Education

Waukon State Bank has made its annual donations in support of Waukon school organizations through the bank’s Scoreboard Program. Waukon State Bank donates $10 for each football touchdown, $3 for each volleyball ace, $5 for each basketball three-point shot, $5 for each wrestling pin and $5 for each baseball and softball home run. From the 2016-2017 Waukon High School athletic seasons, donation checks totaling $1,525 were recently presented to the Allamakee Athletic Boosters, Allamakee Music Boosters, Waukon High School Drama Department, Waukon Wrestling Club and St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Waukon, all of which are represented in the surrounding photos at their respective donation presentations. Submitted photos.
 

Board briefly outlines path of consideration for future plans for Waterville Elementary

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met Monday, September 18 for its re-organizational and regular monthly meeting at Waterville Elementary School, as the Board does traditionally in September. Board member Patty Nordheim was absent from the meeting.

In addition to the items of more regular business at the meeting, board president Al Rissman also outlined the board’s consideration of future plans for the Waterville Elementary School based on enrollment projections and recent issues with the school’s well. The board had previously discussed the matter in a September 7 work session. Rissman explained that, in the short term, the board will continue to monitor the well water situation at Waterville. Earlier in the meeting, ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold noted that the well at Waterville had passed its most recent test conducted a week ago.

Allamakee County voters ventured to the polls at just under a two percent voter turn-out (187 ballots cast out of 9,632 registered voters) for the Tuesday, September 12 School Election held across the state of Iowa. No surprises emerged from the election, as there were no contested races on any of the ballots in Allamakee County and all incumbent candidates were each returned to their existing seats for another four-year term.

In the Allamakee Community School District, Scott Melcher was returned to his District 1 Director seat with 79 votes vs. just one write-in vote. Likewise, At-Large Director Allan Rissman was also returned to his position with 77 votes vs. just two write-in votes.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The annual re-organizational meeting of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District Board of Directors was held Monday, September 18 along with the board’s regular monthly meeting. The regular meeting was called to order by Heather Schulte, Board President. Board members present included Bobbie Goetzinger, Melanie Mauss, Kelli Mudderman and Bruce Palmborg. Dr. Dale Crozier, Superintendent;  Mary Hogan, Kee High and Middle School Principal; and Marian Verdon, Board Secretary were also present at the meeting. Chad Steckel, New Albin Elementary Principal was absent.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program will hold its core training sessions this fall for individuals interested in becoming Master Gardeners.

The Master Gardener program is looking for people who are passionate about volunteering and gardening. No previous garden knowledge is required. The program equips volunteers to grow in knowledge about gardening best practices, contribute produce to food banks to enhance food security and make Iowa’s fairgrounds and main streets beautiful.

“Master Gardeners provide information and education to Iowans,” said Susan DeBlieck, ISU Extension and Outreach Master Gardener assistant coordinator. “They are excellent community resources who help make the state a better place to live.”

Information released about the Iowa Legislative Page program is encouraging area students to apply for the 2018 session. Each year the Iowa General Assembly employs Iowa high school juniors and seniors from across the state to serve as Pages during the legislative session.

The duties of Legislative Pages vary slightly, but they generally provide valuable assistance to legislators and legislative staff. Tasks include running the chamber switchboard, delivering messages, distributing legislation, assisting committee chairpersons and sorting amendments. Pages are paid and many schools offer class credit for a student’s work in the Legislature.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) has received a grant sub-award in partnership with Kirkwood Community College that will provide more financial assistance for low-income eligible students through the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) Food Assistance Employment and Training (FA E&T) program.

NICC was selected as a community college partner for the grant sub-award in part because of the College’s expansive 5,000-square mile, eight-county service area with a substantial percentage of residents who have not earned a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (HSED) and qualify for food assistance through the FA E&T program.

Just under half of northeast Iowa residents, 49.2 percent, reported a high school diploma, HSED or less as the highest educational level attained – higher than the 42 percent reported statewide, according to EMSI, Inc. Of this population, 8.08 percent of residents 25 and older live in poverty.

Each year the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) selects a Superintendent of the Year from nominations made by each of the area education agencies throughout the state of Iowa. This year, Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier, joint superintendent of MFL/MarMac and Eastern Allamakee Community School Districts, was nominated for the honor from the Keystone Area Education Agency (AEA).

The nomination is made by other administrators in the AEA. This is the second time Dr. Crozier has been nominated during his career as a superintendent. The individual selected as Iowa's Superintendent of the Year was Guttenberg native Gary Zittergruen, Superintendent from Benton Community School District. He was bestowed that honor at an August 2 ceremony.

The Waukon Walking School Bus, now in its fourth year, is a safe, fun and active way for students to get to school during the fall and spring months. The Walking School Bus in Waukon will walk on the following Thursday mornings this fall: September 21 and 28, and October 5, 12, 19 and 26 and will start in downtown Waukon. Interested families should drop students off by 7:40 a.m. at the Area Development and Visitor Center on the corner of First Street NW and Main Street in Waukon. Routes lead to East Elementary and West Elementary schools. Students will be walking 10-20 minutes and arrive to school by 8:10 a.m. or earlier. Fall mornings can be pretty chilly so students should come dressed for the weather. The Walking School Bus will not walk if it is below 40°F or if it is raining/storming/snowing. In order to continue this beneficial program beyond Fall 2017, more volunteer leaders are needed.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering the class “Windows 10 Operating System Essentials” (#57470) Tuesday, September 12 from 5-8 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 Third Avenue NW.

In this class, participants will learn the role of an operating system as the primary foundation and interface on a computer. Participants will spend a couple hours getting comfortable with the core features of Windows 10.

Windows 10 offers some compelling features including Cortana, the brand new Microsoft personal assistant, and a new start menu. Those who are new to Windows altogether or just upgrading from a previous version will find what is needed to get going with Windows 10. Students at the Waukon Center location will be participating via web-based video conference transmitted from the host location in Cresco.