PANTHER PRESS
September 2022
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE KMS RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
On March 3, 2020, the community of Knoxville approved a bond vote to build the new middle school. In addition, the bond allowed for temporary air conditioning units at the former middle school site and Northstar Elementary, and HVAC updates at Knoxville High School. The project broke ground on March 24, 2021.
The Knoxville Community School District held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the grand opening of the new Knoxville Middle School on September 30, 2022.
The site of the new middle school is located to the north of Knoxville High School and shares a gym space with the high school, though the two schools retain separate entrances. The middle school has an additional gymnasium, for a total of two, an indoor walking track and a new weight room. It is two stories and embodies a 21st Century learning environment.
The Knoxville Community School District opened the building to the public following the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for students, families, alumni and community members to tour the facility. The ceremony fell between the Knoxville High School Homecoming Parade and the KHS Varsity Football game at Ken Locke Stadium and was extremely well attended!
Thank you to all who joined us as we opened our new building and celebrated a new chapter of learning in the Knoxville Community School District.
BECOME A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER FOR KCSD!
AEA Learning Online is providing an Online, Self-Paced Substitute Authorization Course. Visit iowasubstitute.com to register for the course, and learn all you would need to learn about becoming an Authorized Substitute!
CALDWELL INDUCTED INTO BVU ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
Knoxville native Rick Caldwell will be inducted into the Buena Vista University (BVU) Athletics Hall of Fame for both his coaching accomplishments and his career as a student-athlete.
The induction will take place during BVU’s homecoming festivities on the university’s Storm Lake campus, from September 30 to October 2.
During Caldwell’s time as a varsity competitor, he earned an Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship in 1990, received All-American honors in 1989 and 1990, and was a valuable member of the conference championship teams of 1987, 1988, and 1990. Every year that Caldwell was on campus, the teams he was on finished in the top 10 nationally.
In addition to his impressive career as an athlete, Caldwell has coached nine Waverly-Shell Rock High School teams to state championships. He has also earned five traditional titles, along with four dual-meet crowns during his coaching career at Waverly-Shell Rock High School.
“We are incredibly proud of Rick and what he has accomplished during his wrestling career,” said Knoxville Activities Director Ryan Paulsen. “Our district loves to celebrate the accomplishments of former Panthers as we observe the amazing things they go on to do. Rick has made immense contributions to the wrestling community as a wrestler and as a coach and we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his induction into the BVU Athletics Hall of Fame.”
Coach Caldwell holds Hall of Fame accolades in four other wrestling organizations. The BVU induction is his fifth.
“Even though I am included in four other halls, this one is truly near and dear to me,” says Caldwell. “I could not picture a better place to spend my five years. I had all the support I ever wanted at BVU.”
This induction is an outstanding honor as BVU has a tradition-rich and storied past of athletic excellence. We are thrilled for Rick and his family in terms of this induction as well as all of his additional accomplishments here at Knoxville and at BVU. Rick has inspired so many students during his time in education-based activities and this induction is representative of the impact he has on the lives he touches.
Third Leadership Academy Set for October, November
The Knoxville Community School District is inviting community members to take part in its third Leadership Academy.
The academy allows KCSD to provide an in-depth look at how the district operates, with a goal of providing paths to potential leadership for parents or guardians, parent-teacher organization participants, volunteers, school board members and community members.
“We look forward to hosting our third Leadership Academy starting this October. Our goal is to provide district families and community members with another opportunity to engage with our school district,” said Cassi Pearson, KCSD Superintendent. “Throughout these events, we look at and discuss a number of important issues and opportunities related to our schools. We see this as a critical component of our efforts to engage our community as we work to deliver the best possible educational experience to our students.”
The Leadership Academy features four sessions that will offer insights on KCSD policies, human resources, academics, extracurricular activities, school finance, school facilities, child nutrition, technology and transportation.
Below are the dates, times, locations and topics for each of the sessions:
Thursday, October 13, 2022, 6-8 p.m.
Topics: School Boards, Policies, Human Resources
Tour: Knoxville Middle School
Thursday, October 20, 2022, 6-8 p.m.
Topics: Academics, Extracurriculars
Tour: Northstar Elementary
Thursday, October 27, 2022, 6-8 p.m.
Topics: Finance, Facilities
Tour: West Elementary, Maintenance Building
Thursday, November 3, 2022, 6-8 p.m.
Topics: Child Nutrition, Technology & Transportation
Tour: Bus Barn, Knoxville High School
Attendees are asked to register for the third Leadership Academy by Friday, October 7 by visiting bit.ly/KCSDLeadershipAcademy3. Limited seats are available. There is no cost to attend and dinner will be provided to all participants.
The next Leadership Academy will be held in the spring of 2023.
KCSD Quick Links
Knoxville Community School District Office
The Panther Press is a monthly collective newsletter for parents & community members. If you have an article or flyer to share, please submit to knoxville@kcsd.k12.ia.us for consideration. We love to hear from you so please send us your submissions and feedback.
Email: knoxville@knoxville.k12.ia.us
Website: https://www.knoxville.k12.ia.us/
Location: 418 South Park Lane Drive, Knoxville, IA, USA
Phone: 641-842-6551
Inquiries or grievances related to this policy may be directed to the District Equity Coordinator Linda Russell, Director of Human Resources at 418 South Park Lane Drive, Knoxville, IA 50138, (641)842-6551 or linda.russell@kcsd.k12.ia.us. Students who feel they have been discriminated against are encouraged to report it to the school district Affirmative Action and Title IX Coordinator. The Affirmative Action and Title IX Coordinator is Linda Russell, Director of Human Resources. The District Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Coordinator is Lindsay Rains. Any person having inquiries concerning the District’s compliance with this federal non-discrimination law can contact her at (641)842-3315 or lindsay.rains@kcsd.k12.ia.us. These individuals have been designated by the District to coordinate the District’s efforts to comply with federal and/or state non-discrimination laws. Inquiries may also be directed to the Director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, 400 East 14th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319, (800)457-4416; to the Office for Civil Rights Chicago Office, United States Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago, Illinois, 60661, (312)730-1560; or to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chicago Office, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois, 60661, (800)669-4000. Inquiries may also be directed to the Director, Iowa Department of Education, Grimes State Office Building, 400 East 14th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319.