Education

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

State and Local school officials have adopted the family size and income criteria for determining eligibility as printed in the chart accompanying this article.

Households may be eligible for free or reduced price meal benefits one of four ways listed below.

Students attending need to register through online link

The Summer Prom event that several local parents have been working on since mid-April is being planned to take place Saturday, July 25 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon for Waukon High School students who completed their junior or senior year this past school year, along with their guests. Committee members have been communicating with Allamakee County officials, who say that with the locations and events that have now been opened up and the easing of many restrictions in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, this event should be able to happen as well.

With doors opening at 6 p.m., the evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a catered meal being provided at no cost to the students by Rich Schulte of Schulte’s BBQ & Catering of Waukon. The menu will include roast pork with cheesy potatoes. The committee is looking for parent volunteers to help provide salads and desserts.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) and eight additional colleges in the Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement (C2A3) will receive $529,924.48 over the course of the next four years as part of a cooperative agreement issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS).

The nine Midwestern community colleges that comprise the Alliance boast strong agricultural programs and traditions. The consortium was developed under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the USDA-NRCS and USDA North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (USDA-SARE). NICC is the only college in Iowa to be selected as an alliance partner.

The Lawrence D. Anderson VFW Post and Auxiliary #4117 recently presented district award winners for the 2019-2020 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen and Auxiliary elementary essay contest. Winners at the local level of the essay contest advanced to this district level competition.

Entries from third through fifth graders were received for the VFW Auxiliary Elementary School Essay Contest from students at St. Patrick Elementary and East Elementary schools in Waukon. Entries from St. Patrick sixth grade and Waukon Middle School were received for the Patriot’s Pen contest. Waukon High School entries were received for the Voice of Democracy contest.

Placing first for third grade in the elementary essay contest at the district level was Jack Papp, son of Beth and John Papp of Waukon. Placing first for fourth grade in the elementary essay contest was Sophia Finn, daughter of Stacie and Andy Hill of Waukon.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) was held at Kee High School in Lansing Tuesday, June 16. Board member Kelli Mudderman was absent and Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier was present via telephone later in the meeting.

The board unanimously approved the purchase of 93 Lenovo 100e Chromebooks for the New Albin Elementary third through sixth grade students. Kee High School and Middle School Principal Mary Hogan reviewed the district’s safety procedure in cases of a tornado, fire and an intruder for either a lockdown or an evacuation.

Waukon Head Start classrooms are still taking applications for the 2020-2021 school year. Head Start, operated by Northeast Iowa Community Action, is a free full day preschool program that offers a safe and nurturing environment while providing fun, active learning.

Qualified teachers partner with families to provide the best possible preschool experience for children who are three and four years old. Head Start services are funded by federal and state grants and are free for families who qualify. Transportation is available in some areas.

Nutritious meals and snacks are provided by the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Parents are encouraged to bring proof of income and proof of their child’s birthdate.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

Mary Hogan, a hometown girl who graduated from Kee High School in Lansing, is retiring from that same school district after nine years as its middle school and high school principal. Before becoming principal, she was a special education consultant in the Eastern Allamakee Community School District for four years.

Her professional journey began with an undergraduate degree  at Clarke College in Dubuque. She received her masters and education specialist degree from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. Her career included teaching for five years in southeast Minnesota in a special education coop as a school psychologist. She then moved to Faribault MN where she worked for 15 years as a school psychologist.

Waukon Head Start classrooms are still taking applications for the 2020-2021 school year. Head Start, operated by Northeast Iowa Community Action, is a free full day preschool program that offers a safe and nurturing environment while providing fun, active learning.

Qualified teachers partner with families to provide the best possible preschool experience for children who are three and four years old. Head Start services are funded by federal and state grants and are free for families who qualify. Transportation is available in some areas.

Nutritious meals and snacks are provided by the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Parents are encouraged to bring proof of income and proof of their child’s birthdate.

With the COVID-19 pandemic initially modifying the graduation ceremony for the Kee High School Class of 2020 to just a virtual ceremony on the school’s originally scheduled graduation date of May 10, plans have recently been announced to hold an actual in-person graduation ceremony for the entire class Saturday, June 27 at 11 a.m. at the Kee High School football field. Attendance will be limited to family only and social distancing rules will be followed. Additional details will be made available by the school district.
 

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Monday night, June 15. Prior to the meeting, board members could look at one of the new LP-powered school buses recently purchased by the district.

In personnel matters, the board approved hiring Sally Dougherty as a Kindergarten teacher, Melissa Brodahl as a fourth grade teacher, Andrew Sires as freshman girls basketball coach and Quinn Brennan as assistant varsity girls basketball coach. The board also accepted the resignation of Ben Rausch from his position as assistant varsity girls basketball coach, as he has been hired as the varsity girls head coach in replacement of the retiring Greg Criswell. The board also approved the renewal of software agreements with Grantwood AEA and the SAI Mentoring and Induction Program Agreement.