“Occupy Des Moines” protestors gathered in front of the State Capital in Des Moines Friday night, to voice their concerns over numerous education-related issues being debated in state, including state funding for online education provided by private companies. The Des Moines Register reports in its Saturday edition, that the biggest concern raised by speakers and the audience was the funneling of state money toward online academies rather than public schools. A provision in the education reform bill allows up to 900 Iowa students to be enrolled in for-profit online academies administered by local districts. The bill also addresses teacher preparation and teacher and student evaluation.

Last week, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said online schools are allowed under state law. Miller’s opinion was in response to a request by a state senator after two districts, CAM and Clayton Ridge, said they plan to launch online-only programs run by for-profit companies next school year. Miller says online courses are permitted, as long as the curriculum is taught by a licensed teacher and that students enrolled in the course are supervised.

Critics have argued the schools are illegal under a clause in the Iowa Code that says school districts are only allowed to do what is expressly stated in law. Miller disputes that claim, but says education officials should monitor the emergence of online-only programs in Iowa. Those in attendance at Friday night’s event at the State Capital also addressed concerns over reductions in state funding for public universities and UNI program cuts.

The Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs is putting a vintage baggage car on the rails again to use as a traveling exhibit as the railroad celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.
 
The baggage car, dubbed the Promontory, was built in 1962 as a postal storage car. Union Pacific has turned it into a traveling museum highlighting its history since 1862. It includes 13 large graphics, an interactive touch screen and artifacts from the railroad’s museum.
 
The baggage car is named for Promontory Summit in Utah, the site selected for the joining of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads in 1869.
 
The traveling exhibit, which will visit 27 communities, is a smaller version of the “Building America” exhibit that will open at the museum in May.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will hold two sessions Tuesday, March 27th, in the High School Media Center. The first session begins at 6:45-p.m. Following the standard roll call procedure and approval of the agenda, the Board will move into a closed session. When they return to an open session, the board will act on approving a recommendation for termination of employment. No other details are available with regard to the affected employee.

At 7:30-p.m., the Board will hold a work session, during which they will discuss the Atlantic Middle School Building Leadership Team (BLT), and matters pertaining to the Super Board meeting scheduled to take place March 29th.