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ELKADER, IA - October 23, 2024

An election to fill a vacancy in Director District 3 on the Board of Directors of the Keystone Area Education Agency will be conducted at a convention on December 2, 2024, at 12:00 (noon) at Keystone Area Education Agency, 1400 Second Street NW, Elkader, Iowa.

The director district includes the Allamakee, Clayton Ridge, Eastern Allamakee, Edgewood-Colesburg, and MFL MarMac Community School Districts. The director will be elected by the school boards of those districts.

The election is for the remaining period of a four-year term expiring in December 2025 to fill the position formerly held by Dr. Bill Withers. 

Candidates for the vacancy on the Board of Directors of the Keystone Area Education Agency must be electors and residents of Director District 3. The candidates may be members of a local school district board of education but may not be an employee of a school district in the Keystone AEA area. Candidates for the vacancy will be those filing the statement with the Keystone AEA board secretary on or before November 22, 2024. If no candidate files by the deadline, nominations may be received from school board members present at the convention. 

Statement of candidacy forms may be obtained by contacting Julie Tschirgi, Board Secretary, at the Administration Office of the Keystone AEA in Elkader at 563-241-5397.

ELKADER, IA - May 24, 2024

 

Bill Withers, M.D. honored with Distinguished Service Award by the Iowa Council of Administrators of Special Education

Dr. Bill Withers

Bill Withers, M.D. from Waukon, Keystone Area Education Agency Board Member in Director District 3, was the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Service Award by the Iowa Council of Administrators of Special Education (iCASE). The Distinguished Service Award is presented by iCASE to individuals making significant contributions to programs and service for students with disabilities. Annette Hyde, Director of Special Education at Keystone AEA nominated Dr. Withers for the honor. 

Dr. Withers was one of the original board members for Keystone AEA when Iowa’s AEAs were established in 1974. Sue Updegraff, President of the Keystone AEA Board of Directors, noted that Dr. Withers has been on the board for 45 years; in the mid 1990s his medical practice took him out of state for 5 years. When he returned to northeast Iowa he was fortunate to be able to serve education again by returning to the Keystone AEA Board.

“He annually attends a local board meeting in each of his assigned districts, currently five, to seek feedback and ensure open communication,” noted Pat Heiderscheit, former AEA Administrator in his letter of support for the nomination. “Most impressively, though, is his ability to consistently focus conversations on children and, in particular, those with special needs.”

The recognition of the award for Dr. Withers was made on May 21 by Keystone AEA Vice President, Nancy Bradley. “He is an inspirational leader and is a dynamic resource to the Keystone Area Education Agency’s mission and its work for the children, families, and educators of Northeast Iowa,” said Bradley. “He holds high standards for the agency and its staff, resources, and student outcomes. His wisdom and treasured vision for the organization and its work are inspirations for moving forward.”  

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Keystone AEA serves approximately 32,000 K-12 students including 21 public school districts and 21 non-public school districts. In addition, nearly 3,500 educators rely on our agency for services in special education, school technology, media and instructional/curriculum support. The agency’s service area reaches 8 counties and nearly 5,000 square miles. Learn more at www.keystoneaea.org

ELKADER, IA - APRIL 17, 2024

The Keystone AEA Board of Directors approved sharing Chief Administrator, Stan Rheingans, as Interim Chief Administrator with Central Rivers AEA from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, pending mutual agreement of the details of a Sharing Agreement. Central Rivers AEA recently named Rheingans as Interim Chief Administrator after Joel Pedersen announced his resignation to accept the position of President of North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC).

“This is a pivotal time for Iowa’s AEAs as they respond to the challenges of HF 2612 and I’m passionate about seeing this through in partnership with our shared leadership team,” said Rheingans.  “As a former superintendent, I know the value of AEA services and appreciate the positive impact they have on children, families and educators.”

Keystone and Central Rivers AEA will share two executive leadership positions for 2024-25 in addition to the chief administrator role. Both agencies are working closely with area school districts in planning services in light of significant shifts brought about by current legislation.

Keystone Area Education Agency provides special education services for children ages birth-21, and educational and media services to 21 public school districts and 21 nonpublic schools, covering nearly 5,000-square-miles in these counties: Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek. For more information visit www.keystoneaea.org

 

ELKADER, IOWA - FEBRUARY 14, 2024

An Open House is planned at Keystone AEA on February 21 from 5:00-6:30 PM.  Keystone AEA is located at 1400 2nd Street NW Elkader. Visitors can tour the media library, learn about AEA services and choose from  a variety of informational sessions about AEA services including: speech-language pathology, hearing and vision services, occupational and physical therapy, media library, professional learning and more.  

Keystone AEA’s main office has been in Elkader since the AEAs were created by the Iowa Legislature in 1974! The state legislature created AEAs in 1974 to replace county systems with 15 area education agencies to provide equity in educational services across the state. There are now nine AEAs due to voluntary mergers across the state.

Since its inception, Iowa’s AEA system has been widely regarded as one of the finest systems of intermediate services in the country providing Special Education, Media, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, and Professional Learning support to children, families and educators since day one.

Today Iowa’s AEAs provide support to over half a million students statewide. That includes approximately 31,500 K-12 grade students in Keystone AEA, which serves 21 public school districts, 21 accredited nonpublic schools, plus the birth to 3 population and early learners. Keystone AEA has 235 staff members located in eight counties.  Learn more at www.keystoneaea.org

ELKADER, IOWA  - FEBRUARY 6, 2024 

Pursuant to Iowa Code Section 273.3(12), the Board of Directors of Keystone Area Education Agency presents notification of a public hearing on the proposed budget. 

AEA: Keystone Area Education Agency
Date/Time of Hearing: February 19, 2024 at 1:00 P.M.

Location: Keystone AEA, 1400 Second Street NW, Elkader Iowa with access via teleconference by calling toll-free: 855-880-1246, Meeting ID: 999 6610 0230 #, Participant ID: #

View the summary of the proposed budget which is prepared on the GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) basis. Supporting detail of revenues and expenditures is available for review at the office of the board treasurer. A copy will be furnished upon request.

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