The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District was the recipient of a grant of over $200,000.
Superintendent Scott Williamson says the district received $222,240 from the Iowa Department of Education to provide support for the Explore Academy therapeutic classrooms.
According to Williamson, the Explore Academy is a specially designed therapeutic classroom setting where students attend to receive their academic learning as well as have their therapeutic needs met. For students who have trauma or a therapeutic need, it is often difficult for them to achieve in the typical classroom setting.
The Explore Academy started last year. Currently, the academy can serve twelve students. The staff consists of two certified teachers, one of which is also the onsite administrator, five behavior interventionists, and one mental health therapist. The Explore Academy is housed in the EBF district and is a part of our district; it is also an extension of the other 8 schools that participate in the consortium to provide resources for its operation.
Williamson says the Explore Academy is also in the Albia, Centerville, Chariton, Davis County, Fairfield, Moravia, Moulton-Udel, and Wayne school districts. EBF’s Explore Academy is located in the old Blakesburg Elementary building.
