Biodiesel experiment nets district state grant

The Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District recently received a $2,500 grant through the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association’s Biodiesel Backer Award Program.
It is one of three districts in the state to receive this grant.
Eligibility required schools to educate their community about biodiesel and incorporate biodiesel and renewable fuels into their school programming.
 The transportation director at Vinton-Shellsburg Community School [...]

Polk students back in school

While most Eastern Iowa schools still have another month of summer vacation, Polk Elementary School students go back to school tomorrow.
Polk is the Corridor’s only year-round school — a distinction that Polk once shared with Taylor. Last summer’s flood altered the schools’ modified calendars. Taylor was closed last year; Polk operated on a traditional school [...]

Let’s talk elections

School board elections are still eight weeks away, but already we know local boards will look different.
Eighteen seats are available in six schools districts — Cedar Rapids, Clear Creek Amana, College Community, Iowa City, Linn-Mar and Marion — and, to date, nine incumbents don’t plan to seek re-election.
Here’s a look at how things shake up [...]

Hey Teachers, Are You Working This Summer?

When you hear the words summer job, you think of teenage lifeguards at the pool or college-aged camp counselors. But what about educators? Do you seek summertime employment? And if you do, is it teaching or another occupation? Are you having a harder time finding summer employment?
This is a story I’m working on — let me know what [...]

Welcome Back Taylor!

Taylor Elementary School will open its doors to the community tonight.
Taylor’s open house, to be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m., is the public’s first peek at the school in more than a year.
Flood waters closed the school for the 2008-09 school year. Taylor will reopen this year.
“It’s such a beautiful facility,” Principal Brian Christoffersen said. “I [...]

CR Preschool Earns National Accreditation

The Shared Visions Preschool Classrooms have earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.
“We’re proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards,” said Kim Hazlett, early childhood [...]

CR District Hosts First Forum

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids school board members could vote on a plan for the district’s flooded facilities in November.
A projected timeline of the district’s process was among placards of information on display Tuesday at Jefferson High School. The information was presented to the public as part of the school district’s efforts to gather input [...]