John Wilson didn’t plan to be a teacher.  He grew up in Allen County and went to work with his brother after high school. “Then I just had this itch. I wanted to be a…

Robin Griffin-Lohman has always been fascinated by the power of words, and even more so when she read George Orwell’s “1984” in high school at Pomona. “I realized how language can be used to manipulate…

USD 257 Board of Education members Nancy Toland and Tony Leavitt learn about 3D printing from Iola Middle School teacher Chris Belknap. He teaches robotics and computer classes, and brought various items his students had…

A couple of improvement projects at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center  — something fun and something long overdue — took center stage at the Iola school board meeting Monday night. Director Dan Kays shared the…

A high number of COVID-19 cases at Iola High School this week nearly triggered an automatic mask mandate for the building. IHS reported 14 students and staff tested positive for COVID-19 as of Tuesday. Under…

After hearing from a parent concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in Iola schools, board members asked for updates from the building principals.  They said the district’s new “Test to Stay and Learn” policy seems…

The Iola school district has 28 fewer students this year, part of a trend of declining enrollment in the district and the Southeast Kansas region overall. Superintendent Stacey Fager discussed the latest enrollment numbers after…

Former superintendent Don Bain saw the opening of two science buildings in Iola. Bain taught science when a new facility opened in 1964. Now retired, Bain was on hand Saturday morning to tour the building…

Sophomores Jesse James Throckmorton and Dalton Coffield were eager to help. “Do you need us to carry boxes?” they asked teachers. That was just an excuse, a way to get in the doors of the…