Education

To ensure that Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) programs align with local workforce needs, the Board of Trustees approved a series of recommendations by the College’s administration at its May 16 meeting.

New programs approved by the trustees and the Iowa Department of Education (DOE) include: Computer Analyst – Data Center Technician certificate at the Peosta and Calmar campuses; Entrepreneurial Cosmetology diploma at both campuses; and the renaming of the Mechanical Engineering Technology program to Engineering Technology at the Peosta campus. Also approved by the trustees, and pending Iowa Department of Education (DOE) approval, is a new Legal Assistant Associate of Applied Science degree at the Peosta campus.

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly board meeting Monday night, May 16. During the Secretary’s Report, retiring Board Secretary Janice Rea welcomed Jaime Curtin as the new Board Secretary/Business Manager. Rea also noted that the district is in “a good financial position because the Board looks out for students and staff.” The Board also thanked Rea for her years of service to the ACSD.

During the Superintendent’s Report, ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold noted that the State legislative session is over and that the use of Smarter Balance and the Early Literacy Initiative are still unclear. Herold further noted that Smarter Balance may be a line item vetoed by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. Herold also provided Board members with a photocopy from an upcoming Iowa History Journal that will feature a section on Waukon.

The Waterville All-School Reunion is scheduled to take place the weekend of June 25-26, and organizers say that reservations are coming in from the east and west coasts from graduates, others who attended Waterville, and from families of the first class to graduate from Waterville in 1923. Saturday, June 25 is Waterville Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for anyone who has a connection with the town. The school will be open for touring, the fire station will showcase fire and emergency service equipment, wine tasting will be hosted by Eagles Landing Winery and lunch provided by Parents for Progress. In addition, the Waterville Library and City Hall will be open for a display of Waterville’s history as well as being the “museum” of composite Waterville graduation pictures. Open Door to the Soul (formerly Waterville Lutheran Church) has been maintained by the White family and will be open as well. A game of Granny Basketball is planned for 2 p.m. in the Waterville school gymnasium.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The regular monthly Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors meeting was held Monday, May 16 at Kee High School in Lansing. Board members Bruce Palmborg, Bobbie Goetzinger, Kelli Mudderman, Melanie Mauss and Board President Heather Schulte were present, along with Board Secretary/Business Manager Marian Verdon, Kee High School and Middle School Principal Mary Hogan, New Albin Elementary School Principal Chad Steckel and Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier.
The initial item on the agenda included approval of the 2015-2016 budget amendment which allows the budget to cover additional revenues and expenditures not covered in the original budget. Public comments were called for but none were given. The normal and customary authorizations were approved.

Thursday, April 14 Allamakee County Conservation Naturalist Ross Geerdes (pictured in the center of the above photo) visited with about 120 Waukon Middle School seventh grade geography students about Orienteering. Students received some background information on the use of a compass and Global Positioning System (GPS) before working in small groups to use the information on GPS to locate three pre-determined coordinates. Submitted photo.
 

Those interested in become an Iowa Master Gardener may do so by completing the core training course this fall through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office in Waukon. Gardeners will learn best practices for choosing plants, designing gardens and managing pests. Classes start at all locations in September of this year.

Those interested in the course can apply at http://mastergardenerhours.hort.iastate.edu/application-form.php. Apply now, as space is limited for each location. Accepted participants will be notified by September 11.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County Office  is hosting the seventh annual “Growing Season” webinar series at Waukon during June, July and August. Gardeners will learn about benefits of shade in landscape, tree problems, and native garden insects.

The three-part series is offered by the Iowa Master Gardener program and is open to all interested gardeners. Participants are not required to have completed Master Gardener training to attend.

Waukon High School was recently announced as the 2015-2016 winner of the Conduct Counts Parent/Coach Relationship video contest sponsored by the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa High School Sports Network. The winning commercial video was produced by Lisa Snitker, Waukon Middle/High School Librarian, and highlights how local coaches and parents foster healthy relationships in high school sports. The video was featured during the Iowa High School Boys State Basketball Tournament and will also be televised during the 2016 Iowa High School State Baseball Tournament and State Football Play-Off broadcasts. The video can also be viewed on the Conduct Counts website at http://www.conductcounts.com/2015-16-winners.html.

Waukon Middle School was recently awarded a Shopko Foundation grant to support the school's Accelerated Reading (AR) program, which promotes regular reading at each student’s individualized level. Each quarter of the school year students strive to meet reading goals and are rewarded with incentives for reaching those goals through the Waukon Middle School Library Program. The grant of $300 will be used to purchase incentives to continue to reward student reading success. Pictured above in the center of the photo, Allamakee Community School District Librarian Lisa Snitker accepts the grant funding from Waukon Shopko manager Valerie Kleinow, as some of the Waukon Middle School students who will benefit from the grant also look on. Submitted photo.
 

Waukon High School will be hosting its annual Senior Awards Program for the Class of 2016 Tuesday, May 10 at 7 p.m. at the Waukon High School Auditorium. All students, parents and families, and community members are invited to attend.

Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc. and many community groups and businesses will present awards that evening to members of this year's Waukon High School graduating class. In addition, honors and achievements by Waukon High School Class of 2016 members will be recognized during the event.

Any organization presenting an award to the students is asked to contact Waukon High School Guidance Counselor Amy Wasson at 563-568-3466 as soon as possible to confirm program information and inclusion of their presentation in the event program.