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CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids school board members are evaluating the way they communicate and developing a plan for “concrete, immediate improvements” including asking questions and having more in-depth discussions in public at the board table.

The seven-member board met Monday in a work session — which was open to the public — to discuss perceptions and challenges of their current communication style and what changes to implement.

Facilitating the discussion Monday was John Speer, former leader of Grant Wood Area Education Agency where he oversaw the delivery of services to thousands of students and hundreds of educators in a seven-county region. Speer now is a clinical assistant professor

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