The Atlantic School Board will decide during a Special meeting tonight at 8 o’clock in the High School Media Center, which of the two school expansion concepts will be voted on by School District Patrons. The board has previously discussed Concepts 1 and 2, after school administrators provided their input on how the grade levels might fall into place and where those classrooms might be within the building with each one of those concepts.

Concept 1 includes: moving the Pre-K back to Washington Elementary and adding two Pre-K classrooms, one special education classroom and a new dining facility. This option also includes a new media center at Schuler, additional toilets, and eight new classrooms. The expansion would also include a new dining facility at the Middle School and three to eight additional classrooms at the high school along with an expanded art room. The price tag on this option is around $8.7 million.

Concept 2 is a little more dramatic. It includes: two Pre-K Classrooms, one Special Education Classroom and a new dining facility at Washington. There are two options at Schuler with this plan, an additional Special Education Classroom, or an additional art room and music center or three to eight additional classrooms at the high school. This plan would also include the construction of a brand new 80,000 square foot Middle School attached to the high school and a brand new competition Gymnasium. The cost of this project would be around $20 million.

The Design Alliance Architectural firm originally drafted five concepts. Following a public meeting and discussions with the personnel and staff, they narrowed it down to the two options.

A reminder to persons interested in the Mental Health and Disability Services, that the second of three public meetings with regard to the Regionalization of those services, will be held this afternoon, in Oakland. Counties formed Regions in response to State law affecting funding for the Mental Health and Disabilities Services in Iowa.

The Southwest Region includes nine counties (Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawatttamie and Shelby). Local advisory and Community input meetings have been scheduled to take place across the Southwest Region. Cass County Mental Health/General Relief Coordinator Teresa Kanning said the next meeting will be held this afternoon, at the Oakland Community Center [614 Dr. Van Zee Road, in Oakland]).

The meeting begins at 3-pm and runs until 5-p.m. In the event of a bad weather, it will be held January 7^th at the same location. The public is invited to attend the session to provide input into the current mental health service system, including what you feel works and doesn’t work. It’s also designed to: develop ideas for future service needs, including Crisis Response in rural areas; Build relationships and interest in participating in Local Advisory Councils, and to provide an overview of the developing region’s progress, administrative structure, future board and advisory structure, and current service systems.

Anyone who is a consumer of mental health services, family members of those using mental health and disability services, community mental health/developmentally disabled service providers and those interested in being a part of forming the Southwest Iowa MH/DS Region, is urged to attend. The meeting is being facilitated by Beth Morrissette, Executive Director of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Network.

If you miss today’s meeting in Oakland, there will be a final session in Harrison County, January 21^st,  at the Dunlap City Hall.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer isn’t saying if he’ll run for president in 2016. But if he does, he thinks he can connect with Iowa voters. Schweitzer, a Democrat who served as governor from 2005 through early 2013, visited Iowa yesterday. He spoke in front of about 100 people at an event hosted by a liberal advocacy group.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad has suspended rules limiting the work hour of truck drivers who haul propane. Branstad announce his action yesterday evening. It’s effective today and will continue through January 2nd. Branstad signed a proclamation saying the suspension of work rules is necessary because of a shortage of propane.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — A group of researchers have established a center for Arctic studies at the University of Northern Iowa. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the National Science Foundation awarded a $749,000 grant to Andrew Petrov, a UNI assistant professor of geography, to run the program over the next five years.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Trevor Berkeley drilled his only 3-pointer of the game as Drake scored six points in the final 16 seconds to rally past Western Michigan 71-68 last night. Jacob Enevold Jensen scored 16 points for Drake, which improved to 7 and 3. Jordan Daniels added 14 with seven assists, and Chris Caird had 10 points for the Bulldogs in Des Moines.