Crusade High School was established in 1996.

Southeastern Community College in partnership with Mediapolis, Wapello, Winfield-Mt. Union and Morning Sun Community School districts determined there was a need for an alternative school that would be centrally located to serve all students from the cooperative districts and a site in Morning Sun was selected.

Members of the Southeast Iowa Builders Association renovated a building on Church Street to create a one-room schoolhouse.

Since 1996, 179 students have graduated from Crusade.

Crusade High School is a model alternative school for the State of Iowa. The staff at Crusade has made presentations at the local, state and national level. Crusade High School is the first alternative high school in the state of Iowa to create a Comprehensive School Improvement Plan and has presented this plan at the state and national/international alternative education conferences.

Governor Tom Vilsack as declared February as Alternative Education Month in the state of Iowa.

For more information on alternative education in the state of Iowa, please check out the Iowa Association of Alternative Education website at www.iaae.net


10th Year For Crusade High School

Since February is “Alternative Education” month, Deb Vierling, Director of Crusade High School used the opportunity to tell the communities about Crusade being in existence for a decade. This May, approximately 200 Crusade High School students will have graduated since the first graduation in 1996. Crusade is an alternative school in Morning Sun that serves students from Mediapolis, Wapello, Winfield-Mt. Union, and Morning Sun school districts. Students withdraw from traditional schools for many reasons such as having to work to support their families, having children, and most need more one-on-one instruction. They succeed at Crusade High School because of the flexibility of schedules and individualized educational methods. Another major factor of the success rate is that the teachers, Kelsey Ruzzi, Linda Johnson, and Deb, put the most emphasis on the students’ social, physical, and emotional needs, because a student’s basic human needs must be met before they can focus and learn. With donations from various individuals, churches, charity groups, and businesses, Deb has provided needy students with food, clothing, glasses, dental care, medical care and medicine. “Once the students have food in their stomachs, they can see, and their teeth aren’t aching, they can concentrate on Algebra and Biology.”

Crusade High School is accredited by the Iowa Department of Education and has been endorsed as a model school. The reputation of Crusade High School is widespread and students from the outlying communities are open enrolling through our four home districts. Students are coming from Burlington, Mt. Pleasant, New London, Danville, Columbus Junction and Muscatine. Crusade also has a wonderful reputation with institutions of higher learning like the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, who send graduate students studying alternative education to observe the policies and practices at Crusade. Crusade has also welcomed staff from other school districts who have visited to learn about alternative schools from a model program. The staff of Crusade have presented several times at alternative conferences. Crusade is the first alternative school in the United States to have written their own Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP). They presented their CSIP at the National/International Alternative Education Conference in Michigan 2 years ago.

Many of the graduates return to Crusade for a hug, and to tell of their successes. For example, Mindy graduated from Southeastern Community College with a degree in Respiratory Therapy. Riki is married and works full-time at Wal-Mart. Allysa directs activities at a Burlington nursing home. Rachel is graduating from a college in Texas with an Elementary Education Degree. Bo is in the Army and was in Iraq. Jackie is a Certified Nurse’s Assistant. April just passed her boards in Cosmetology. Josh is the assistant manager of Quick Lube. Greg is the manager of Quick Lube. Many of them have jobs, children, homes and vehicles. The graduates are very humble and appreciative of the staff for taking the time to truly care about their lives and for helping to tear down the obstacles that made learning very difficult for them.

The above mentioned graduates are the fortunate ones. Many of the graduates are still struggling because of living in small communities that offer limited employment opportunities. Before a student graduates, they face many challenges including homelessness. This is why Deb formed Crusade House Foundation, Inc. It is a non-profit organization to raise money to get a home for her homeless students. Not only will the kids have a safe, drug-free, caring atmosphere to live in while earning their diplomas, they will receive assistance in acquiring their birth certificates, social security numbers, employment, vehicles, insurance, and then they will be ready to support themselves. Of the 46 students currently enrolled, 7 are homeless, living with whoever will take them in. They worry where they will sleep, shower, and eat. “Algebra and Biology are not on the top of their lists of importance when faced with these dilemmas.” The Foundation has raised $8000 so far through donations. The amount of money she will need will depend on donations, or if she will have to purchase everything. Many individuals, churches, charity groups, and businesses have opened their hearts to Deb’s homeless students and have given donations to support Crusade House. Deb has applied for several grants but admits she feels she would have a better chance of getting one if she had a professional grant writer to help her. Deb would appreciate any suggestions regarding fund-raising efforts in order to make this home a reality for her students. Contact Deb at 7924 260th St, Mediapolis, IA 52637.

Meeting the needs of a diverse learning population is what makes alternative education a necessary and successful option for youth at risk. Crusade High School has met those needs for 10 years and will keep improving and developing to meet the needs of youth for years to come.