Grace King
@grace-e-king.bsky.social
K-12 Education Reporter @gazettedotcom. Former reporter for Southeast Iowa Union. Get vaccinated. She/her.
Fifth, seventh and ninth graders in Iowa City schools will explore their career interests, set goals for their futures and gain financial literacy skills through the district’s Junior Achievement Dream Accelerator. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Iowa City schools get break on Junior Achievement contract
The nonprofit is giving the district a “four-year transition plan” given the district’s current financial constraints, according to the agreement.
thegazette.com
As Iowa’s Education Savings Account program continues to expand to include all K-12 families, rural public school districts are still trying to determine how the scholarships will affect their classrooms, budgets and enrollment. @thegazette.com www.thegazette.com/news/what-di...
‘What did we do wrong now?’: Rural Iowa schools weigh impact of ESA expansion
As Iowa’s Education Savings Account program continues to expand to include all K-12 families, rural public school districts are still trying to determine how the scholarships will affect their classro...
thegazette.com
After unanimously voting against an agreement to temporarily contract for a human resources director, the Iowa City school board agreed the district should post an opening for an interim director. www.thegazette.com/news/local/h...
Hiawatha plans groundbreaking for Core project
Your weekly update on local governmental happenings
thegazette.com
High-voltage power lines going up next year on the College Community School District’s campus. Here’s why www.thegazette.com/news/local/h...
High-voltage power lines going up on College Community School District’s campus. Here’s why
When College Community school district leaders were approached by ITC Midwest with a request to place high-voltage transmission lines across their campus, their first concern was safety.
thegazette.com
Black students in Iowa schools are arrested at nearly four times the rate of other students even though national studies indicate that Black students do not misbehave or commit crimes in schools at a higher rate. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
ACLU of Iowa report finds Black students and students with disabilities arrested at higher rates than their peers by school resource officers — police — in schools.
Black students in Iowa schools are arrested at nearly four times the rate of other students even though national studies indicate that Black students do not misbehave or commit crimes
thegazette.com
Jeff Albright — one of seven community members with expertise in finance appointed by the Iowa City school board Tuesday — said he hopes to help the district gain back public trust by being that “outside perspective.” www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Iowa City schools Financial Oversight Committee to strengthen financial transparency
Seven community members and two school board members were appointed Tuesday to the Financial Oversight Committee set to have its first meeting next month
thegazette.com
Good governance couldn’t be done with incomplete and inaccurate financial statements and the lack of timely audits, interim Iowa City schools CFO said Tuesday in her final report to the school board. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Accuracy of Iowa City school financial reports ‘questionable’
Iowa City schools interim CFO Kim Michael-Lee said she did not see any fraud or find any fraudulent activities after spending almost six months in the district improving its financial
thegazette.com
Garden and Yoga, a class offered to Black and biracial students is teaching Gen Z and Gen Alpha the value of agriculture, its connections to their heritage and how to calm their minds in a world that doesn’t often afford peace. @ecdecious.bsky.social www.thegazette.com/lifestyles/p...
This youth gardening class puts culture in agriculture
Black and biracial students in one unique Cedar Rapids class are learning the value of gardens, the connections to their heritage, and meditation.
thegazette.com
NEW: Meet the seven finalists being recommended for the Iowa City school district's financial oversight committee. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Seven ‘highly recommended’ to help I.C. schools’ finances
Seven applicants with expertise in finance will be “highly recommended” to the Iowa City school board Tuesday to sit on a new financial oversight committee created amid the district’s ongoing financia...
thegazette.com
Amy Kortemeyer is returning to the Iowa City district as interim superintendent amid ongoing financial challenges. Under her leadership, the district will begin reviewing elementary enrollment and class sizes and catch up on audits. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Iowa City schools bring back Kortemeyer amid fiscal woes
Amy Kortemeyer’s return to the district on a one-year contract is ‘temporary,’ but she still feels the ‘responsibility to make decisions in the best interest of students’
thegazette.com
Now, as the new leader of the Linn-Mar district, Superintendent Nathan Wear hopes it’s a place he can continue serving “for a decade or more.” www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
New Linn-Mar leader aims to be ‘accessible, visible, transparent’
Linn-Mar Superintendent Nathan Wear’s priorities include next 10-year facility plan, being an advocate for public schools and attracting and retaining staff
thegazette.com
The Linn-Mar school district’s proposed indoor activities center project could be scaled back and split into two phases after a new state law changed the amount of funding available to the district. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
With $13 million less in funding, Linn-Mar considers next steps in indoor activities center project
The Linn-Mar school district’s proposed indoor activities center project could be scaled back and split into two phases after a new state law changed the amount of funding available to
thegazette.com
More than 50 Yesandia students will take the stage Friday to perform unscripted comedy after a weeklong summer camp where they learned to be silly, create a character, perform emotionally and trust themselves and each other. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Camp Yesandia teaches the ‘thrill’ of performing unscripted
Yesandia students take the stage Friday to perform unscripted comedy after a week-long summer camp where they learned to be silly, create a character, perform emotionally.
thegazette.com
The Iowa Department of Education is examining special education spending in 13 school districts where funding shortfalls are growing as schools provide legally required services to students. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Iowa reviews special education spending in 13 districts
The Iowa Department of Education is examining special education spending across 13 school districts, as shortfalls in funding grow while schools work to provide legally required services to students.
