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Washington education

Mar. 20, 2025 12:01 pm

WASHINGTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

A decorated mortarboard celebrates the Washington Class of 2024 at its commencement ceremony Sunday, May 26, 2024. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
A decorated mortarboard celebrates the Washington Class of 2024 at its commencement ceremony Sunday, May 26, 2024. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
Stewart Elementary students, some of them guided by staff, others more independent, file onto school buses in the school's west parking lot. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
Stewart Elementary students, some of them guided by staff, others more independent, file onto school buses in the school's west parking lot. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
Sixth-grader Noah Sweethe (left) watches as his dad, Brett Sweethe, shows him how to open a rotary combination lock, a common sight for newcomers at Washington's Middle School's back-to-school night. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
Sixth-grader Noah Sweethe (left) watches as his dad, Brett Sweethe, shows him how to open a rotary combination lock, a common sight for newcomers at Washington's Middle School's back-to-school night. (Kalen McCain/The Union)

Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

Central Administration Building: 404 W. Main St. 319-653-6543

High School: 1111 South B Ave.

Middle School: 313 South Fourth Ave.

Lincoln Elementary (3-5): 606 South Fourth Ave.

Stewart Elementary (K2): 821 North Fourth Ave.

The Washington Community School District covers a 208-square-mile area in the center of Washington County and a small portion of Jefferson County; including the cities of Washington and Brighton. It is a Class 3A school in the Southeast Conference.

The school has an enrollment of 1,648 students and 323 employees — including teachers, secretaries, bus drivers, cooks, custodians, aides and administrators. There are 161 certified staff within the four schools, 55 of whom have a master’s degree or higher education. The district maintains fleet of 17 buses transporting approximately 700 students per day.

The schools have daily on-site food preparation in each attendance center with a breakfast program, salad bar and a la carte items offered. The schools have also been undergoing major renovations, with tuck-pointing and radon mitigation projects at several buildings in the last year, as well as major construction at the high school.

The district is the largest in the county, and offers students the benefits of a larger school with the quality of life of a small town.

BOARD OF EDUCATION

The Washington school board meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month, usually at the district’s central administration building unless otherwise posted. Once per year, the group meets instead at the Brighton Community Building.

President Mike Liska, At-Large. mliska@washington.k12.ia.us

Kara Williams, District 1. kwilliam@washington.k12.ia.us

James Almelien, District 2. Jalmelie@washington.k12.ia.us

Troy Suchan, District 3. tsuchan@washington.k12.ia.us

Diana Rich, District 4. drich@washington.k12.ia.us

Mindi Rees, District 5. mrees@washington.k12.ia.us

Brendan DeLong, At-large. bdelong@washington.k12.ia.us

Superintendent Willie Stone, wstone@washington.k12.ia.us

ST. JAMES SCHOOL

A volunteer slings a scoop of orange-dyed corn starch at a St. James student, during the school's "color dash," an annual celebration concluding its fall fundraiser. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
A volunteer slings a scoop of orange-dyed cornstarch at a St. James student, during the school's "color dash," an annual celebration concluding its fall fundraiser. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
A grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation helped St. James Catholic Elementary install new windows, pictured in the background of this photo, as well as a chair lift to help disabled students and adults go between the building's first floor and its basement. (Photo submitted)

602 W. Second St. 319-653-4504

St. James School has a long-standing tradition of providing a well-rounded education in a Catholic setting for over 150 years. The first St. James School building was erected in 1866, just west of the present structure, and the original structure remains at that location today as a private residence. A convent/school housing grades 1-12 was built in 1901 on the site, which currently serves as the south parking lot.

The present school was dedicated in 1957 with four religious sisters teaching grades 1-8. The current staff continues to maintain the tradition of providing high quality academic programming while guiding students in grades preschool through fifth as they develop into lifelong learners of their Christian faith.

BOARD OF EDUCATION:

The St. James school board holds a public meeting every third Wednesday of the month in the Parish Conference Room at 6:30 p.m.

President Dan Berdo, danberdo@gmail.com

Vice President John Greiner john@katsgrain.com

Doug McBride, douglasjmcbride88@gmail.com

Darren Beuchle, darrenceuchle@hotmail.com

Member Deana, DeLong deanabobina701@gmail.com

Mindy Redlinger, mindy.redlinger@gmail.com

Rebecca Vittetoe, new member

KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE REGIONAL CENTER

Lorraine Williams, Washington's elected representative to the Kirkwood Board of Trustees, had the honor of cutting a ribbon to mark the extension's first decade of operation in January of 2024. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
Washington Middle School seventh-grader Gabe Tinnes focuses on his craft during the Welding Metal Creations day camp held at the Kirkwood Regional Center. (Union photo)

2192 Lexington Blvd.

Kirkwood’s Washington County Regional Center offers all the services of a community college, right in your backyard. Complete a college degree with liberal arts and science transfer courses, earn college credit while in high school through industry-focused Career Academies, earn a high school equivalency diploma, learn English language skills, simply take continuing education classes and more.

Tera Pickens, Director 319-653-4655 x2203. tera.pickens@kirkwood.edu

Jamie Foster, Center Coordinator, 319-653-4655 x2201. jamie.foster@kirkwood.edu

Ryan Ronan, Student Academic Support Coordinator 319-653-4655 x2208. ryan.ronan@kirkwood.edu

Monie Hayes, Adult Literacy Coordinator/ELL Coordinator, 319-653-4655 Ext. 2204. monie.hayes@kirkwood.edu

Bridgett Arreola, Center Assistant, 319-653-4655 Ext. 2209. bridgett.arreola@kirkwood.edu

Julie Messer, Office Assistant, 319-653-4655 Ext. 5044. julie.messer@kirkwood.edu

Washington County, Iowa