Education

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.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Monday night, July 17. Under the consent agenda, the board approved the following personnel: Mike McGeough as SPED Route Driver; Jarod Dahlstrom, Tim Bulman, Jon Snitker and Zach Thornton as volunteer football coaches; Alyssa Bell as Kids Club Coordinator; and Ray Wacker as night custodian.

The board also accepted the resignation of Melissa Ward from her position as head varsity softball coach. The Backpack Program was renewed under the consent agenda, as was the Free and Reduced School Meals Application Process.

During the Communications time of the meeting, the board reviewed the Vehicle and Facility Usage Summary reports that were compiled by Pat Klinge. Total miles for the 2022-2023 school year were 29,684 miles. The district also collected a total of $582.87 in rental fees for use of school facilities.

The Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Waukon Center will offer High School Drivers Education for Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) students.

Students may register for one of these three upcoming sessions:
• Monday-Friday, July 24-August 4, from 1-4 p.m. (#91754)
• Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, August 21-September 25, from 5-7 p.m. (#91763)
• Monday and Wednesday, October 2-November 2, from 5-7 p.m. (#91764).

To satisfy the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements, students must attend 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of Behind the Wheel (BTW) driving experience. Attendance is required at all sessions. Students must have an Iowa driver’s permit before the first class.

by Alaina Gebel

May 16 of this year, eight members of the Little Switzerland FFA Chapter at Waukon High School under the guidance of advisor Jessica O’Connor traveled to Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo to participate in the Northeast District Agronomy Career Development Event (CDE). The team of Alaina Gebel, Olivia Marti, Ethan Palmer and Sarah Stock brought home team champion honors with Gebel placing as the champion individual for the event. Waukon’s second agronomy team of Mallory Berns, Ethan Gibbs, Kendra Gibbs and Caleb Helgerson brought home a fourth-place finish overall out of 29 teams and 116 individuals participating in the contest.

The National FFA Organization has awarded a pair of scholarships to Waukon High School 2023 graduated senior Alaina Gebel, a member of the Little Switzerland FFA Chapter at Waukon High. Gebel plans to use the scholarship funding to pursue a degree in Agricultural Education and Agronomy at Iowa State University in Ames.

The awards include a $1,500 scholarship from Grow Ag Leaders from the Bayer Fund, and the second scholarship, in the amount of $5,000, is a part of the Robert and Pauline Wells Scholarship. The funding for the National FFA scholarship program comes from individuals, businesses and corporate sponsors to encourage excellence and enable students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships support either two-year or four-year degrees, as well as vocational programs, and range in size from $500 to full tuition for four years.