Category Archives: Schools

Jul 10

Gladbrook-Reinbeck dissolution debate and the national mood

Posted on Monday, July 10, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A week from tonight, the Gladbrook-Reinbeck school board will have a final meeting regarding a petition to dissolve the school district. There will be an opportunity to share opinions, but I think everyone’s mind is pretty much made up. The … Continue reading →

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Jul 07

North Union, North Kossuth look at consolidation

Posted on Friday, July 7, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

At least, that’s what I get from the headline-only item from the area weeklies. The North Union School Board page hasn’t been updated with minutes/agendas for THREE YEARS. A radio station link whose headline says the same is already 404’d but … Continue reading →

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Jul 03

OABCIG consolidation passes

Posted on Monday, July 3, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 24, 2017: The school in Odebolt was a sticking point in previously failed reorganization votes. Residents were afraid the town would lose its school. The Odebolt-Arthur and Battle Creek-Ida Grove school districts will consolidate in 2018, the Sioux City … Continue reading →

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Jun 16

Bonus: E is for Elma

Posted on Friday, June 16, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

August 4, 2015: Some of the windows at Elma Elementary aren’t “windows” at all; they have classical artwork and inspirational quotes on them (detailed below). A decade ago, the Howard-Winneshiek school district was the second-largest in the state by area … Continue reading →

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May 28

Final graduation at Charter Oak-Ute

Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A week ago today, Charter Oak-Ute High School graduated its 55th and last class of students. Story: KTIV. One line in the story is practically boilerplate text in this era: Low enrollment numbers and lack of funding are responsible for the … Continue reading →

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May 26

Grand Junction losing its school

Posted on Friday, May 26, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 5, 2013: The school in Grand Junction most recently, and lastly, had fourth- through sixth-graders for the Greene County school district. The century-old school building in Grand Junction, which five years ago had the last class for East Greene … Continue reading →

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May 25

A look at Iowa school transportation cost disparities

Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

IowaWatch and Iowa Public Radio teamed up for a report on transportation costs in Iowa’s school districts and the disparity in funding that dates back decades but only got serious attention in the past couple of years. The IPR story … Continue reading →

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May 22

Baxter, Collins-Maxwell separately joining Iowa Star Conference

Posted on Monday, May 22, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

(Pulled out of the drafts folder from months ago. — Ed.) I don’t dip into all the “conference realignment” on the high school level, mostly because there’s so much of it going on right now. In this case, it relates … Continue reading →

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May 15

OABCIG will try consolidation vote a third time

Posted on Monday, May 15, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Battle Creek-Ida Grove and Odebolt-Arthur school districts will make a third attempt at consolidation, the Sioux City Journal reports. Odebolt-Arthur voters have resisted full reorganization out of fear the former O-A district would be outnumbered/outvoted on issues and the school … Continue reading →

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May 11

Griswold addition will cost two towns their schools

Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 22, 2014: The Elliott gym has been separated from the present elementary building since at least the late 1970s. Over the past year or so, the Griswold school district in western Iowa has been looking at saving money through … Continue reading →

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