Author Archives: Jeff

Oct 08

HELL FREEZES OVER

Due to a cascade of inexplicable subroutine malfunctions, the Matrix will be shut down for diagnostics and given a hard reset. The management apologizes for the inconvenience.

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Oct 06

Alta-Aurelia consolidation approved

The Alta and Aurelia school districts — one mostly in Buena Vista County, the other mostly in Cherokee County — extended their whole-grade-sharing agreement last year. Last month, however, they dove into full reorganization, effective next year. Story: Cherokee Chronicle-Times. … Continue reading

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Oct 04

Oklahoma’s tuneup for Texas

This weekend, for only the second time in the Big 12 era, Iowa State is in a position it used to be in quite often — the warmup act for the Oklahoma Sooners the weekend before their game against Texas. … Continue reading

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Oct 03

Look what Taylor Swift made the Iowa DOT do

Yesterday’s “Message Monday” from the Iowa DOT: If you don't get the message today – ask the nearest millennial. https://t.co/RnUAg8GpyS pic.twitter.com/GPSVXQ1WI9 — Iowa DOT (@iowadot) October 2, 2017

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Look what Taylor Swift made the Iowa DOT do
Oct 02

Iowa Falls, Alden set 10-year sharing agreement

More than a year after Iowa Falls exerted pressure on Alden to end its current grade-sharing arrangements, Iowa Falls got what it wanted. (Story: KLMJ) The deal, which will last until 2028 (PDF), matches up with the previous arrangement except … Continue reading

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Sep 28

ISU football’s longtime, bigtime, primetime drought

Weeknight college football games, in a word, suck. Tonight against Texas is one of them. But without them, Iowa State would be even worse off for exposure. It has been years since an Iowa State football game was not available … Continue reading

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Sep 27

20th anniversary of North Tama school addition

September 27 and 28, 1997: Video stills of the north side of North Tama school, the weekend of a dedication ceremony for the addition with a multipurpose room (above), Iowa Communications Network room, and kindergarten. The first of two substantial … Continue reading

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on 20th anniversary of North Tama school addition
Sep 25

Longest K-6 districts highest in per-pupil funding

Here’s an interesting data point that has emerged in the discussion of inequity in per-pupil funding among school districts in Iowa: The two districts with the longest one-way whole-grade-sharing arrangements are also maxed out in funding. Delwood has sent grades … Continue reading

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Sep 22

Grand Junction school to be demolished

July 5, 2013: Grand Junction school. In less than a decade, the East Greene school district will go from a full K-12 community to nearly erased from the face of the earth. The entire complex in Grand Junction, with a … Continue reading

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Sep 21

Urbana intersection meeting Sept. 26

I thought the decision to turn the curve for IA 150 west of Urbana (the end of old IA 363) into an intersection was a done deal, but I guess I was wrong. There’s going to be a meeting Sept. … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Urbana intersection meeting Sept. 26