Although the Austin Public Schools Board said goodbye to Greg Larson, the newest member, Peggy Young, is excited to start her new position this month.

“I’ve been excited since before election day even,” Young said. “I can’t wait.”

Young has big plans for her first term. After serving on the Calendar Committee in 2014, she is excited to learn more about the school’s calendar and if changes would help Austin schools.

She also hopes to focus on technical programing in the schools and build on the robotics and automation they have started. She has been excited with the different programs the district has already started, such as LEGO League at I.J. Holton.

“I would like to see that kind of programming grow,” Young said.

Yet she realizes it will be an adjustment, and plans to work hard the first few months to get used to the new position. Young has already started getting to know people in the district.

“I’ve done a lot of visiting with folks so far … and even that has been a lot of fun for me, just getting to know the district a little better,” she said.

She has also started to get familiar with state policy and has attended the first of four leadership training sessions. She is excited to get to know the other board members better and has started to prepare her family for the new position she has taken on.

Young has experience working with the district as a partner and as a college employee, and she hopes to bring insight from a college level to help students prepare for their future. Since she has lived in the community her entire life, Young hopes to bring her background for what has happened before to give extra insight to decisions and help further student education.

Young works as a customized training representative in Training and Development at Riverland Community College. She will be sworn in along with re-elected members Don Fox, Angie Goetz and Kathy Green at noon Monday in the District Office Conference Room, room 164, at Austin High School.

Although she is nervous for the public position, she said she isn’t afraid to ask questions.

“I just want to make sure I understand things well before I make a decision on anything,” Young said.

She thanked the community for voting her onto the board, and hopes to do justice to the big role she has taken on.

“I’m just really excited to get started,” Young said. “It seems like it’s been forever since the election.”