Education

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The regular monthly Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors meeting was held Monday, May 16 at Kee High School in Lansing. Board members Bruce Palmborg, Bobbie Goetzinger, Kelli Mudderman, Melanie Mauss and Board President Heather Schulte were present, along with Board Secretary/Business Manager Marian Verdon, Kee High School and Middle School Principal Mary Hogan, New Albin Elementary School Principal Chad Steckel and Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier.
The initial item on the agenda included approval of the 2015-2016 budget amendment which allows the budget to cover additional revenues and expenditures not covered in the original budget. Public comments were called for but none were given. The normal and customary authorizations were approved.

Thursday, April 14 Allamakee County Conservation Naturalist Ross Geerdes (pictured in the center of the above photo) visited with about 120 Waukon Middle School seventh grade geography students about Orienteering. Students received some background information on the use of a compass and Global Positioning System (GPS) before working in small groups to use the information on GPS to locate three pre-determined coordinates. Submitted photo.
 

Those interested in become an Iowa Master Gardener may do so by completing the core training course this fall through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office in Waukon. Gardeners will learn best practices for choosing plants, designing gardens and managing pests. Classes start at all locations in September of this year.

Those interested in the course can apply at http://mastergardenerhours.hort.iastate.edu/application-form.php. Apply now, as space is limited for each location. Accepted participants will be notified by September 11.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County Office  is hosting the seventh annual “Growing Season” webinar series at Waukon during June, July and August. Gardeners will learn about benefits of shade in landscape, tree problems, and native garden insects.

The three-part series is offered by the Iowa Master Gardener program and is open to all interested gardeners. Participants are not required to have completed Master Gardener training to attend.

Waukon High School was recently announced as the 2015-2016 winner of the Conduct Counts Parent/Coach Relationship video contest sponsored by the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa High School Sports Network. The winning commercial video was produced by Lisa Snitker, Waukon Middle/High School Librarian, and highlights how local coaches and parents foster healthy relationships in high school sports. The video was featured during the Iowa High School Boys State Basketball Tournament and will also be televised during the 2016 Iowa High School State Baseball Tournament and State Football Play-Off broadcasts. The video can also be viewed on the Conduct Counts website at http://www.conductcounts.com/2015-16-winners.html.

Waukon Middle School was recently awarded a Shopko Foundation grant to support the school's Accelerated Reading (AR) program, which promotes regular reading at each student’s individualized level. Each quarter of the school year students strive to meet reading goals and are rewarded with incentives for reaching those goals through the Waukon Middle School Library Program. The grant of $300 will be used to purchase incentives to continue to reward student reading success. Pictured above in the center of the photo, Allamakee Community School District Librarian Lisa Snitker accepts the grant funding from Waukon Shopko manager Valerie Kleinow, as some of the Waukon Middle School students who will benefit from the grant also look on. Submitted photo.
 

Waukon High School will be hosting its annual Senior Awards Program for the Class of 2016 Tuesday, May 10 at 7 p.m. at the Waukon High School Auditorium. All students, parents and families, and community members are invited to attend.

Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc. and many community groups and businesses will present awards that evening to members of this year's Waukon High School graduating class. In addition, honors and achievements by Waukon High School Class of 2016 members will be recognized during the event.

Any organization presenting an award to the students is asked to contact Waukon High School Guidance Counselor Amy Wasson at 563-568-3466 as soon as possible to confirm program information and inclusion of their presentation in the event program.
 

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met Tuesday, April 26 at 8:30 a.m. for a special session. Several personnel matters were decided, among them hiring a replacement for retiring Board Secretary/Business Manager Janice Rea.

After conducting its regular business and prior to adjournment, the Board entered a series of closed sessions to conduct interviews with Angela Carlson, Tina Cooper and Jaime Curtin for the School Board Secretary/Business Manager position. The recommendation to hire Jaime Curtin as the School Board Secretary/Business Manager at an annual salary of $65,000 was approved when the Board reconvened in open session and reviewed all information and references for each applicant.

Waukon Good Fellas Riding Club contributed a very large donation to Community Connections West Elementary Kids Club, East Elementary Kids Club and the Waukon Middle School afterschool programs. Members of the Riding Club presented the check to Virginia Kurth, West Elementary Site Coordinator, Thursday, April 7 at the program's Family Night during the Iowa Department of Education visit. The Riding Club members shared their children’s past and present connection to the afterschool programs. The club has been involved in the Allamakee afterschool programs for many years. The students and staff of the afterschool programs are very grateful for this generous donation. The continuous support of the program from many individuals, families, churches, businesses and organizations in the community is much appreciated. Submitted photo.
 

Luther College President Paula Carlson announced the election of four new regents to the college's Board of Regents: Jeffrey Anderson, Sandee Joppa, Michael Osterholm and James N. Young.

"We are so pleased to welcome Regents Anderson, Joppa, Osterholm and Young to the Board of Regents," said President Carlson. "They bring years of professional experience in financial management, human resources, health and higher education to the Board, along with a deep commitment to Luther College. As Luther alumni and parents, they understand the value of a Luther education, and their service as regents will strengthen the college for generations to come."