Education - Pierce County Journal

A bid was approved for the addition of a parking lot on the back side of River Falls High School as well as safety improvements. An intention of the design, laid out by Bray Architects, is to reroute vehicles during school events.

RFSD approves bid for high school parking lot, pedestrian safety improvements

RIVER FALLS — The School District of River Falls’ Board of Education approved a bid that would use 2024 referendum dollars for pedestrian safety and an additional parking lot at the high school … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/15/26

ECSD prepping for strategic plan creation, potential 2027 referendum

ELLSWORTH — The Ellsworth Community School District Board is in the planning stages of the creation of a strategic plan and a potential referendum vote in April 2027. The strategic planning … more

7/15/26

The UW-River Falls Falcon Rocketeers pose for a photo with their winning rocket at the 2026 NASA Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium Collegiate Rocket Launch Competition, held April 24-25 at Richard Bong State Recreational Area in Kansasville. Pictured from left: Raidyn Bilotta, Sam Sackett, Jonathan Tabora, Peter Bendel, Evan Sander (back), Brook Mclaird (front), Mauricio Cuevas, Ian Vanveen.

Rockets’ red glare: UW-River Falls Falcon Rocketeers win NASA WSGC Collegiate Rocket Launch Competition

RIVER FALLS — The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcon Rocketeers were named Grand Champion of the 2026 NASA Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium Collegiate Rocket Launch Competition, held April … more

7/8/26

Doodles made by college students studying abroad in Scotland adorn desktops used at Dalkeith Palace from 1986 to 2020. The desktops have been shipped to UW-River Falls where they will be auctioned off to support the Experience Scotland program, now housed at Newbattle Abbey, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Desktop doodles chronicle 40-year history of study abroad program in Scotland

RIVER FALLS — “Your life will change here if you let it” is carved into a battered, stained, antique wooden desktop. The message is one of many left by college … more

7/8/26

Prescott School Board member questions Hawaii choir trip

PRESCOTT – The Prescott School Board approved a March 2027 trip for Prescott High School choral students to Hawaii 4-1 at its June 17 meeting, with Vicki Rudolph voting against. Choir students … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 7/8/26

A rendering of the transportation center set to be constructed across the highway from the school building.

SV referendum construction on schedule as school year approaches

SPRING VALLEY — The School District of Spring Valley’s referendum construction is moving along swiftly. The vast majority of work inside the school is expected to be completed prior to the … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/8/26

Plum City HS recognizes honor roll recipients

Plum City High School is pleased to announce the students named to the Quarter 4 honor roll for the 2025-26 school year. A Honor Roll Seniors: Tobey Anderson, Willow Cripe, Nick DeLong, Ben … more

7/8/26

High school students from around the world take on asteroid tracking and cell biology research at UWRF

RIVER FALLS — The Summer Science Program (SSP) has been running for over 65 years now, selecting a group of high school students to spend about a month tackling high-level college STEM lessons that … more

By Andrew Harrington | 7/1/26

Thong Moua is the newest River Falls School Board member.

Moua appointed to vacant RF School Board seat

RIVER FALLS — At a special meeting held on June 22, 2026, the School District of River Falls School Board voted unanimously to appoint Thong Moua to fill the vacancy recently created by the … more

7/1/26

UW-River Falls Assistant Professor Grace Lewis stands in her dairy lab connected to the Wuethrich Family/Grassland Dairy Center of Excellence at UWRF. Lewis was honored as the 2026 recipient of the American Dairy Science Association® (ADSA) Foundation Early Career Award: Dairy Foods Division Tuesday during an awards ceremony at the ADSA Annual Meeting in Milwaukee.

UWRF Professor Grace Lewis receives ADSA Foundation Early Career Award: Dairy Foods Division

RIVER FALLS — The American Dairy Science Association® (ADSA) honored University of Wisconsin-River Falls Assistant Professor Grace Lewis as the 2026 recipient of the ADSA Foundation … more

7/1/26

UW-River Falls mathematics majors Andrew Sandberg, Corbin Wild and Marcos Martinez stand with the poster they created to describe their research into the quality of AI-generated content. The team won a Meritorious designation at the SCUDEM mathematics competition in December 2025.

Looking inside AI: UW-River Falls students apply math skills to AI challenges

RIVER FALLS — Generative artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to create new content in imitation of previous human-generated content. But what happens as more and more of that online content … more

7/1/26

PHS applauds Trimester 3 Honor Roll students

Prescott High School is pleased to recognize the students named to the Trimester 3 A and B honor rolls for the 2025-26 school year. A Honor Roll Seniors: Isaac Akey, Addyson Allsop, Zoe … more

6/26/26

Michael Kerr, a May 2026 graduate of UW-River Falls, combined his passions for marketing and barbershop music while completing an internship with the Croix Chordsmen Barbershop Chorus in his final semester.

Falcon Futures: Internship with barbershop chorus strikes a chord for UW-River Falls grad

RIVER FALLS — When Michael Kerr was approaching his final semester at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, he had a couple of very different choices to consider for an … more

6/26/26

Spring Valley MS/HS releases honor roll

Spring Valley Middle/High School is pleased to recognize the students named to the Quarter 4/Semester 2 Honor Roll for the 2025-26 school year. Term 4, GPA 4.0 Seniors: Kalena Beyer, Collin … more

6/26/26

School Science Expedition in Africa starts Elmwood’s summer strong

The Elmwood School Board went over a series of reports for the year, including the Achievement Gap Report, the Academic and Career Planning Report and the Title I and Curriculum Review Report during … more

By Andrew Harrington | 6/26/26

Elmwood MS/HS releases honor roll

Elmwood Middle/High School is pleased to announce the Quarter 4 A and B honor rolls for the 2025-26 school year. Congratulations! Principal’s Honor Roll (4.0 GPA) Juniors : Abigail … more

6/26/26

The Spring Valley School Board is accepting public input after a petition was made to rename the football field to Bob Thomas Field after the district’s Hall of Fame coach and teacher.

SVSD accepting public input on request to rename football field after HOF Coach Bob Thomas

SPRING VALLEY — A group of community members spoke during public comment at the June 17 Spring Valley School Board meeting, expressing support for renaming the football field to Bob Thomas Field in … more

By Andrew Harrington | 6/23/26

ECSD updates personal communication device policy after state-level changes

ELLSWORTH — The Ellsworth Community School District Board approved a policy revision regarding the use of personal communication devices due to a change to state statutes. The revised policy … more

By Andrew Harrington | 6/17/26

CVTC named finalist by Aspen Institute for 2027 $1 million Aspen Prize for community college excellence

EAU CLAIRE – The Aspen Institute (Aspen) named Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) as one of 10 community college finalists for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, … more

6/17/26

SRO Jensen stepping away after eight years in position

School Resource Officer Bryan Jensen shared at the June 15 River Falls Board of Education meeting that this school year was his last in the position. “I really appreciate everyone’s support … more

By Andrew Harrington | 6/17/26