Education

Upper Iowa University and Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a new Nursing Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) for students, the first agreement of its kind in the state of Iowa.

The Nursing CEP agreement allows students at Northeast Iowa Community College to complete a four-year degree in nursing from Upper Iowa University. While completing a two-year associate degree in nursing at the Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar or Peosta campus, students in the CEP cohort are concurrently enrolled in Upper Iowa University courses toward their bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. Concurrent enrollment means that students in this program who graduate with their associate degree from Northeast Iowa Community College need only attend Upper Iowa University for six to eight additional months to complete their BSN degree.

Benefits of the Nursing CEP agreement include:

Retired Waukon teacher Barbara O’Kones (pictured above) presented her program “St. Augustine by Bicycle to San Diego” to the Northeast Iowa Regional Iowa Retired School Personnel Association (IRSPA) at the annual meeting October 20. She showed her PowerPoint pictures and gave insight to the 94 days and over 3,000 miles she traveled with her brother. The West Union IRSPA unit hosted Decorah and Oelwein unit members and guests for the meeting and program. Thirty-five people enjoyed the morning brunch that was provided by Fayette County Historical Society members in their building meeting room prior to the program.

Dr. Dale Crozier, shared superintendent of the MFL/MarMac and Eastern Allamakee Community School Districts, was a nominee for the 2016-2017 Iowa Superintendent of the Year award sponsored by the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI). “SAI is pleased to recognize leaders who are dedicated to promoting student achievement and committed to education,” said Roark Horn, the association’s executive director.

Both districts have recently implemented successful teacher leadership and personalized professional development programs that empower the teaching staff. The districts have also worked to maintain and improve facilities. Dr. Crozier credits positive local school boards in both districts, plus building-level leadership for achieving these tasks. He indicates that both districts, although faced with declining enrollment, are doing their best at all times to put children first in all decisions.

Allamakee County will offer the Ornamental and Turfgrass Applicators Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Wednesday, November 9. The program can be seen at locations across Iowa through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) team.

The local attendance site is Allamakee County Extension, located at 218 Seventh Avenue SE, Suite #102 in Waukon. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the course runs from 9-11:30 a.m. The registration fee increases after November 2. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Allamakee County by phoning 563-568-6345.

Courtney Wikan (pictured at far right in above photo), daughter of Ed and Lou Ann Wikan of Waukon and a 2013 graduate of Waukon High School, was named to the Wartburg College Homecoming Court for the annual celebration observed at Wartburg College in Waverly October 10-16 this year. Wikan is a senior biology major. Members of the court were selected by the junior and senior classes, with all student body members voting on King and Queen, who were Alex Gheysens, a communication arts major from Antwerp, Belgium, and Taylor Smola, a neuroscience major from Stevens Point, WI. Pictured above, left to right, are 2016 Wartburg College Homecoming Court members Tyler Metcalf, Calyn Thompson, Alex Gheysens, Sophia Corpstein, Tyler Vogel, Taylor Smola, Clay Waterbury, Molly Zmudka, Patrick Rooney, Courtney Wikan. Submitted photo.
 

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) was held at Kee High School in Lansing Monday, October 17. The Board approved two requests for overnight trips for student organizations.

Ray Rankin, FFA Advisor, and three FFA students presented information regarding the 2016 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN taking place October 18-22. The Spanish Club  will also be traveling to Guatemala for an 11-day trip in the summer of 2017.

The Board also approved the auditing contract with Kay Chapman, CPA PC for fiscal years 2016, 2017 and 2018 for $6,800, $6,900 and $7,000, respectively. The Board received and filed the October 1, 2016 Certified Enrollment, which noted that enrollment district-wide decreased by 2.6 students.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is holding an open house on Wednesday, November 2, for its renovated Agricultural Technology Building at the Calmar campus. Community members, agriculture and business leaders may tour the renovated facility from 3 - 7 p.m. and attend a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3:30 p.m.

The Allamakee County Historical Society has invited third grade classrooms from throughout Allamakee County to visit the Allamakee County Courthouse Museum and the adjacent Gjefle cabin in Waukon. Third grade classes from St. Patrick School in Waukon (pictured above) and New Albin Elementary School (pictured below) completed their tours Wednesday, October 5, with the guidance of Judge John Bauercamper, Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick and Deputy Tim Smedsrud, and Allamakee County Historical Society members Carolyn Clark, Marcia Rush and Christine Klingeman. Additional visits from third grade classrooms are anticipated in the spring. Anyone wishing to tour the museum or cabin is asked to call 563-568-2954 or Marcia Rush at 563-880-3014. Submitted photos.
 

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly board meeting Monday night, October 17. During the reports portion of the meeting, ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold noted that the wrestling room project has been completed.

Herold also spoke briefly about concerns with the upcoming election season. He said that his biggest concern is education funding (allowable growth). Herold said that which ever candidates get elected, they take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa. Iowa Code states that allowable growth should be set within 30 days of the Governor submitting the draft budget to the legislature. Herold noted that for the past few years, legislators have ignored this rule.

The Waukon High School music department has selected "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" as this year's musical production. Three performances are being planned for Thursday through Saturday, November 3-5 at the Waukon High School auditorium.  Curtain time for all performances is at 7 p.m.

Bursting with the rambunctious energy of the original Academy Award winning 1954 MGM film, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" is all boisterous fun and romance, a truly rollicking adventure, which teaches that it takes a bride to turn seven unshaven, unkempt brothers into manly gentlemen and to turn desire into romance. Set in Oregon in 1850, Seven "Brides for Seven Brothers" tells the story of a backwoodsman named Adam Pontipee (played by Adam Gruman), who comes into town to search for a bride.