Mid-Prairie Transportation Director Teresa Hartley gave the school board an update on the district’s need for bus drivers for extracurricular activities. Hartley told the board that she is currently the only substitute driver, although there are a few others who can occasionally help. Finding bus drivers has continued to be a challenge for the district. Superintendent Brian Stone believes the district pays competitively compared with other districts in the area... more

You have probably heard of trapshooting, a sport offered in many communities across Iowa. One of the area teams is the Golden Hawks Shooting Club. The club began in 2021 and has competed for about five years. Coach Clint Whetstine recently explained more about the team and how the sport works. Although the participants attend Mid-Prairie and compete under the Golden Hawks name, the club is not officially associated with or sponsored by the school district. Instead, it operates as an independent team... more

LifeWise Mid-Prairie is preparing to launch its program in the district for the first time. The program will begin during the first week of October. According to a recent update, 16 students are currently registered... more

The Mid-Prairie school board heard from two FFA officers, Averi Janecek and Layken Lee, during Hawk Highlights. Janecek and Lee explained to the board what the chapter was involved in over the summer, including the Iowa State Fair, Washington County Fair, Johnson County Fair, parades, movie nights, cookouts and much more... more

For the second consecutive meeting, the Mid-Prairie school board toured one of the district’s buildings, this time viewing renovations completed at the high school over the summer. During its August 10 meeting, the board toured improvements at West Elementary with Principal Robin Foster. Two weeks later, members toured the relocated art and family and consumer sciences rooms, the renovated business classroom and the culinary room... more

With the November election approaching, Mid-Prairie is looking to place a $19 million bond referendum on the ballot to help fund a new event entrance, additional classroom space and a new 500-seat auditorium for band, choir, theater and community events... more

With school just weeks away, the Mid-Prairie school board toured West Elementary to see the recent renovations and additions to the school. While several improvements have already been completed, some work remains as the district prepares for the first day of school on Tuesday, August 25... more

On May 27, over one hundred third graders left Mid-Prairie West Elementary School for summer break. When they return as fourth graders on August 25, they may not recognize the school they left … more

Emily Righter of Wellman has been named one of five Luther College students to receive the Karen Julesberg Scholarship, a $1,000 award for the upcoming academic year. A 2023 graduate of Mid-Prairie High School, Righter was selected for the scholarship based on her academic achievements and campus involvement... more

While enjoying a cup of coffee on a rainy afternoon, LifeWise Mid-Prairie Director Jacob Schaver shared how the program came to the area and what families can expect this fall. LifeWise Academy is a Bible-based educational program that partners with public schools across the country through Released Time Religious Instruction, allowing students to receive faith-based instruction during the school day with parental permission... more

Adelyn Huston of Wellman was crowned the 2026 Washington County Fair Queen during Sunday's Washington County Fair Queen Pageant. Huston, a senior at Mid-Prairie High School, is involved in FFA, 4-H, County Council, National Honor Society, Student Council and Silver Cord... more

The Mid-Prairie Feed The Kids Program's annual dinner and auction is just around the corner. The organization's 12th annual Feed the Kids Dinner & Auction will be held on Saturday, Aug. 22. The event raises money to help provide food for local children who experience food insecurity or have limited access to nutritious meals... more

One topic that has been heavily discussed during the summer at Mid-Prairie has been alternative kindergarten (AK). It was first brought up during a special session in late May and has since been debated as the board considered whether to offer the program for the 2026-27 school year... more

Nineteen area students returned home with two world championships and several other top finishes after competing against some of the world's best problem solvers at the Future Problem Solving … more

Mid-Prairie has been looking into purchasing new vehicles for the district, provided the total cost did not exceed $70,000. District officials identified two 12-passenger Ford vans, which were priced at $33,000 and $34,900.... more

At the most recent Kalona Optimist Club meeting on Thursday, Mid-Prairie girls’ golf coach Tracy McArtor and golfer Olivia Swartzendruber, who will be a senior this fall, spoke about the upcoming Junior Golf Camp and accepted a donation from the Optimists to support the program... more

At the board's previous special session, members focused on the future of Alternative Kindergarten (AK) while also approving the addition of a fifth kindergarten teacher. Although the teaching position was approved, the board tabled the discussion on AK until its June 8 meeting... more

The Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative has announced the recipients of its annual scholarship program, awarding $2,500 scholarships to 20 graduating high school seniors across its service area... more

Riverside got a huge victory last Wednesday night! During the most recent Washington County Riverboat Foundation meeting last Wednesday night in Washington, the foundation awarded more than $2.3 million in grants... more