Members of the Elk Horn-Kimballton Board of Education held a special meeting Tuesday evening at the High School in Elk Horn. Exira-EHK Superintendent Dean Schnoes said their first order of business was to approve an appointment to fill a vacancy position on the School Board until the next election. Schnoes told KJAN News they needed to find someone to replace Mark Smith in District 1. They spoke with a couple of individuals when John Leader approached the board and expressed his interest in the interim position, as well as actually running for the position during an election year. The board approved Leader to fill the slot until the next election. And, since Smith was the School Board President, and Kevin Petersen took over as President when Smith left the District, the Board took action on electing a Vice President.

Schnoes said board member Tammy Fahn was elected as the Vice-President. The EHK School Board also approved a Resolution calling for a change in the way Board members are elected, from five Directors, to “At Large.” The voters will have the final say on the proposed change, along with a reorganization vote with the Exira Community School District. Schnoes said the Board Tuesday approved the setting of June 25^th as the date for a Special Election on reorganization.

He said the Exira School Board is expected to follow suit in approving the June 25^th date during a brief, special meeting, early next week. The meeting will most likely take place Monday morning, according to Schnoes.  In other business, the EHK Board approved a renewal of Driver’s Education contracts for four men from Atlantic, and the list of Senior’s set to graduate next month.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors spent a great deal of time Wednesday morning discussing space environmental concerns at the courthouse. The Board received the results of a courthouse space needs study from Al Povandra, with Carlson, West, and Povandra Architects.

Al Povandra (far right) discusses the Courthouse needs study with the Cass Co. Board of Supervisors. (Ric Hanson/photo)

The options include moving the Cass County Communications Center to the 3^rd floor of the courthouse, Expansion and Security upgrades for the County Attorney’s Offices on the 3^rd floor of the courthouse, and expanding the courthouse to the north, to make room for the Communications Center. An option discussed, but not included in the study, was to move the Comm Center off-site, to another location.

The Supervisors had also asked for an evaluation of the current Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. During his report, Povandra said the number one priority for the courthouse should be an updated/upgraded HVAC System. That’s because the current boiler system in nearly 80-years old, and creates uneven heating and cooling to the point where the third floor is so hot in the winter, the air conditioners are running.  Associated with the boiler system, is ACM, or Asbestos Containing Materials surrounding the pipes as insulation.  He says to improve that situation, there should be an investigation into what the scope of the necessary work to remove the insulation will be and the related cost, and then to remove it. The HVAC improvements can take place afterward.

Povandra said a new HVAC system would pay for itself within about eight-years in energy savings, whereas a geo-thermal system, would pay for itself in a much longer time frame. He said the courthouse is currently 50-to 60-percent energy efficient. Another matter of concern before any thought can be given to moving the Communications Center and addressing the space needs of the County Attorney’s Office, is the accessibility of public spaces, such as restrooms.  He says those spaces, especially on the third floor of the courthouse, would need to come into compliance with the American’s with Disabilities Act – or ADA – requirements.

Povandra said any changes to the courthouse would cost “Big Bucks,” and it’s something that is not easily done. It also requires officials to convince the public it needs to happen and why. Povandra said depending on the option selected, it would cost anywhere from $800,000 to as much as $3-million dollars to make the necessary improvements. Atlantic City Councilman Shaun Shouse, who is also on the Cass County Public Safety Commission, said the Commission wants more information from the Supervisors with regard to the total amount of space needed, before they make a recommendation on a cost effective solution to current and future problems facing the 9-1-1 Center and the Attorney’s Office. There may also be a meeting between the Council and Supervisors to discuss their mutual desire for space and how both entities can cooperate in a venture, if it is proposed.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A July trial has been scheduled for a former Sioux City high school band director accused of stealing school instruments.  Online court records say 39-year-old Kevin Massey, of Sergeant Bluff, will go on trial July 23. He’s pleaded not guilty to felony theft.  Massey has resigned from his job at North High School and has agreed to pay $5,000 in restitution to the school district.

School officials became aware of the matter after another teacher shopping for musical instruments online noticed some that looked familiar. Sioux City police say Massey took the instruments to cover gambling debts. Police have recovered more than five dozen instruments from three pawn shops.

A Shelby County woman was arrested Tuesday evening in Atlantic on a variety of drug-related charges. According to the Atlantic Police Department, 28-year old Tyanna Lungren, of Shelby, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance, as well as on a Cass County warrant for Delivery of a Controlled Substance. And, 24-year old Justin Cruz, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested Tuesday for Conspiracy to Deliver Meth and Delivery of Meth. Both suspects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Officials with Iowa College Aid report a team of students from Treynor High School is the first-place winner in the 2nd Annual Iowa Financial Literacy Program (IFLiP) Video CLiP Challenge. Students Taylor Anderson, John Beckman, Logan Huff and Wesley Masterson, under the guidance of their teacher, Jennifer Travis, created the video, “Financial Integrity and Responsibility Begins in High School”, about the importance of making smart financial decisions.  As a result of their winning entry, Treynor High School will be awarded a $1,000 technology grant, courtesy of Iowa Bankers Association, and the students will receive $250 for their team to share, courtesy of EverFi, Inc.

Iowa College Aid, Iowa Bankers Association and EverFi, Inc., conducted the challenge during the month of April, as part of Financial Literacy Awareness Month, to promote financial education among young people. Iowa high school students were challenged with creating short videos, up to five minutes in length, to inform their peers about a financial literacy topic.

The winning video from Treynor High School, as well as those receiving honorable mention from Southeast Polk High School and Clayton Ridge High School, can be accessed from Iowa College Aid’s website, www.IowaCollegeAid.gov.  More information about the Iowa Financial Literacy Program is also available at www.IowaCollegeAid.gov, or by calling Iowa College Aid at 877-272-4456.