thegazette.com
A vetting committee will bring its recommendations for who will sit on the school district’s financial oversight committee at the next Iowa City school board meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 28. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Iowa City schools financial oversight committee receives 164 applications
The vetting committee will bring its recommendations for who will sit on the school district’s financial oversight committee at the next Iowa City school board meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday,
thegazette.com
The Cedar Rapids Prep charter school has named its next principal, Lauren Amicone, who comes to Cedar Rapids from Kansas City Public Schools in Missouri. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Cedar Rapids Prep charter school names next principal
Cedar Rapids Prep charter school has named its next principal, Lauren Amicone, who comes to Cedar Rapids from Kansas City Public Schools in Missouri.
thegazette.com
From small-town bandstands to city sidewalks, Iowans are throwing themselves a party this summer. One Gazette reader wants to know how many towns have yearly summer celebrations and how they started. They wrote to Curious Iowa for the answer. www.thegazette.com/news/local/c...
Curious Iowa: Why so many summer festivals in Iowa?
Summer festivals are a trademark for many towns, often planned by volunteer groups who want to foster community pride and give back locally.
thegazette.com
I was OOF over the long holiday weekend. Here's what you might have missed.
The Iowa City school board last week approved an agreement with Wixted & Co. to develop a communication plan that reduces “rumors and misinformation” as the district grapples with a financial crisis. www.thegazette.com/news/cedar-r...
Cedar Rapids announces ‘Summer in the Square’ band schedule
Your weekly roundup of government news from the Corridor.
thegazette.com
The founder and former executive director of a public charter school in Cedar Rapids is now suing the school over what she says are unfounded allegations of theft. @thegazette.com www.thegazette.com/news/fired-e...
Fired Empowering Excellence exec files suit against school
The founder and former executive director of a public charter school in Cedar Rapids is now suing the school over what she says are unfounded allegations of theft.
thegazette.com
The Iowa City school district has named Amy Kortemeyer — a former leader in the district — as interim superintendent effective Wednesday. The school board is holding a special session this afternoon to vote on the proposed new leader and her one-year contract. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Iowa City schools names Amy Kortemeyer interim superintendent
The Iowa City school district has named Amy Kortemeyer — a former leader in the district — as interim superintendent effective Wednesday, pending board approval Monday.
thegazette.com
Families and staff in Iowa City schools want less screen time, stronger safeguards and more intentional device use — possibly barring elementary and middle school students from taking school-issued devices home. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
What’s next for school-issued devices? Iowa City schools to explore new guidelines
In a survey, teachers and parents voiced concern about growing screen addition in children and how laptops in classrooms distract from learning
thegazette.com
The Iowa City school board will begin taking applications for a financial oversight committee that will advise on budgeting and long-term financial planning and aim to promote transparency, accountability and public confidence in the district’s practices. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
thegazette.com
More than $38 million was transferred between the Iowa City school district’s accounts during the 2024 fiscal year to pay district costs without required approval by the school board. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Iowa City schools audit reveals $38 million in interfund loans made without board approval
More than $38 million was transferred between the Iowa City school district’s accounts during the 2024 fiscal year to pay district costs without required approval by the school board.
thegazette.com
Iowa school chefs learned more about how to make nutritious meals from scratch using fresh ingredients and keeping dollars local to support Iowa farmers at the inaugural Iowa Culinary Conference this week as they begin to plan their menus for this fall. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
‘Scratch cooking’ finding its way into Iowa school lunchrooms
‘Scratch cooking’ finding its way into Iowa school lunchrooms as greater emphasis placed on sourcing local food
thegazette.com
Founder and executive director of Empowering Excellence Charter School Sarah Swayze will not receive a new contract amid a police investigation into the school for potential financial misappropriations. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Empowering Excellence Charter School cuts ties with founder Sarah Swayze
Founder and executive director of Empowering Excellence Charter School Sarah Swayze will not receive a new contract amid a police investigation into the school for potential financial misappropriation...
thegazette.com
Iowa returns to Sun Bucks with some restrictions on what food can be purchased. The summer food program is an income-based federal program in which participating families receive a card loaded with $40 per child, per month. @fernjalling.bsky.social www.thegazette.com/news/iowa-re...
Iowa returns to summer food program, to the relief of parents
While the state will only participate in Summer EBT as long as new Healthy SNAP food restrictions to the program, anti-hunger advocates say the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
thegazette.com
Iowa Board of Education members Thursday called the Iowa City school district’s financial crisis “mind-boggling” and “embarrassing” and questioned whether school leaders violated the law. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Iowa Board of Education questions Iowa City schools finances
Iowa State Board of Education members Thursday called the Iowa City school district’s financial crisis “mind-boggling” and “embarrassing” and even questioned if school leaders violated the law.
thegazette.com
More peace facilitators will work with middle school students in Cedar Rapids to prevent violence, thanks to a federal grant awarded to Kids First Law Center in Cedar Rapids. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Peace facilitators added to Cedar Rapids schools to prevent youth violence
More peace facilitators will work with middle school students in Cedar Rapids to prevent violence thanks to a federal grant awarded to Kids First Law Center.
thegazette.com
A K-5 charter school that anticipated opening in Cedar Rapids this fall has terminated its contract with the Iowa State Board of Education because it cannot find a location for the school. www.thegazette.com/news/educati...
Civica Cedar Rapids charter school terminates agreement with state in hopes of reapplying
The out-of-state charter company struggled for almost two years to find a location for its K-5 school in Cedar Rapids before terminating its agreement with the state.
thegazette.com