Declining enrollment and other factors affecting the budget forced administrators with the Adair-Casey to figure out a better way to serve their students while at the same time remaining financially viable. Steve Smith, Superintendent for the Adair-Casey School District, says what’s really best for students, is having opportunities in the classroom, as well as extra-curricular activities.

Last week, the Adair-Casey Board held meetings with Iowa Association of School Boards Director of Financial Services, Gary Sinclair. As part of continued discussions intended for the public, they’ve also met with patrons of the district and others, to discuss the district’s current financial and operational positions. Smith says they’ve tried to communicate as much and often as possible with the public, through local newspapers, their webpage, and the position of Board Agenda minutes, to attain reaction from the public.

A community meeting was held one-year ago. The most recent meeting came last Wednesday, during a regularly scheduled School Board session. Smith said the bottom line, is that a continued decline in enrollment will make it difficult for the District to provide the types of things needed for their students. He says the question patrons have, is what kind of an education can they provide if they don’t do something now to prepare for a decline in income from decreased enrollment?

Smith said Adair-Casey School Board President Megan Kading and the rest of the Board have been working to come up with solutions. He says there was a motion that passed last week which stated the district will operate in the same capacity while they explore Whole Grade Sharing opportunities with previously districts, to determine a mutually beneficial partner.

He says they will continue to be looking at aligning themselves with a partner district, but that doesn’t mean it will happen within three-to-five years. The decision last Wednesday, he says, allows them time to plan, without letting time get away from them and being forced to make a rash decision.

Geographically, there are only so many options as far as school districts they can consider as far as Whole Grade Sharing is concerned. The Board met separately, over the summer, with members of the CAM, West Central Valley, Nodaway Valley and Guthrie Center. He says “We walked away from there feeling like three of those four, we would like to dig deeper and find out more information about those districts.” The next step he says, is to look at who might be the most “suitable partner” for the district.

That would enable the district to determine what academic and extra-curricular activities they can offer to students and allow those students to be successful once they graduate.

The Board of Supervisors in Cass and Adair Counties will hold separate meetings Wednesday morning in Atlantic and Greenfield, respectively. In Atlantic, the Cass County Supervisors are expected to act on approving a Livestock Facility Construction Evaluation Resolution. Their meeting begins at 8:30-a.m.

In Greenfield, the Adair County Supervisors will hear from County Attorney-Elect Clint Hight, with regard to his office staff, health insurance, and other office discussion. They also hear from Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, with regard to the resignation of his Chief Deputy, a new hire, and hold discussion with regard to replacing the Chief Deputy.

The Adair County Board will also hold a joint meeting with the County Conservation Board in the Courtroom, followed by a closed session, and action of a Fiscal Year 2015 Conservation Budget Amendment request and Conservation Appropriations request.

Their meeting begins at 9-a.m., Wednesday.

A pursuit early this (Tuesday) morning in Fremont County resulted in an arrest. Sheriff’s officials say deputies in Fremont County were called to assist an Atchinson County, MO., Deputy in pursuit of a vehicle traveling north on Interstate 29.  Upon entering Fremont County, deputies were able to box the suspect vehicle-in at the 11-mile marker of I-29 northbound. Taken into custody was 18-year old Jesse Calvin Rondell.

Rondell was charged with assault on a Peace Officer, Felony Eluding, OWI, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $7, 300 cash bond.

Atlantic School District Technology Coordinator Roger Warne, Monday, updated the School Board on technology-related matters. Warne said his department has been very busy, with maintenance and looking ahead to future equipment upgrades. One of the things on his wish-list for the next budgeting session is some additional surveillance cameras. Last year, 25 cameras were added to the high school and middle school, in Atlantic. He says in 2015-16 they need to plan for more cameras to “keep ahead of the game.”

Atlantic School District Technology Coordinator Roger Warne talks to the School Board. (11/24) Ric Hanson, photo.

Warne deferred to the school principals as to whether or not replacement or additional cameras will be needed in their respective buildings. Middle School Principal Josh Rasmussen said the cameras installed helped him “tremendously this year.”  Washington Elementary Principal Stacey Hornung and Schuler Principal James Northwick said their schools have the old, analog cameras, instead of the clearer, digital versions. Warne acknowledged they do have their drawbacks.

He said it wouldn’t be difficult at all to add more digital cameras to the system the district already has in-place. Warne said also, they updated the slide-card access controls to each of the district’s buildings, and as an added security measure, over the Thanksgiving break, the locks will be changed so there is one lock and one-key used to get into the buildings. A limited number of people will have access to those keys.

He also spoke about the 1-to-1 laptop computer initiative which began in August, with 465 of the devices being used throughout the district. He says a cart they bought last year that was meant as a “contingency.” It had 475 computers, which means he has more than enough computers now, to rollover into the Freshman classes during the coming years.

Warne says there were some accidents including liquids spilled on three of the machines and two broken screens caused by earbuds that were left on the keyboard when the lids were slammed shut. Those computers had to be sent in for repairs. The warranty service covered those repairs, but Warne said the kids are learning that the devices are expensive, and they need to take better care of them, or else their teachers can take the machines away.