Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025
Vol. 6, No. 19
E xplorer PCM YEAR IN REVIEW Local People. Local Stories.
PCM welcoming new superintendent Aaron Becker
Administrator is looking forward to the upcoming school year and listening and learning to help make the district its best By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
The City of Monroe debuted a new website with user-friendly features and a fresh look.
New PCM superintendent Aaron Becker has been hard at work since starting in July. He is meeting with staff, ge tting to know the communities and Becker learning about what being at PCM looks like going into the next school year. With all of that on his desk, the most exciting part for Becker is yet to come.
City of Monroe
New, fresh look City of Monroe debuts new user friendly website By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Need to pay a city bill, view a meeting agenda or get a hold of a city official? Head on over to the
new City of Monroe website. Completely redesigned, the website is made to be user-friendly and full of information for citizens and those looking to visit the community. “I think it looks great,” City Administrator Kim Thomas said. “It’s easy to use.” The homepage features the latest news in the city from what is happening with the city council to community events and roadwork
that is proposed or underway. The agenda center shows agendas for all city meetings and is updated with minutes from those meetings as they occur. Those looking to visit Monroe can learn the history of the town, from being founded in 1843 by Adam Tool and William Highland to some of the first settlers in the WEBSITE | 2
BACK TO BACK By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer The PCM softball team clinched its first-ever state tournament berth last summer. The Class 3A No. 6 Mustangs proved that run was no fluke on July 15 after downing 11th-ranked Missouri Valley, 13-5, in six innings. “You have a top-10 team the whole year and come back and do it two years in a row,” PCM head softball coach Shaun Hudnut said. “It means a lot for this program and these girls.” PCM trailed the 3A Region 4 championship game
2-0 after one inning and fell behind 5-1 in the top of the third but rallied with three in the third, four in the fourth and five in the sixth to end the game early and clinch a second straight state berth. “I’m excited. I had a lot of emotions at the end just because it kind of hit yesterday, our last game on the home field,” PCM senior Addison Steenhoek said. “But I’m just excited. Glad we get another opportunity to go to Fort Dodge and hopefully do some damage there. We’re wanting to bring back some better hardware this time around.”
Steenhoek is the Mustangs’ lone senior. She finished the night with three hits, two RBIs and one walk. It was her solo home run in the first inning that got PCM on the board. “We weren’t really happy with how the inning went so I knew with one out, I wanted to hopefully do some damage and get on base,” Steenhoek said. “I didn’t expect to do that. But the opportunity presented itself, so I’m glad I could get it, give that to my team and just show up for them.” Missouri Valley (29-7) scored two unearned runs against Camden Webb in
Prairie City’s water ‘best taste on tap’
Prairie City’s water was named best in the state for 2025 by the Iowa Rural Water Association By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Grab a glass, turn on the tap, fill it up and take a drink. If you’re in Prairie City you’ll be drinking the best tasting water in the state. In February, the City of Prairie City was named the winner of Iowa’s 2025 Best Tasting Water competition by the Iowa Rural Water Association. The statewide contest is
a part of the Quality On Tap! campaign to emphasize the high quality, standards and taste of water in rural America. “All the praise and recognition goes to our public works staff,” Prairie City Mayor Chad Alleger said. “Their knowledge and expertise are what made this possible.” According to the association, Prairie City is unique in that its wells are located
in neighboring Colfax. From the wells, the water then has to travel about eight miles of pipe before entering the plant near the square in Prairie City. With the water already high in quality before it makes it to the plant, operators including Prairie City Public Works Superintendent Harry Brannen and employees Tyler Curry WATER | 3
“It is a reality the excitement is the kids. That is why we are here,” Becker said. “You will hear me a lot saying ‘student focused, student driven decisions.’ Those students that do come through the front door, that is the most important commodity we have in the whole district. When we have students come there the door, there is tons of hope that comes through the door. They are hoping for a great school year. They are hoping that our dedicated staff and help kids find their passion area.” In his 26th year in education, Becker didn’t SUPERINTENDENT | 2
PCM softball proves last year was no fluke, advances to state tournament
the first inning. It was 2-1 after the Steenhoek homer, but the Lady Reds added three in the third to push their advantage to 5-1. Audrie Kohl hit her 10th homer of the season and her two-run shot highlighted the three-run third. That triggered a pitching change for PCM. Rylee Parsons came on in relief for only the second time this season and slowed Missouri Valley’s momentum from the circle. “Having the pitchers we do gives us a lot of flexibility,” Hudnut said. “(Parsons) did a great job for us in SOFTBALL | 3
Photo by Jamie Steenhoek The PCM softball team celebrates its 13-5 win over No. 11 Missouri Valley after the regional championship game on July 15. The Class 3A No. 6 Mustangs clinched a spot in the 3A state tournament for the second straight season.
PCM assessing building needs with enrollment in decline With PCM on pace to lose more than 100 students, Monroe Elementary is eyed for closure By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Due to declining enrollment in the PCM School District and the reduction in funding because of fewer students, the district has started a discussion on closing Monroe Elementary. PCM Superintendent Aaron Becker presented the topic during the school board meeting Nov. 24. “We all love Prairie City, we all love Monroe. We love the small towns, we love the communities,” Becker said. “But sometimes we have to think with our mind and not
just our heart that we love this building, that we love the physical space where they go to get their education.” For the past four years, PCM enrollment has declined by 106.6 students served. In 2025 for kindergarten through 12th grade, PCM reported 966.3 served students, a decline of 51.71 students. Enrollment projections show for the next four to five years, the district will see 20 or more fewer students per year. “This is figured by the current year’s graduates in comparison to the next year’s kindergarten class,” Becker
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said. “For example, this year’s graduating class is 88 and the incoming kindergarten class is project at 65 students for a student loss of 23 students.” The decline in enrollment directly effects funding for the school. The district receives approximately $8,000 per student in state aid for the general fund. Just in the past year, with a decline of 51.71 students, the district saw $414,680 fewer dollars in state aid. For next year, the projection of 23 fewer students would be a loss of $184,000 for the district in ENROLLMENT | 3
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