By Casandra Leff RICEVILLE - Dr. Steven

Schulz, President of North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC), spoke to members of the Riceville Community School Board at its Monday (Dec. 21) meeting, about a proposed East-ern NIACC Regional Education Center, and the board approved a Memorandum of Understanding stating the school is interested in being part of the learning center. However, it does not force the school to commit any students or financial resources yet.

The center would involve eight schools – Charles City, Clarksville, Nashua-Plainfield, North Butler, Osage, RRMR and Riceville.

“The goal of the legislature is to put education centers within 30 minutes of every high school in the state,” Schulz explained. “We have received $2.25 million from the Hanson Foundation (The Hansons were founders of

Winnebago Industries in Forest City.) and $1 million from the state. We can apply for another $1 million by the end of the year.”

NIACC is asking for a 10-year commitment from member schools as a way of getting the learning center off the ground and sustaining it long-term. “Our goal is to fill seats,” Schulz told the board.

One challenge for Riceville is that the school is in Northeast Iowa Community College’s (NICC) coverage area, so it would need permission from them to take part, although NICC has allowed Riceville students to take courses at NIACC in the past.

The Regional Education Cen-ter would offer programs for col-lege credit for two or four-year degrees for students in four areas, of academies – Advanced Manufacturing, Construction Trades, Information Technology and Health Careers. Schulz ex-plained there are job openings in the region in those areas, which is why they were chosen. Agri-culture was not chosen because there currently are no job oppor-tunities there.

“We want something kids will take advantage of,” he said. “We looked at how to best meet the need of opening in our region.”

He added he was pleased with the success and interest in the learning center so far. “I think it’s pretty exciting that we can get this up and running with very lit-tle commitment from the stu-dents,” he said.

If members do agree to com-mit, the school will be asked to

fill two seats in each academy for a total of eight seats. That for-mula will be re-evaluated in five years or when there is a need, and revisions may be made if they are agreed on by the schools contractually committed. Each seat would be billed at a maxi-mum of $3,000 for the 2022-2023 school year and would increase at the same percentage as tuition increases per credit at NIACC each year. The fee cov-ers textbooks, mandatory sup-plies and equipment for students.

Districts are eligible for weighted supplemental state funding to help defray costs.

More updates on the Educa-tion Center will be presented at future meetings.

In other business from the meeting:

• Board member Lyle East-man asked about the food pro-gram at the school and if the kitchen staff has the tools it needs to offer the best meals pos-sible to students. Principal Heather Suckow said the school offers fresh produce beyond what most have, and Food Service Di-rector Angie Cimmiyotti isn’t afraid of trying new things. “She seeks feedback from students,” she said.

She added the school is con-sidering going back to hot break-fasts, rather than the grab-and-go ones that have been offered this year.

Schwamman agreed on the school’s produce options. “What you have is second to none,” she said. “I think one key is that we use the produce auction.” She added the school is somewhat handicapped by the free lunch

program it is part of. Board members asked about

portion sizes being offered, and she said that is something out of the kitchen staff’s control, due to government regulations.

Board member Shanna Hale stated she had heard students were getting cold food and kids in school were hungry by the end of the day.

Eastman said he had heard the same, but he added, “It sounds like when Angie took over, things were revived, but they changed with COVID.”

• In written communications, Board President Karl Fox shared a Thank You from the Veterans Administration for pictures stu-dents had made for veterans. The board also received a Thank You from teacher Mary Ptacek for of-fering early retirement and added she would be ending her 35-year teaching career at the end of the 2020-2021 year. She is currently the longest-serving teacher at Riceville Community School.

• The school board approved an open enrollment out of the school district and into Osage.

• The resignations of para-professional Heather Knutson, bus driver Erin Niemeyer and Ptacek were approved.

• Board member Ben Winters asked about drug testing for bus drivers. Business manager Jen Dunn explained each quarter, drivers are randomly chosen who go to Osage for testing. Specific ones can also be tested if there is suspicion.

• Kyle Guertin attended the Iowa Association of School Boards convention, which was held virtually. Among the priori-

ties voted on were COVID-19 re-mediation, mental health and State Supplemental Aid (SSA). He added representatives from Cedar Rapids and Des Moines discussed expanding funds for schools that share certain posi-tions.

• Principals Suckow and Mar-cia Grimm shared a pop quiz with board members, showing them a list of numbers and ask-ing what each one meant. Some of the information shared in-cluded Riceville having 1.25 principals; 2,000 visitors using the weight room and 12,000 using the gym in the Riceville Activity Center; and Riceville having an enrollment of 385 stu-dents (28 new in August and seven more since).

This fall, students donated 600 items and $200 to the Riceville Food Pantry, and as part of the “Can the Principal” food drive, Suckow had to eat two sardines and one oyster. There have been 22 professional development days and 81 learn-ing days in the first semester.

• As part of her report, Schwamman said there had been some difficulty with staffing. She noted the building and grounds committee will start meeting again in January. Currently,cGuertin is sitting on the committee, and Eastman vol-unteered to serve as a second board member on the committee. She stated the group will be look-ing at boilers and windows. At the state level, schools are advo-cating for Supplemental State Aid and have been diligent about making use of the money they are given.

