Southwest Iowa residents who have an opinion about the current state of education in Iowa, and Governor Terry Branstad’s latest education initiative, may want to attend one of several town hall meetings being held around the area today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday). Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will hold town hall meetings focusing on their education blueprint today in Mount Ayr, Bedford, Clarinda and Red Oak, and on Wednesday in Creston and Greenfield.

The Governor has proposed the boosting of beginning teacher pay and holding entry-level teachers to higher academic standards. In his initiative, which was unveiled October 3^rd, the Governor set a goal of Iowa becoming the top-performing state in education, over the course of the next decade. To do that, he’s proposed: linking aspects of teacher pay to classroom performance; treating beginning teachers as “at-will” employees, who would have their contracts renewed annually by their local boards of education; requiring a minimum 3.0 college G.P.A to enter teacher prep programs; and, requiring 3^rd graders to demonstrate their reading ability before being promoted to the 4^th grade.

You can hear about his initiative and offer your input at these meeting places and times…
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
11 a.m. In the auditorium at the Mt. Ayr High School
1:30 p.m. In the Bedford Community High School
3 p.m. In the Commons area at the Clarinda High School
5:30 p.m. At The Wilson Performing Arts Center in Red Oak.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011
9 a.m. At the Creston High School
11 a.m. In the Auditorium at the Nodaway Valley High School in Greenfield.
For more information, visit www.governor.iowa.gov