IOWA-GRANT PANTHER PRESS

It’s hard to believe that in less than two weeks, we will begin the second semester and half of our academic year seems to have just flown by. Over the break, four of the air conditioning units at IGEMS have been put in place and are scheduled for hook-up to occur during the spring break. Step by step, deferred maintenance items are being addressed. Carpet replacement schedules are in place as well as other long-term maintenance items. Thank you to the Kimberly School District for donating sound shells for choir concerts. While not brand new, these are an upgrade for us and saved us approximately $13,000, which is what the estimate was for new units.

The rest of the year promises to be very busy as the board of education considers action on the locker room renovation bids and interviews candidates and selects the next district leader. All of this is happening in the context of decreasing general state aid, declining enrollment, and a budget surplus at the state level, while state-wide, property taxes are up about 8%.

The bids for the locker room renovation project will be considered on January 12, 2026, regular board meeting. The bids were structured as a base bid for the locker rooms alone, and an alternate to include re-doing the ventilation for the weight room. The apparent low bid is from Joe Daniels Construction at $1,123,000 for the base bid, and $93,000 for the alternate. With contingency allowance and construction management fees, the total project is estimated to cost $1,316,000. The board’s options include rejecting all bids, accepting the low bid with or without the bid alternate work . If the board elects to move forward, the project would be funded with a combination of funds already on hand in a capital improvement fund and non-referendum debt.

The board’s legal counsel is assisting with the interview process. The timeline for the superintendent search is as follows:

Application Deadline January 16, 2026

Review of Applications January 19, 2026

First Round of Interviews February 4, 2026

Final Round of Interviews February 25, 2026

Start Date July 1, 2026

I hope you have a wonderful 2026, and I look forward to seeing what the year will hold.

01/01 NO SCHOOL

01/02 NO SCHOOL

01/02 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Lancaster (Home) (IGEMS)

01/02 6:00 PM Basketball: Girls Varsity vs Lancaster (Home) (IGHS)

01/02 7:30 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs Lancaster (Home) (IGHS)

01/05 SCHOOL RESUMES

01/05 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Shullsburg (Home)

01/05 7:30 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs Shullsburg (Home)

01/06 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Riverdale (Home)

01/06 7:15 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs Riverdale (Home)

01/06 7:30 PM Basketball: Girls Varsity vs Potosi (Away)

01/08 5:30 PM Alumni Pep Band

01/08 6:00 PM Basketball: Girls Varsity vs Darlington (Home)

01/09 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM SWAL Honors Band Rehearsal (IGHS)

01/09 5:00 PM Wrestling: Boys Varsity Triangular vs Multiple Schools @ Highland HS

01/09 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Darlington (Away)

01/09 7:15 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs Darlington (Away)

01/10 9:30 AM Wrestling: Boys Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ Sauk Prairie HS

01/10 9:30 AM Wrestling: Boys JV Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ Kickapoo HS

01/10 9:30 AM Wrestling: Girls Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ Kickapoo HS

01/10 10:00 AM Gymnastics: Varsity Invitational @ Mount Horeb

01/10 4:00 PM SWAL Honors Band Concert @ IGHS

01/12 6:00 PM Gymnastics: Varsity Meet @ Platteville HS

01/12 6:00 PM Wrestling: Girls Varsity vs Multiple Schools @ Lancaster HS

01/12 6:30 PM Board Meeting

01/13 6:00 PM Basketball: Girls Varsity vs Southwestern (Away)

01/15 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Fennimore (Home)

01/15 7:15 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs Fennimore (Home)

01/16 NO SCHOOL

01/16 5:00 PM Wrestling: Boys Varsity/JV Triangular vs Multiple Schools @ Fennimore (Away)

01/16 6:00 PM Basketball: Girls Varsity vs Mineral Point (Home)

01/17 9:00 AM Wrestling: Boys Varsity Invitational @ Batavia HS

01/17 10:00 AM Wrestling: Girls Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools @ River Valley

01/18 2:00 PM National Honor Society Ceremony (IGEMS Room 100)

01/19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day

01/19 5:00 PM Basketball: Boys Freshmen vs Platteville (Home)

01/19 6:00 PM Music Parents Meeting

01/19 7:30 PM Basketball: Girls Varsity vs Dodgeville (Away)

01/20 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Mineral Point (Home)

01/20 7:15 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs Mineral Point (Home)

