FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT...
by Ed Hawks
August 24, 2010
SEPTEMBER 2010 DISTRICT DISTPATCH
The 2010-11 school year is off to a great start with several new employees already hard at work. New faculty and staff members include the following people: Matt McDonough (High School Principal/District Curriculum Director), Tricia Jackson (School Nurse), Eva Franco (Elementary Special Education Teacher and Junior High Volleyball Coach), Tim Whannell (School Bus Driver), Emily Zachman (Kindergarten Teacher), Chelsi Clark (High School Dance Team Sponsor), Elizabeth Dillinger (High School Mathematics Teacher), Rodney Minssen (Special Education/Minibus Driver), and Charles Moe (6-12 Vocal Music Teacher). When the opportunity presents itself, please join me in welcoming these people into our school community.
The third annual Charles E. Lakin Outstanding Teacher Awards will be awarded in November again this year. Teachers and guidance counselors in the 25 school districts within 40 miles of Emerson, Mr. Lakin’s hometown, are eligible for the award. Underwood is one of those school districts. Two southwest Iowa educators will receive $10,000 and their school districts will receive $2,500. The awards emphasize the vital role of teachers in rural communities and they recognize those who see teaching as a calling more than just a job. Nominations for this November’s award winners will be accepted online at www.kmaland.com from September 1, 2010, through October 1, 2010. Last year’s award winners were Rebecca McDunn from Tri-Center and Ken Balster from Clarinda.
In addition to meeting the challenges of battling this past summer’s thunderstorms and severe winds, the members of our buildings and grounds staff, headed by Jim Ettleman, did a great job completing their annual responsibilities of thoroughly cleaning all three attendance centers in preparation for the new school year. Additional major projects that were completed or are close to being completed include the following: re-roofing the high school, tuckpointing and waterproofing the high school, re-roofing the elementary, removing the old skylights above the elementary cafeteria and replacing them with new ones, and replacing the old football scoreboard with a new one.
We have a great line-up of football games, volleyball matches, and numerous other activities going on this fall. I hope you will be able to attend several events. Don’t forget the Dollars for Scholars “Golf Ball Drop” fundraiser during halftime of the home football game against St. Albert on Friday, September 24, 2010. Proceeds will help provide post-secondary scholarship opportunities for local students. Go Eagles!
