Education

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District School (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Monday night, September 16.

Under the Consent Agenda, the following personnel matters were approved (pending a satisfactory background check): Kids Club Staff; Kelly Ryan-Urell, High School Paraprofessional; Kris Rausch, Middle School Play Director; and Ben Pline, Assistant 7th and 8th grade football coach. Resignations from Hallie Evans and Molly Ottaway from their elementary paraprofessional positions were also approved. Out-of-state field trips for FFA members to attend the National Convention in Indianapolis, IN in October and for Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members to attend the FBLA National Convention in Anaheim, CA in June 2025 were approved. Three open enrollments out of the district and one open enrollment in were approved, as was renewing the annual Hudl subscription for sports teams.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met Friday morning, September 6 for a special meeting to appoint a new school board member to fill the At-Large seat on the board being vacated by long-time ACSD board member Al Rissman, who submitted his resignation from that position at the board’s regular August meeting. Petitions from two individuals were received by the school district for potential appointment to the board, Tim Smedsrud and Jesse Delaney.

The board members voted to appoint Jesse Delaney to fill out the remainder of Rissman’s term, which expires at the end of 2025. Delaney is scheduled to take the Oath of Office at the next regular board meeting, which is scheduled for Monday, September 16.
 

The Northeast Iowa RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) is currently recruiting volunteers 25 years of age and older for its Pen Pal program in Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek counties.

The Pen Pal program links third graders with volunteers through letter writing. The program allows students to practice their letter writing, including sentence and paragraph structure. They learn how to generate ideas, ask and answer questions, and correctly address and sign a written letter.

The RSVP volunteer letter writers gain a lot through the experience as well. Receiving an actual letter can brighten anyone’s day. Making a new friend and reading about a child’s interests and accomplishments can boost one’s mental well-being.

The only supplies needed are a pen or pencil and paper. Those who are “snowbirds” or “seasonal residents” can also be involved, as letters can be scanned in and sent to their location.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig recently announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will provide $2,000 grants to 137 participating school districts or schools to purchase meat, eggs, produce, dairy and other local foods from area farmers. Among those 137 schools and districts are the Allamakee Community School District and Eastern Allamakee Community School District, along with St. Patrick School in Waukon and the Postville Community School District.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors met at Kee High School in Lansing Wednesday, August 21 in an effort to avoid conflicting with the Monday, August 19 school board meeting in the Central Community School District, with which EACSD now shares the services of Superintendent Nick Trenkamp. Beginning with its September meeting (September 9), the board will be meeting the second Monday of each month in order to further avoid meeting schedule conflicts with Central Community.

The board approved the appointment of Heather Lutz as board member for Director District 2, replacing board member Tony Becker who has moved out of the school district. Board Secretary Michele Martin administered the oath of office to Lutz.

A total of 295 FFA exhibitors from across the state of Iowa competed in the FFA Market Swine Show Thursday, August 8 and Friday, August 9 at the 2024 Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Types of swine exhibited included Crossbred Market Gilt, Crossbred Market Barrow and Purebred Market Swine.

Jenna Achenback of Woodward Granger FFA, Woodward, won Champion Purebred Market Swine (Yorkshire) honors, and Riley Stuecker of Central Lee FFA, Donnellson, was awarded Reserve Champion Purebred Market Swine (Duroc) accolades. Taylor Brinning of Washington FFA, Washington, was awarded Grand Champion Market Pig honors, and Hayden Fox of Belmond-Klemme FFA, Belmond, was judged to have exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Market Pig.

Monday, August 19, the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Board of Trustees named current NICC Acting President and Vice President of Finance and Administration, Dave Dahms, to the position of Interim President. The board’s decision was unanimous and Dahms will serve as Interim President for a maximum of two years, with a salary of $260,00 for the first year of his contract.

Over 1,000 entries were judged, with the top receiving honors, in the FFA Photography competition judged at the 2024 Iowa State Fair held in Des Moines August 8-18. The Postville FFA Chapter brought home the top Chapter Award among 10 other chapters listed as competing in that division.

Olivia Enyart of Postville FFA placed second in the Plants division of competition with her entry. Postville FFA’s Harlie Miller claimed top honors in the Iowa Farm Winter Scene category of competition.
 

For two area high school students, a summer credit healthcare program offered through Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is paving the way for a successful nursing career.

Sofia Rivera, a senior at Turkey Valley High School, and Ezra Sweeney, a senior at Waukon High School, participated in the State of Iowa grant-funded Summer College Credit Program (SCCP). In Iowa, 15 community colleges participate in SCCP and offer a variety of career and technical education course options designed for high school students in grades 9-12. As a SCCP participant, NICC offers courses in healthcare.

As a high school student concurrently enrolled through NICC, Rivera completed Intro to Nutrition and Medical Terminology courses. Now she has a head start on her healthcare career and next January, she plans to enroll in pre-Nursing at NICC.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) School Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Monday, August 19. Under the Consent Agenda, the following personnel hires were approved (pending satisfactory background check): Jacob Homp, Elementary Night Custodian; Randy Nordheim, Volunteer Volleyball Coach; Ashley Dougherty, Volunteer Volleyball Coach; Kate-Leigh Fossum, Volunteer Cheer Coach; Adam Sacquitne, Substitute Bus Driver; and 2024-2025 Kids Club Workers. The resignation of Stephanie Radloff from her High School Paraprofessional position was also approved.