01/22 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM SWAL Honors Choir Rehearsal @ Mineral Point

01/22 6:30 PM Wrestling: Boys JV Dual vs Prairie du Chien (Home)

01/22 7:00 PM Wrestling: Boys Varsity Dual vs Prairie du Chien (Home) (Parents' and Senior Night)

01/22 7:15 PM Basketball: Girls Varsity vs Boscobel (Away)

01/23 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys Freshmen vs Cuba City (Home) (IGEMS)

01/23 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Cuba City (Home)

01/23 7:15 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs Cuba City (Home)

01/24 4:00 PM SWAL Honors Choir (Darlington)

01/26 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs River Ridge (Home)

01/26 6:00 PM Gymnastics: Varsity Meet vs Southwestern (Away)

01/26 7:15 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs River Ridge (Home) (Parents' and Senior Night)

01/27 5:30 PM Wrestling: Boys JV Match @ Boscobel High School

01/27 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Ithaca (Home) (IGEMS)

01/27 6:00 PM Basketball: Girls Varsity vs Riveredale (Home) (IGHS)

01/27 6:30 PM Wrestling: Boys Varsity Match vs Multiple Schools @ Boscobel HS

01/27 7:15 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs Ithaca (Home)

01/29 6:00 PM Basketball: Boys JV vs Boscobel (Away)

01/29 7:15 PM Basketball: Boys Varsity vs Boscobel (Away)

01/30 7:15 PM Basketball: Girls Varsity vs Cuba City (Away)

01/31 9:00 AM Wrestling: Boys Varsity vs Multiple Schools @ Richland Center HS

01/31 10:00 AM Gymnastics: Varsity Invitational @ River Valley HS

In November, we launched our 1st Annual Giving Thanks Bags in which we assembled bags of non-perishable Thanksgiving meals for community members in need. Throughout December, the officers shopped for household items and cleaning supplies to help support the Leo Club’s Angel Tree adopt a family. The officers also purchased and made fleece tie blankets for the family. At our Dec 14th meeting we discussed CDE's and LDE's where all members are encouraged to sign up and join. From Dec 12th–17th all FFA members were tasked with making holiday cards for the Crest Ridge assisted living residents, which were hand delivered by the officers later in December. The officers and members also made holiday cards and treats for Iowa‑Grant staff.

December was full of holiday activities, decorating, and helping others.

The IGHS Holiday Concert was held on December 15th. Audience members were treated to a variety of holiday music performed by our talented students in Jazz Band, Piano, Guitar, Concert Band, and Concert Choir. The program ended with students and community members singing "Hallelujah" from Messiah together.

The IGHS Student Council travelled to Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee for the WASC Leadership Day. Our student council students attended a day-long leadership program. The day ended with a Milwaukee Bucks game.

Beginning on January 14th, IGEMS families with at least one child in one of the following grade levels: 4K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, or 3rd are eligible to participate in a free program called Families and Schools Together or FAST. The FAST Program is an evidence-based family engagement program facilitated by a trained group of IGEMS school and parent/community members. FAST is fully funded through a grant.

The purpose of FAST is to:

• Strengthen family relationships and increase cohesion

• Engage parents with school and their child’s education

• Connect families to other families as well as community resources to reduce isolation and stress

The FAST program will be held every Wednesday from 5:00-7:30 PM for 8 weeks - starting on January 14th and ending on March 4th. All household members are encouraged to attend. Free childcare will be provided for younger siblings, and older siblings may also join in the activities.

During each weekly session, families eat a FREE meal and play games or complete projects together. Additionally, children participate in planned activities while parents have time to discuss shared experiences. A portion of the evening is also set aside for parents to engage in one-on-one special play/conversation time with their child. A highlight for those who attend is a weekly drawing to win a special prize basket.

Please call the IGEMS office at 608-943-6311 to register your family by January 7th. We hope you will join us for Iowa-Grant’s FAST program!

Kain, Maddie, and Jade represented 4th Grade at the Math 24 Competition held at Southwest Tech by CESA 3. They competed against 17 schools. They enjoyed the day and it was a great experience for them.

3 of our 5th Grade students competed in the MATH 24 competition yesterday! Thanks for making us Panther Proud!

On Friday, December 5, 5th grade students celebrated their hard work of completing the DARE education program with a graduation. Thank you Officer Havlik and the Iowa County Sheriff's Department for teaching us to: Stay Safe and be Responsible!