Iowa Western Community College’s Board of Trustees held their regular monthly meeting in Atlantic, Monday afternoon.

Iowa Western President Dr. Dan Kinney (Center, tan sport jacket) speaks at the meeting held in Atlantic.

During the 75-minute meeting, which was held at the Atlantic Center of IWCC, College President Dr. Dan Kinney introduced the newest member of the Board, Marge Welch, who officials came on board June 30th, and has been putting together some new initiatives for the college. Welch is originally from Afton, in Union County. She started her career in higher education at Southwestern Community College, where she served for 11-years, before working at the university level (Buena Vista University) for the past eight years.  She said she’s wanted to get back to get back to the community college scene, which is where she says more emotionally grounded.

In his report to the Board, Dr. Kinney said Summer Graduation is set for 7-p.m. this Friday (July 25th). Approximately 80 students are set to receive their diplomas. Fall classes at Iowa Western begin August 18th. Kinney was also pleased to report he received a letter recently indicating the college will be receiving another Iowa Great Lakes Grant for IWCC’s innovative program designed to keep more students enrolled and on track academically, socially, and financially for program completion. The program is called “Intrusive Advising.” Kinney says he thinks it’s making a difference in student proficiency.

The latest grant amounts to $197, 340. Last year, the college received a grant amounting to $214, 790 to helping 150 students navigate their first year of studies through weekly advising meetings, supplemental instruction, and tutoring.

IWCC Cass County Center Director Ann Pross speaks to the college Board of Trustees.

And, Iowa Western/Cass County Center Director Ann Pross reported to the Board of Trustees on the status of construction projects and enrollment. She said the new Student Activity Center which is currently under construction should be finished by the beginning of the Fall semester, and ready for occupancy by the start of the Spring semester.

Pross also reported there are now five full-time faculty members at the Cass County Center, and the enrollment numbers have held steady, with a small amount of growth. She said also the Design Technology Program continues to grow. 13 students graduated from the program in May. Another dozen students are involved in internships this summer. All of the students who take internships and graduate have received multiple job offers, with starting salaries of $35,000-45,000.

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) – A 60-year-old inmate caught trying to escape from the jail in Sac City faces additional criminal charges. The Sioux City Journal reports Randy George Barney, of Rockwell City, was charged with felony attempted escape. The Sac County Sheriff’s office says Barney climbed a security fence and a barbed-wire barrier while exercising in an outside enclosure with three other inmates on Friday morning.

The sheriff’s office reported the incident Monday in a statement. It says deputy sheriff’s caught Barney while he was still on the property. He was the only inmate in the exercise yard to climb the fence. Officials say Barney had minor lacerations that did not require medical treatment.

He’s been in jail on burglary charges filed in April in neighboring Calhoun County. He has pleaded not guilty.

Iowa moved up four spots in the annual “Kids Count” survey released today. Iowa Kids Count director, Michael Crawford says “We moved up to third this year, we were seventh last year, so obviously a move up four places is very good,” Crawford says. The survey by the Anne E. Casey Foundation looks at 16 factors believed to be an indication of how well kids are doing in each of the 50 states. Massachusetts and Vermont were ranked one and two. Crawford says the move by Iowa shows how close the states in the top 10 are.

“I think some of it is attributed to the policies we have in place as far as helping children — particularly in the health areas — we ranked first in the health areas of all 50 states, which is very good,” Crawford says. “But I think also some of it has to do with the fact that maybe the other states are slipping in the work they do, so I think it’s kind of a combination of those two things has helped Iowa move up.” The four health areas ranked are the number of low birth weight babies, the number of children without health insurance, the number of child and teen deaths and the number of teens who use drugs or alcohol. Iowa also saw an improvement in all four education areas.

“We’ve improved the number of children going to pre-school — which is a good idea, a good thing — fourth in eighth graders improving their proficiency in their reading and math scores, and our tests. And also, we are lowering the number of kids who are dropping out of school or not graduating on time,” Crawford says. Iowa saw the state’s marks drop in some areas.

“We’ll be seeing an increase in the number of children living in poverty, which is a bad sign. And also, the number of children living in single parent homes,” Crawford says. Also on the negative side, Iowa saw an increase in the number of kids living in a situation where housing costs are a burden and the number of teens not in school and not working. Crawford says measuring the state against the rest of the country is good, but not the only way to find out how we are doing.

“I think it is import also to keep in mind, not only to compare Iowa to other states, but to compare Iowa to Iowa,” Crawford says. “Maybe compare Iowa to where we were 10 years ago, to where Iowa is now and really not look at the others states to see if our policies and programs in place are really helping families.” New Hampshire and Minnesota rounded out the top five in the survey behind Iowa. Arizona, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico and Mississippi ranked lowest among the states.

(Radio Iowa)