Education

Over 90% of teachers spend their own money on school supplies and other items their students need to succeed in the classroom. FreedomBank invites the communities it serves to donate tools and materials to support local teachers in the Central Elkader, MFL/MarMac, Postville, Allamakee and St. Patrick Catholic (Waukon) school districts as they prepare for the upcoming academic year.

A donation of school supplies will provide students with the necessary tools to excel throughout the school year while alleviating some of the financial burdens on teachers who often spend their own money on supplies. FreedomBank has been working closely with teachers in its market area to identify the specific items they need for the 2023-2024 school year.

Iowa Legal Aid will host an educational event for older Iowans and caregivers to learn about free assistance with critical legal issues Tuesday, August 29 at 11 a.m. at the Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library, located at 515 Main Street in Lansing. The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required to attend.

Case Manager Michaela Dohleman from Iowa Legal Aid’s Dubuque office will provide a brief history of Iowa Legal Aid and will discuss services available to older Iowans and caregivers through its Hotline for Older Iowans, the Rural Justice Project for Older Iowans, and the Disaster Project. With 10 regional offices, Iowa Legal Aid is the only statewide provider of free civil legal services to low income and other vulnerable Iowans. Learn more about Iowa Legal Aid at www.iowalegalaid.org.

Robey Memorial Library and The Oneota Valley Literary Foundation have partnered to host Main Street Story Walk in Waukon during August featuring the children’s story, “Don’t eat bees: life lessons from Chip the dog” by Dev Petty. During the month of August, families are encouraged to read this story as they stroll the downtown area.

Six selected businesses have a portion of the story posted in the front window of their establishment for viewing from the sidewalk. Each stop along the Story Walk will direct readers to the next location. Selected businesses for the month of August are located on Rossville Road, Spring Avenue and East Main Street at the following locations numbered and labeled in the map image at right: 1. Gregg Jones Muscular Therapy; 2. Erbal Ink Tattoos; 3. Cook’s Agency; 4. Paws Up Pet Supplies; 5. Broker Leather; 6. Fiesta Vallarta Mexican Restaurant. Submitted image.
 

Thursday Night Book Club is held the third Thursday monthly at 6 p.m. at Robey Memorial Library. All are welcome to attend. Book Club meets in person. Those who would like to join the book discussion virtually should contact Robey Memorial Library at 563-568-4424 for participation information.

The next Thursday Book Club discussion at Robey Memorial Library is scheduled for Thursday, August 17. The topic of discussion for the Book Club will be a book written by Marie Benedict
 

As summer rolls toward the new school year, Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) has announced it is now accepting applications for the Head Start program for the 2023-2024 school year and the year-round Early Head Start program. Head Start is an all-day free three- and four-year-old preschool program that meets five days per week and serves breakfast, lunch and snacks daily at no cost to families.

Qualified teachers use the Creative Curriculum to help children learn and provide the academic and social skills to be successful when they reach kindergarten. Free before and after school care may be available for working parents and full-time students. All families with children three to four years old by September 15 are encouraged to apply for Head Start.

Public comment sought through mid-August of this year

National wildlife refuges across the country offer quality opportunities to connect with special places in a variety of ways. Before any activity can be allowed on a national wildlife refuge, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must first evaluate that use through a Compatibility Determination.

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is updating and re-evaluating to what extent and how environmental education and interpretation occurs on the refuge. The Refuge is seeking public comment on the re-evaluation of this use on the refuge.

The public is invited to review the draft compatibility determination document that includes the Refuge’s justification and analysis. The document was made available beginning July 18, 2023 and will be available for 30 days for public comment.

The Iowa Department of Education, Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services, has finalized its policy for free and reduced price meals for students unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program and the Afterschool Care Snack Program.

For determining eligibility for the programs, State and local school officials have adopted the family size and income criteria listed in the chart accompanying this article at right.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors met Monday, July 17 at Kee High in Lansing. Board Presidnt Bobbie Goetzinger and board members Melanie Mauss, Kelli Mudderman and Arla Wagner were present, with board member Tony Becker being absent. New Albin Elementary School Principal Donna Thomas, EACSD Superintendent/Kee High School and Middle School Principal Dr. Sarah Murray and Board Secretary Michele Martin were also in attendance, along with visitors Dr. Bill Withers and Stan Rheingans from Keystone Area Education Agency (AEA).

After the meeting agenda was adopted, Keystone AEA Board of Directors member Dr. Bill Withers and Keystone AEA Chief Administrator Stan Rheingans addressed the board to thank its members for their continued support in utilizing Keystone AEA resources within the school district. Rheingans also provided an overview of what Keystone offers and agency goals.

Join Luther College alumni and friends for a two-part workshop, “Scandinavian Sounds: Learn and Sing!” Tuesday, July 25 and Wednesday, July 26. The workshop will be held from 7-8:15 p.m. each evening in the Choir Room of the Jenson-Noble Hall of Music on the Luther College campus in Decorah.

Choral music traditions in the upper Midwest are indelibly linked to the musical heritage of Nordic immigrants. Among the subcultures within American choral music, the most influential and long-lasting may well be the one founded and guided by Norwegian conductor and composer F. Melius Christiansen. Christiansen’s reach in this part of the choral world is pervasive. Participants will learn about the “Lutheran Choral Tradition” and engage in singing at a level suitable for folks of all interest and ability levels.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

By definition, a superintendent is one who oversees an organization and offers leadership and strategic planning. Since 2001, Dr. Dale Crozier has been that person for MFL/MarMac schools. Ten years later, he also added the task of managing the Eastern Allamakee Community School District, which includes the Lansing and New Albin areas, serving as a shared superintendent for both school districts since 2011 until his recent retirement from that role for both districts at the end of June.