Education

Business, industry, higher education, non-profit, and government organizations are invited to exhibit at the Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival Thursday, April 9 from 5-7:30 p.m. at Waukon High School in Waukon.

This fun, high-energy community event will bring the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to life for students and families across northeast Iowa - and organizers of the event are looking for exhibitors to help make it happen.

Exhibitors are asked to provide a hands-on, interactive STEM activity that engages families while showcasing the value of STEM learning and the wide range of STEM-related careers and educational opportunities available in northeast Iowa.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a Little Bakers’ Delight: Cupcake Decorating class for youth Wednesday, April 1. The class will run from 3:30-5 p.m. at NICC Waukon Center, 1220 Third Avenue NW.

This hands-on cupcake decorating class is designed specifically for young chefs (ages 7-12) who love getting creative (and a little messy). In this workshop, kids don’t just decorate; they learn the basic techniques of piping, coloring and crafting edible designs.

The deadline for paid registration is March 25. To register, visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call the NICC Waukon Center at 563-562-3263, ext. 6700.
 

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular meeting Monday, February 9 at Kee High School in Lansing. Board members in attendance included Board President Arla Wagner, Vice President Heather Lutz, Joe Manning, Tommy Martin and Glen Delaney. District administrators present at the meeting included Superintendent Jay Mathis, Board Secretary and Financial Clerk Michele Martin, PK-12 Principal Donna Thomas, and Special Education Director and Associate Principal Liz Hill.

The board approved amended minutes from its January 12, 2026, meeting. Those meeting minutes were amended as follows:

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met in a pair of sessions in February. The board met for a special session Tuesday morning, February 10, to set a public hearing for proposed Capital Improvements for 5:30 p.m. during its next regular session, which was scheduled for Tuesday, February 17 due to the President’s Day holiday falling on the board’s regular meeting date of Monday, February 16.

At that Tuesday, February 17 regular session there were no written or verbal comments made during a public hearing that was also held regarding the 2026-2027 School Calendar. There were also no written or verbal comments during the public hearing for the proposed Capital Improvements.

Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) has announced its Head Start Preschool open houses and registration nights to apply for the 2026-2027 school year. In the Waukon area, the open house and registration night will take place Wednesday, March 4 from 5-6 p.m. at the Waukon Head Start Conference Room located at 955 3rd Avenue NW in Waukon, the rear portion of the West Elementary School building.

Head Start Preschool is an all-day, five days a week, three- and four-year-old preschool program. Nutritious breakfast, lunch and snacks are served daily. There is no cost for tuition or meals for qualifying families. Qualified teachers use the Creative Curriculum to provide children with the academic and social skills they need to succeed in kindergarten.

Business, industry, higher education, non-profit, and government organizations are invited to exhibit at the Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival Thursday, April 9 from 5-7:30 p.m. at Waukon High School in Waukon.

This fun, high-energy community event will bring the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to life for students and families across northeast Iowa - and organizers of the event are looking for exhibitors to help make it happen.

Exhibitors are asked to provide a hands-on, interactive STEM activity that engages families while showcasing the value of STEM learning and the wide range of STEM-related careers and educational opportunities available in northeast Iowa.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) has been awarded a $74,925 grant from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to expand its commercial driver’s license (CDL) training program. The Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) grant will provide full tuition coverage for 15 qualified students, including veterans and their family members, over the next two years.

The grant addresses a critical regional need for skilled drivers. According to Lightcast, a labor market analytics company, the demand for CDL drivers in the NICC district is projected to grow by 12.8%, which is 4% higher than the national average. This growth is further complicated by a “retirement cliff,” as 25% of the current regional workforce is over the age of 55.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering three STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) Makerspace Open Lab sessions at its Waukon Center for the spring, according to the following schedule:

• February 25: STEAM Open Lab - Session 1
• March 25: STEAM Open Lab - Session 2
• April 15: STEAM Open Lab - Session 3

The youth classes will run from 3:30-5 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 Third Avenue NW. STEAM Makerspace Open Labs are for students in grades 3-7. The lab is a learning space for creative exploration of STEAM. Participants will use Legos, robotics, electronics, create movies and animation, design, build and more. A teacher will be available to guide students in the basic use of the tools and technology.

The deadline for the Allamakee Scholarship Fund (ASF), Inc. Alumni Scholarship has been set for February 28. This is the 21st year for the alumni scholarship instituted by the Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc. Board of Directors.

The award is made to a Waukon High School graduate who participated in ASF, Inc. while in high school and received an award as a graduating senior. The ASF, Inc. Board feels it is important to continue the encouragement to Allamakee Community School District graduates as they continue their education, not just as they start their post-high school program.

The group wishes to encourage participation in community service and college activities that are part of their educational growth and preparation for career and community life. Scholarship criteria include academic achievement, student participation in college activities, especially in their field of study, and community service.

The Allamakee County Conservation Foundation (ACCF) is offering scholarship opportunities for graduating seniors who will be attending a college or university pursuing a degree in Natural Resources or a related field. One $500 scholarship will be offered to a senior from each of the area high schools in Allamakee County: PostvilleCommunity, Allamakee Community, and Eastern Allamakee Community.

Students who would like to apply for the scholarship are encouraged to visit www.allamakeecountyconservation.org, the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center, or their school’s guidance counselor for an application. Applications will be accepted until April 3 of this year and recipients will be notified by May 5.