Education

The Allamakee County Iowa State University (ISU) Extension Office will be offering three workshops designed to empower attendees with the skills and confidence to master the art of fermentation, create sourdough, and ensure a food business thrives with the highest safety standards. The Allamakee County offerings are part of a series of workshops being offered throughout the state of Iowa.

A Sourdough Workshop is being offered Tuesday, August 12 from 1-3 p.m. at Allamakee County Extension and Outreach, 218 7th Avenue SE, Suite #102 in Waukon. Register at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/blackhawk/sourdough-workshops.

The Allamakee County 4-H Council is sponsoring a school supply drive to benefit the Allamakee County Relief Office at the 2025 Allamakee County Fair. The Council encourages all 4-H clubs and community members to participate by purchasing school supplies. Each 4-H club has been challenged by the County Council to donate at least 25 items.

There will be a special community service booth in the 4-H exhibit building to display the donations during the Fair. Donations can be made anytime throughout the Fair, July 17-20.

For further information about the Allamakee County 4-H Program, contact Nora Ryan, Allamakee County Youth Coordinator at the Allamakee County Extension and Outreach office at 563-568-6345.

Tuesday, June 17, a forum on the summer feeding programs at Allamakee Community Schools, Eastern Allamakee Community Schools and the Feed the Kids program in Waukon was held at the AJ Bar & Grill patio area in Waukon, sponsored by the Allamakee County Democrats. Pictured in the submitted photo above, left to right, are Eastern Allamakee Community School District Food Service Director Sarah Veare, Feed the Kids co-coordinator Kathy Hay, and Allamakee Community School District Food Service Director Jess Keenan, each of whom reviewed her respective summer feeding program during the forum.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for a special meeting Friday morning, June 27. The board approved (subject to a satisfactory background check) the hiring of Tyler Plein as the district’s maintenance director. ACSD Superintendent Jay Mathis noted that they received 14 applications for the position, and that Plein has experience with both HVAC and maintenance,  and he should be a good fit for the ACSD Buildings and Grounds Department.

The board also approved Dillon Daniel as the assistant varsity girls track coach. Approval was also given to an increase in paraprofessional hours for Katie Martin.

Waukon churches are banding together again this July to bring hot lunches to area children, ages 18 and under, through a local Feed the Kids program.

In 2024, its second year, Feed the Kids served 1,975 lunches and distributed 2,267 breakfast bags in the 18 days of the program. This was an increase of almost 500 meals from 2023, the inaugural year of the local program. The number of days to serve those meals will be 22 this year, an increase of four days over last year’s program.

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) provides a summer feeding program to local children ages 18 and under during the months of June and August, but there is no such program that takes place for July through the school district. Community members felt there were still “food insecure” children who needed to eat all summer long, and the local Feed the Kids program got started.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors held its regular meeting Monday, June 9 at 7:03 p.m. at Kee High School. Board President Arla Wagner called the meeting to order with board members Heather Lutz, Joe Manning, and  Melanie Mauss present. Also attending were Interim Superintendent Patrick Heiderscheit, PK-12 Principal Donna Thomas, and Board Secretary Michele Martin. Visitors included Jay Mathis, Tommy Martin, and Dave Ellefson.

The board approved Tommy Martin as the new board member representing District #1, replacing Bobbie Goetzinger, who resigned from the board seat after recently accepting employment within the school district. Tommy Martin accepted the position and took the oath of office. Michele Martin was appointed and sworn in as Board Secretary.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) School Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Monday night, June 16. Under the Consent Agenda, the Board approved the following certified sub pay rates per day: Teacher Sub Pay, $140 and Teacher Long Term Sub Pay, $190. The board also approved the appointment of Macy Manning as assistant varsity softball coach and the resignation of Daryl Roe from her position of assistant varsity softball coach.

One open-enrollment into the district was approved, and the board also approved a Student Teacher Agreement with Iowa State University and Preschool Partnership Agreements with Growing Bear Daycare Center and St. Patrick School Preschool Center, as well as renewing the district’s membership with Iowa School Finance Information Services. The board also gave its approval to renewal of the Elementary Social Studies Curriculum for an annual subscription cost of $8,977.

Robey Memorial Library and The Oneota Valley Literary Foundation (OVLF) are partnering to host the Main Street Story Walk again this year, featuring Laurie Keller’s children’s story, Arnie the Donut, for the month of June. Throughout June, families can enjoy reading Arnie the Donut by following the story displayed in the windows of five selected downtown businesses, each labeled in the above submitted image and listed below.

The Story Walk will guide participants from one location to the next, with a portion of the story posted in the front window of each participating business. The featured businesses are all located on Spring Avenue and West Main Street in downtown Waukon and include #1) The Blend, #2) Mirror Images, #3) AJ Bar & Grill, #4) KNEI Radio, and #5) Teslow’s Formal Wear.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District Board of Directors met for a special meeting Friday morning, June 6. The agenda included several personnel matters.

Pending a satisfactory background check, the board approved the following personnel hiring recommendations for the 2025-2026 school year: Morgan Johnson, 2nd grade teacher; Nicole Decker, preschool teacher; Kevin Johnson, head girls varsity wrestling coach; Kelli Olson, TLC Instructional Coach; and Lauren Drew, 2nd grade PLC Teacher Leader.

The end of the school year does not come easily to the members of the Waukon High School Band. The band participated in the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) State Solo and Ensemble Festival March 29 and the State Large Group Concert Band Festival May 9.
While these two events have approximately five weeks between them, Band Director Jo Ann Sherman points out that the month of April can be a very busy month at the high school with Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) testing and the Easter break breaking up the band’s rehearsal schedule.

At the Solo and Ensemble Festival, the band had 14 soloists and 13 ensembles perform. Each event performed for a single judge who critiqued their performance and gave them a rating. The band received 11 Division I ratings, 15 Division II ratings and one Division III rating on the day.