She will be the chair of the Iowa High School Athletic Asso-ciation’s Board of Control for the next year. On the local level, she added, “We’re all about opportu-nities for the kids. I’m proud of where we’re at. I’m proud of Bryce [Conway, Activity Direc-tor] and our coaches. Things change weekly, and we have a great team approach.”

• The board approved apply-ing for modified allowable growth in the amount of $84,644 for drop-out prevention. There was a question about the number of at-risk students listed in the application – 53. Schwamman explained the number comes from a rubric that takes into con-sideration factors such as how many are on free/reduced lunches, have divorced parents or have a deviance in test scores compared to their classmates. She added that the number in the application didn’t surprise her and wasn’t high at all.

The next meeting of the Riceville Community School Board will be held on Jan. 18, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. in the school li-brary.

By Mary Blake Paul Revere was a silver-

smith. His silver work is prized by museums today.

Revere was a patriot. He loved and worked for his coun-try. He did many kinds of work in his lifetime. He published music. He printed money, and he designed the first seal for the colonies. (The seal he made for Massachusetts is still in use today.) He was a dentist for

awhile. He was a political car-toonist. He worked with metals, engraving them and making them into bells and nuts and bolts. (The hardware used on the U.S.S. Constitution was made by Paul Revere.) Although he is most remembered for his mid-night ride, Paul Revere was in his own right, a Renaissance Man!

On the night that Revere made his famous ride, at least four other men, Solomon Brown, Joseph Hall, William Dawes and Ebenezer also rode out to warn the colonists that British troops

were coming. Paul’s ride has be-come the most famous because 100 years later, the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow made in to a hero in his colorful poem, “The Ride of Paul Revere.”

Incidentally, Revere had warned Concord’s citizens ear-lier that they might be attacked and that they should begin stor-ing food and bullets, and that’s lucky, because on his historic ride, he never reached Concord to shout a warning! British troops captured him on the way to town.

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Thursday, January 7, 2021 COMMUNITY Monitor Recorder - Page 11

St. Ansgar Schools MONITOR RECORDER

$39.00 LOCALLY, $42.00 OUT OF AREA

(CHECK PAGE 4 FOR EXACT RATES

WHERE YOU ARE!)

CITY OF STACYVILLE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE You are hereby notified that

the Stacyville City Council will conduct a public hearing on Mon-day, January 12, 2021, at 7:35 p.m. at the City Council/Commu-nity Room of the Stacyville Li-brary, Stacyville, IA. The purpose of this hearing is to state the proj-ect status of the City of Stacyville Water System Improvement Proj-ect, funded in part by the Com-munity Development Block Grant program. City staff and a repre-

sentative from NIACOG will be present information and be avail-able to answer questions regard-ing the project. If you have any questions or comments, please mail comments to 115 S. Broad Street, Stacyville, IA 50476 or contact the City at (641) 641-737-2428, or Chris Diggins at NI-ACOG (641) 423-0491. If you require special accommodations, please contact the City.

Published in the Monitor Recorder Jan. 7, 2021

Public Notice

- New Home Construction

- Remodeling - Certified Well

Pullers - Ritchie - Mirafount - Geothermal Heat

Pumps - Backhoe - Water Conditioning

- LB White Sales & Service

- Septic Systems - Lennox Heating

& Cooling - Floor Heat - Gas, Wood, &

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Make Your Way To Beautiful . . . OSAGE, IA

• SHOPPING • DINING • GOLFING • PARKS • EVENT CENTER • MOVIE THEATRE & MORE

NOTICE: The Monitor Recorder Office WILL BE CLOSING AT 4:00 P.M.

ON THURSDAY, JAN. 7 TO COVER A WRESTLING MEET

111 E 2ND ST. RICEVILLE, IA 641-985-2142

Week of Jan. 11 - 15

Monday - Corn dog, tater tots, frozen fruit cup

Tuesday - Pulled pork na-chos, nacho cheese, salsa, black beans, applesauce

Wednesday- Rib patty on bun, baked beans, mixed fruit

Thursday - Turkey gravy on potatoes, PB&J; sandwich, sweet potatoes, peaches

Friday - Walking taco, let-tuce, cheese, corn, salsa, pineap-ple

--------------------------------- Milk. Salad bar offered every day at middle & high school ---------------------------------

BREAKFAST MENUS (Also fruit, juice & milk)

Mon. - Pancakes, sausage links Tues. - Cereal, wheat toast Wed. - Breakfast sandwich Thurs. - Cereal, wheat toast Fri. - Donut, yogurt

---------------------------------- (Menu subject to change!)

School board learns about NIACC Education Center

A large fort was painstakingly built by the Hanson brothers, Rylen, Easten, Tysen and Paxten. The capacity has room for their dog, Jersey! Builders used Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 and 2 to complete. (Photo by Mary Blake)

After several mornings of intense fog, true beauty has developed over the landscape in Northern Iowa. These scenic trees surrounded the Visitation Church on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021! (Photo by Mary Blake)

Paul Revere born Jan. 1, 1731