building funds can not be used to pay salaries or benefits per Iowa Code,

One of our harder decisions the school board was faced with is what to do with the three story high school building. I feel we can all agree the high school building is a beautiful, well built building. While being beautiful and well built, it does not change the fact that the building is over a hundred years old with a flat roof and is very expensive to operate. The decision has been made to tear down the building. We are all very aware this will not be a popular decision, we did not take it lightly. Public safety and learning from other towns in Iowa that left their schools in tack that are now an eye sore is something that helped us make this decision. The funding for this is also coming from our building fund accounts, raised by property tax dollars from the local school district property owners. We felt it best for that money to stay in the community. Work has begun in preparation to demolish the three-story building; the asbestos has been removed. The building is scheduled to come down starting in February. Please respect the contractors as they work.

We will continue to do more work at the elementary and gym as money and time allows. The city of Orient and Betterment Committee are working on a plan for the building. You can expect more information from their organizations as more detailed plans are ready for release. Please feel free to reach out with me with questions.

Jana Scott
Orient-Macksburg Board President

11/25/2025

10/27/2025

Trick or treat information for Orient

08/22/2025

Come to Orient Pumpkin Days - Aug 22-23 2025 and support NV/OM Softball. ❤️🤍🥎💜🖤

08/18/2025

❤️🤍🏈💜🖤

Come out this Friday to our preseason scrimmage as we take on Perry! Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Both the Varsity & JV squads will be in action!
In lieu of admission, we are asking that all fans bring either Gatorade or boxes of fruit snacks to provide our players with throughout the season. There will be tables set up by the stadium gate for donations.

08/17/2025

Mark your calendars to attend Orient Pumpkin Days - Aug 22-23 2025 Check out everything going on this coming weekend. Don't forget the carnival both Friday and Saturday along with the car and tractor show on Saturday at 1 pm. Come out and celebrate our small but mighty town.

08/15/2025

❤️🤍🏈💜🖤

Lines are painted and the stadium is ready for Saturday Night Lights! Join us at 7 pm tomorrow night for your first look at the 2025 Wolverines!

08/12/2025

Pumpkin Days carnival tickets are for sale. Get them bought early to save money.

DON'T FORGET YOUR TICKETS! We can only sell presale tickets until the 21st!

Scott Amusements will be back this year for Pumpkin Days 2025.

Pumpkin Days advanced carnival tickets are now available!! There will be 3 unlimited session times:

Friday August 22nd 5-9pm
Saturday August 23rd 12-4pm
Saturday August 23rd 5-9pm

$20 each unlimited session
When you purchase advance tickets you will turn in tickets for wristbands at ticket office during the carnival. Cash only. If interested contact Jessica Boswell by private message or text 641-344-5992

Day of carnival wristband prices will be $25/session so advanced tickets will save you $5/session.

08/12/2025

We have 2 boys from OM playing football this year, Mason Payne and Eli Campbell. Support them if you can. ❤️🤍🏈💜🖤

Hi, this is Jack West with Nodaway Valley Football. I am working to raise money for our program and would really appreciate your support! Please click on my link below to help me reach my goal of raising $600 for my program. Thank you for your generosity!