Governor Terry Branstad is regrouping and hopes to come up with a new alternative that would prevent Iowa school districts from starting early in August.  “It is an important issue to a lot of Iowans and I do want to see it resolved and I want to see it resolved in a reasonable way, and I think we’re going to continue to reach out to people that have concerns about it to see what is the best and most appropriate way to deal with it,” Branstad says.

Last week the Iowa Board of Education voted down rules that would have made it tougher for schools to get a state waiver to start school in August.  “I’m disappointed that the board decided that they didn’t want to take on this issue,” Branstad says. State law stipulates that schools are not to start before the week in which September 1st falls, but under present practice all districts that apply for a waiver to start in August get one.

Iowa’s tourism industry has been a critic, saying they lose millions because families stop traveling in August, plus many of their teenage employee leave because school is resuming. Branstad vows to meet with parents, teachers, school administrators and others to come up with another plan to address the controversy. “It’s not going to go away and I think we need to try and come up with a reasonable and fair compromise in trying to deal with this,” Branstad says.

Branstad suggests he may make a recommendation to legislators to pass a law on the issue in 2014. The Iowa House and Senate have passed bills in the past to restrict early starts for schools, but a bill on the issue has never cleared both the House and Senate in the same year and in the same form.

(Radio Iowa)

An Atlantic man was arrested for Disorderly Conduct/fighting, over the weekend. The Atlantic P-D reports 29-year old Cody Hanson was also taken into custody in the 400 block of west 5th Street, on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree with regard to vehicle vandalism, and on a Cass County warrant for Burglary in the 1st degree associated with a residential burglary in the 800 block of Palm Street, on June 28th. Hanson was booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will host a nationally known speaker this Friday morning.

David Horsager, author of “The Trust Edge.”

David Horsager, a business strategist, entrepreneur, professor and author, is scheduled to speak from 8:30-until 10-a.m. Friday, on the topic of trust and community. His presentation will take place in the Atlantic High School Commons, and is preceded by a continental breakfast in the commons area from 7:45- to 8:15-a.m., and a welcome by Atlantic Superintendent Dr. Mike Amstein.

The event is open to faculty, students and staff, as well as by invitation to certain members of the community. It is not open to the general public.

The Guthrie County Auditor’s Office has released the names of candidates set to appear on the September 10^th ballot for School Board elections. In the Guthrie Center School District, Incumbent Melia Vanmeter and Wes Policky are running for two open seats.

In the Panorama School District, Greg Irving is running for a District 1 seat. Three candidates, Deb Douglass, Mindy L. Fear and Kent Muyskens, are running for one seat in District 2. And, Shari Clark and Jon Stetzel are running for one seat in District 4.

In the Coon Rapids-Bayard School District, Kelly Pevestorf and Brenda Schlaatter are competing for one seat in District 1 to fill a vacancy for a two year term. Jason Rosenbeck is running unopposed in District 3 to fill a vacancy for a two year term. Steve Dentlinger and Chad Leighty are competing for the one seat available in District 4.  Incumbent Pat McAlister is unopposed in District 6. And, Incumbent Joel Davis is running unopposed for the CR-B At Large District seat.