UPDATE: News release from the SCCSD:
Sioux City, Iowa – The Board of Directors for the Sioux City Community School District named Dr. Rod Earleywine as the finalist for district superintendent during a special meeting on Thursday. The decision comes after an extensive search process that began in the fall of 2022. Earleywine currently serves as the interim superintendent of Sioux City Community Schools, a role he assumed in July of 2022. Prior to that role, Earleywine served as superintendent of schools for Sergeant
Bluff-Luton Community School District. During his time at Sergeant Bluff-Luton, the District was one of two Iowa high schools named as a 2018 National Blue Ribbon High School of Excellence, expanded opportunities for students to earn college credits through concurrent enrollment and advanced placement, and increased the number of career pathways for high school students. Prior to his superintendent role at Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Earleywine served as the District’s middle school principal. His educational experience also includes teaching high school social studies and elementary physical education and coaching at the high school level. Earleywine holds a doctorate in educational administration from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota; a specialist degree in educational administration and a bachelor’s degree in education from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Earleywine was named as the finalist for the superintendent position after a search process that included community surveys, in-person input sessions with district staff, students, and the public, and community forums with the final candidates. The search was facilitated by the executive search firm, GR Recruiting. Earleywine’s appointment as superintendent is contingent on the finalization and board approval of his contract. His anticipated start date as superintendent of Sioux City Community Schools is July 1, 2023.
An announcement is expected soon regarding who will be the new leader of the Sioux City Community School District. The school board is meeting in a private session to decide which of the two candidates will get the job. They are Interim Superintendent Dr. Rod Earleywine, who took over for Superintendent Dr. Paul Gausman when he left for Lincoln Public Schools last summer.
Earleywine served for years as an administrator with the Sergeant Bluff School District.
The second candidate is Dr. Geovanny Ponce, a native of Honduras and the Assistant Superintendent of High Schools in Houston, Texas.
Western Iowa Tech Community College unveiled a new logo to represent the school’s athletics teams. School administers are keeping the Comets mascot as the school launches collegiate sports in the fall. WITCC was approved by the National Junior College Athletics Association to start basketball, cheer, esports, soccer, and volleyball programs. Mike Brown is serving at Athletic Director. Along with the new logo, WIT also established a new color scheme of navy blue, lime green, and white. * More information can be found below.
A South Dakota Republican state senator who was stripped of her committee assignments says that her legislative punishment followed comments she made to a legislative aide about vaccinations. Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller, a Republican, told reporters that she had spoken to a member of the Legislature’s research staff this week about her views on vaccinations. Frye-Mueller says she promoted a well-known stance on medical freedom and the ability of individuals to choose the best course of medical treatment for themselves.”
Authorities in Emmetsburg are investigating the death of a child.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety says a week ago, Palo Alto County authorities received a 911 call of an unresponsive child.
The child was transported to Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines and passed away on Tuesday.
Iowa OSHA is investigating after a contractor died in an accident at Adventureland amusement park in Altoona.
A spokesperson for the family of 20-year-old Zachary Alesky said he was carrying a steel beam when he slipped on ice, and the beam came down and crushed his chest.
Family members say Alesky was revived at the hospital but later died during surgery.
Alesky worked for SkyHigh Coasters, based in Illinois. The company is building the Flying Viking ride at the Altoona theme park. He was the son-in-law of the owner.
New release from WITCC:
Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) is pleased to unveil a new logo to represent the school’s athletics teams. The logo is inspired by WITCC’s mascot — the Comets. By remaining loyal to the original mascot, the College is paying tribute to its long, distinguished fifty-year history as Siouxland’s community college. The reimagined Comets logo has a modern, clean, and energetic aesthetic. It provides the athletics program with a strong visual identity and embraces the excitement sports brings to the college community.
“After months of marketing research, we are excited to present a logo the teams and fans can rally behind and support,” said Terry Murrell, President of WITCC.
WITCC announced last fall that it has been approved by the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) to start basketball, cheer, esports, soccer, and volleyball programs. According to Athletic Director Mike Brown, “This process is coming together. We have a lot going on as we build our coaching staff and get our facilities ready. Having the mascot and logo visually solidified makes it all more real as we build our athletics brand.”
Along with the logo, WITCC has also established a new, consistent color scheme of navy blue, lime green, and white, and a custom, distinctive font for branded uniforms and gear. The new logo has already been implemented on the College’s website and athletic recruitment materials. There are also plans to have Comets apparel available in the college spirit shop in the fall.
