From the Desk of the Superintendent...
by Ed Hawks
June 30, 2010
AUGUST 2010 DISTRICT DISPATCH
The beginning of the 2010-11 school year will be here before we know it. I hope your summer is going well. Registration for all grades will take place at the high school on Monday, August 2, 2010, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The first day of classes for students will be on Thursday, August 19, 2010. Please note that we will be having full days of school on both August 19th and August 20th. Since we are now air-conditioned throughout the school district, there should not be the need for any heat-related early dismissals. However, if something unusual happens and there is a need to change our normal school day, please tune in to the following radio and television stations: KFAB in Omaha (1110 AM), KNOD in Harlan (105.3 FM), KMA in Shenandoah (960 AM), KMTV in Omaha (Channel 3), WOWT in Omaha (Channel 6), and KETV in Omaha (Channel 7). In addition, our school district participates in the Iowa School Alerts program. This program gives parents, the media, and others the opportunity to sign up to receive e-mail notifications directly when we have cancelled classes, late starts, or early dismissals due to inclement weather or other factors. This service is free of charge to the school district and to you. If you have any questions about the Iowa School Alerts program, please contact us at 566-2332 or e-mail schoolalertsinfo@iowa.gov for more detailed information regarding signing up.
The third annual Charles E. Lakin Outstanding Teacher Awards will be awarded in November again this year. Teachers and guidance counselors in the 25 Iowa 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.
This past May the Underwood Dollars for Scholars Chapter was named “Iowa’s Best New Chapter of 2010.” This award netted our local chapter a $300 scholarship from the state organization and also put us in the running for national honors. The Underwood Dollars for Scholars Chapter awarded eighteen scholarships totaling $5,500 at our high school awards night on May 11, 2010, and we hope to do more in May of 2011. If you would like to be a part of this student-centered organization that is committed to helping young people in our community achieve their educational dreams, please contact me at 566-2332 or Dale Robertson at 566-2820. The next meeting of the Underwood Dollars for Scholars Chapter will be held on Monday, September 20, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. in the high school conference room.
Parents/guardians considering the use of the open enrollment option to enroll their child or children in another public school district in Iowa should be aware of the following information: (1) The last date for regular open enrollment requests for the 2011-12 school year will be March 1, 2011; (2) The last date for open enrollment requests for entering kindergarten students will be September 1, 2011; (3) Parents/guardians of open-enrolled students whose income falls below 160% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for transportation assistance. This may be in the form of actual transportation or in the form of a cash stipend; and (4) Parents/guardians should be aware that open enrollment may result in the loss of athletic eligibility.
Students whose families meet the income guidelines for free or reduced lunch, the Family Investment Program (FIP), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are eligible to have their student fees partially or completely waived. In addition, students who are homeless or whose families are experiencing temporary financial hardship should contact school officials regarding fee reductions or fee waivers at the time of registration on Monday, August 2, 2010. A partial or full fee waiver does not carry over from year to year. It must be updated annually. Also, it is important to note that the school district annually involves parents in the development of its Title I plan, the process for the review of its Title I plan, and the process for the improvement of its Title I plan. For more information regarding parental involvement in the development of the school district’s Title I plan, please contact the elementary principal at 566-2326.
Parents/guardians in the Underwood Community School District have the right to learn about the following information regarding their child’s teacher’s qualifications: state licensure status, special endorsements for grade level/subject area taught, and baccalaureate or graduate certification or degree. Parents/guardians may request information from the Office of the Superintendent; Underwood Community School District; P.O. Box 130; Underwood, Iowa 51576 (Telephone: 712-566-2332).
The Underwood Community School District does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, national origin, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices, or as otherwise prohibited by statute or regulation. For more information or for concerns regarding educational programs or activities, please contact Edward H. Hawks, Equity Coordinator. For more information or concerns regarding employment practices, please contact Edward H. Hawks, Superintendent of Schools; Underwood Community School District; P.O. Box 130; Underwood, Iowa 51576 (Telephone: 712-566-2332).
