Category Archives: Schools

Jan 25

East River Township School, 1956-68

Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

In my 2014 Des Moines Register column about Manilla’s school, I invoked the evolution of a “typical” school complex in small-town Iowa. At the core, you have a two- or three-story symmetrical brick structure from 1913-28. An elementary wing comes … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on East River Township School, 1956-68
Dec 14

Boxholm school is gone

Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 25, 2012: The cornerstone of the Boxholm school. I have no idea if it was preserved. Boxholm’s school, which closed in 2014, was torn down earlier this year. In March, the Fort Dodge Messenger ran a retrospective — or, … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Boxholm school is gone
Oct 03

Algona, Lu Verne consolidation approved

Posted on Monday, October 3, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The final assimilation of what used to be the shared but unmerged Corwith-Wesley-Lu Verne schools into Algona will happen next year. Voters last month overwhelmingly approved the merger of Algona and Lu Verne, KICD radio reports. The latter had officially … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Algona, Lu Verne consolidation approved
Sep 21

Walcott could lose half its school grades

Posted on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Davenport school district is considering changes to the grade configuration in Walcott. KWQC and WQAD both reported last week that the K-8 school there could become a middle school for grades 5-8 or 6-8. Younger students would go to … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Walcott could lose half its school grades
Jul 27

Eldora school demolished 15 years after closure

Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Every once in a while for a long time I would check the Eldora newspaper’s website to see if there was any progress on demolition of the 1916-17 school building. Nothing kept happening, so I let it slide. But after … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Eldora school demolished 15 years after closure
Jul 22

Algona, Lu Verne consolidation in final stretch

Posted on Friday, July 22, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A vote in September will turn what 25 years ago had been five official school districts, and 2½ high schools, into the largest one-high-school consolidated district in Iowa. Algona and Lu Verne have spent the past year going through the … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Algona, Lu Verne consolidation in final stretch
Jul 13

Gladbrook school demolition finishing up

Posted on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 17, 2022: The Gladbrook school was in mid-demolition during Corn Carnival. Windows and fixtures had been removed. KWWL has a story, with unembeddable video, about the Gladbrook school being demolished. The story has an error in it: The school … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on Gladbrook school demolition finishing up
Jun 22

Gladbrook school demolition in final stages

Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 17, 2022: The southeast corner of the Gladbrook school building, as seen last week during Corn Carnival. A piece of paper on one of the few remaining windows of Gladbrook’s school building announces the fitness center — the half-million-dollar … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on Gladbrook school demolition in final stages
Jun 08

Luana school converted to rec center

Posted on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Luana school, part of MFL-MarMac, closed in 2001. According to the March 21, 2001, North Iowa Times, closing the building would save the district $100,000. Opposition to the plan was less about closing Luana and more about busing young … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Luana school converted to rec center
May 20

North Tama plans revealed during building tour

Posted on Friday, May 20, 2022, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

It’s happening? Maybe? After a few votes and an extra $31 million? Whatever the step or two is after “commencing to proceed to get started,” that’s where North Tama is right now in a master plan that would radically alter … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on North Tama plans revealed during building tour