ACSD Community Connections program receives "Exceptional" rating following State of Iowa visit

Recently, Community Connections elementary school sites within the Allamakee Community School District, also known as Kids Club, had their evaluation visit from State of Iowa education officials. The local program received an "Exceptional" rating following the State of Iowa visit.

Vic Jaras from the Iowa Department of Education/21st Century Learning Center said, "I talked with dozens of parents who all had glowing praise for the program. Parents felt students improved because of the program. Students loved this program."

Some sites within the program only offer homework assistants, while others are more fully involved with afterschool programming, meeting a variety of needs for students within the Allamakee Community School District. Program administrators say the program benefits from "great staff" which range from people who have been in the program for many years to Luther College students, local high school student volunteers and teachers who work in the program.

"We also strongly encourage our students to be leaders, and they have done a great job," they further explained. "We also have many partners who we collaborate with. Thanks to all of you who have donated this year and attended our family nights in a show of support; this did not go unnoticed by Mr. Jaras."

Project director Barb Winters-Kelly started writing grants many years ago with the support of school district administration and has kept this program going in this rural community through many different grants. Administrators note that there are very few rural communities that have a program such as this, so this community should feel very privileged to have such a program.

Jaras from the Iowa Department of Education also stated, "This program is an outstanding example of what is possible in a rural community through collaboration."