Iowa Valley Community School District

41°47′56″N 92°04′01″W / 41.798876°N 92.066893°W / 41.798876; -92.066893

Iowa Valley Community School District
Location
United States
Coordinates41.798876,-92.066893
District information
TypeLocal school district
GradesK-12
Established1958
SuperintendentCurt Rheingans
Schools2
Budget$7,955,000 (2020-21)[1]
NCES District ID1914850 [1]
Students and staff
Students547 (2022-23) [1]
Teachers40.62 FTE [1]
Staff34.36 FTE [1]
Student–teacher ratio13.47 [1]
Athletic conferenceSouth Iowa Cedar League
District mascotTiger
ColorsOrange and Black
   
Other information
Websitewww.iowa-valley.k12.ia.us

The Iowa Valley Community School District is a rural public school district headquartered in Marengo, Iowa.[2] The district spans areas of north-central Iowa County, including the town of Marengo, and the unincorporated area of Koszta, Iowa.[3]

The school district is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Iowa Department of Education.

The district is a member of the South Iowa Cedar League conference. The mascot for both schools is the Tigers, and the school colors are orange and black.[2]

As of 2018, the district shares a superintendent with the English Valleys Community School District. The previous superintendent was scheduled to retire that year so the two districts sought a new one.[4] The district is governed by a five-member board of directors, which meets monthly.

In 2021, Carl Rheingans was hired as superintendent, succeeding Mark Olmstead.[5]

History

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Early history

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The first high school program in Marengo began in 1869, expanded to a four-year high school curriculum in 1871, and the first graduate was in 1872.[6] In 1902, lightning struck the school building, destroying the third floor and belfry.[7] The core of the current building, The Carson High School, named for the former superintendent, was built in 1925 and dedicated in 1927, though the school was still called Marengo High School.

Consolidation

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In 1958, the school district consolidated and expanded to incorporate adjacent rural areas and changed the name from Marengo to Iowa Valley (based on the adjacent Iowa River). The name of the high school was also changed from Marengo High School to Iowa Valley High School. In 1972, a gymnasium, band/vocal music room and two science classrooms were added to the west end of the building.[8]

Milestones

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  • 1850 - first school formed and log cabin constructed for classes [8]
  • 1861 - Marengo Independent School District formed [8]
  • 1869 - 11-grade system began in Marengo [8]
  • 1871 - four-year high school curriculum began, orange and black school colors adopted [8]
  • 1892 - a scandal was reported, as the school janitor, appointed by the school board to purchase school books, disappeared after emptying his bank account.[9]
  • 1903 - new high school constructed [8]
  • 1910 - first yearbook published [8]
  • 1910 - Marengo designated a normal training school, training students to become teachers[10]
  • 1925 - new high school building (current school) was built, 1903 building was used for elementary school [8]
 
The Carson High School, circa 1925
  • 1954 - junior high wing was added to the high school[11]
  • 1958 - with the decline of rural, one-room schools, the area encompassing Marengo, Cono, Washington and portions of Sumner, Honey Creek and Hilton townships merged to form the Iowa Valley Community School District.[12]
  • 1962 - current elementary school was constructed [8]
  • 1990 - cooperative program with Kirkwood Community College for Health Careers began[13]

Enrollment

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Schools

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The district operates two schools, both in Marengo:[1]

  • Iowa Valley Elementary School (K-6)
 
Iowa Valley Elementary School
  • Iowa Valley Junior-Senior High School (7-12)
 
Iowa Valley Jr-Sr High School

The administrative offices are located at the high school.

Iowa Valley Junior-Senior High School

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Activities

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Students at IVHS can participate in numerous activities, including band, choir, speech, drama, FCS, FFA, Student Council, and Yearbook.[2]

Athletics

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The Tigers compete in the South Iowa Cedar League Conference in the following sports.[14]

  • Cross Country
  • Volleyball
  • Football, eight-player
  • Basketball (as with many schools in Iowa, Iowa Valley girls played six-on-six until 1993)
  • Wrestling
    • 9 individual State Champions[15]
  • Track and Field
    • Boys' Class 2A State Champions, 1985[16]
  • Golf
    • Girls' Class 1A State Champions, 2018[17]
  • Baseball
  • Softball
State championships
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The Tigers won the 1985 State Championship in Class 2A Boys' Track and Field, winning six events (110m hurdles, long jump, 400m hurdles, 1600m run, 3200m run, and the 1600m medley relay) with five athletes.[18][19][20]

The Tigers won the 2018 State Championship in Class 1A Girls' Golf.[21]

Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Iowa Valley Comm School District". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Home". Iowa Valley Community School District. Retrieved July 1, 2020. Address: 359 E. Hilton St., Marengo, IA 52301
  3. ^ "Iowa Valley" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. ^ "Timeline for hiring superintendent". Press Citizen. November 28, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  5. ^ "2021-2022 Superintendent/Chief Administrator/Community College President Changes" (PDF). Iowa Association of School Boards. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  6. ^ "School House Note". Progressive Republican. July 21, 1872.
  7. ^ "School Fire". The Marengo Democrat. July 17, 1902.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Marengo 1859-2009, Community Then and Now. Marengo, IA: Marengo Sesquicentennial History Committee of Marengo, Iowa. 2009. pp. 174–175.
  9. ^ "School News". The Marengo Democrat. July 14, 1892.
  10. ^ Marengo 1859-2009, Community Then and Now. Marengo, IA: Marengo Sesquicentennial History Committee of Marengo, Iowa. 2009. p. 180.
  11. ^ Marengo 1859-2009, Community Then and Now. Marengo, IA: Marengo Sesquicentennial History Committee of Marengo, Iowa. 2009. p. 179.
  12. ^ Marengo 1859-2009, Community Then and Now. Marengo, IA: Marengo Sesquicentennial History Committee of Marengo, Iowa. 2009. p. 181.
  13. ^ Marengo 1859-2009, Community Then and Now. Marengo, IA: Marengo Sesquicentennial History Committee of Marengo, Iowa. 2009. p. 175.
  14. ^ "South Iowa Cedar League". South Iowa Cedar League. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  15. ^ "2020 Wrestling Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. January 29, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  16. ^ "2020 IHSAA Track & Field Stat Book" (PDF). Iowa High School Athletic Association. December 16, 2019. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  17. ^ "2018 IGHSAU Class 1A State Tournament - Class 1A". Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  18. ^ Stockdale, Dave (May 25, 1985). "Iowa Valley, Erlham take lead in track". The Des Moines Register. p. 1S.
  19. ^ Stockdale, Dave (May 26, 1985). "Iowa Valley crowned 2-A track champs". The Des Moines Register. p. 1D.
  20. ^ "Tigers Win State 2A Track Title". The Pioneer-Republican. The Newspapers of Iowa County. May 30, 1985. p. 6.
  21. ^ "2018 IGHSAU Class 1A State Tournament - Class 1A". Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  22. ^ Dave Stockdale (May 27, 1985). "Iowa Valley's biggest fan". The Des Moines Register. p. 1S.
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