The Atlantic Community School District Board of Education met Wednesday evening and approved a list of nine resignations and contract recommendations (see the list below). Superintendent Steve Barber thanked those individuals who are retiring or leaving for other reasons, and mentioned those individuals will be recognized during a ceremony on June 3rd, beginning at 8-a.m.

Barber mentioned he read an article that mentioned that, nationwide, the effect of COVID and remote learning is likely to result in a 25% teacher attrition rate. Typically, that’s only around eight-percent. The Board learned from the Superintendent, Atlantic’s Graduation rate for the 2020 four-year cohort (last year’s graduates) and the 2019 graduates (the five-year cohort) is above the State average. Barber said the rate was 97.85 and 96.74, respectively, compared to the statewide average of 91.8 and 93.8.

Drop-out rate data was not available for grades 7-12 statewide, but for Atlantic, the rate was 2.32%, with the 9th thru 12th grades 3.69% and 2.2%. Elsewhere during the meeting, the Board received a Facilities Update from Superintendent Barber and Facilities Coordinator, Bob Sweeney. Barber said the main focus of late has been the baseball and softball fields. He said they expect the fields will be ready in-time for the first varsity games on May 27th.

The key factor, he said is the grass, which was over-seeded late last month. With warmer temps, he said the grass should grow and be ready for action. Bob Sweeney said progress is being made on those fields, despite what “the drive-by’s on Maple Street and the observations from the parking lot from the hill on the baseball softball diamonds,” are saying. He said also, the southernmost bleachers are installed, work on fencing continues, and other work is underway.

In other business the Atlantic School Board approved a sharing agreement with the Griswold CSD for the services of Transportation Director, with Griswold paying 20% of the costs. The also approved of the disposal of laptop computers by allowing the Senior class the opportunity to purchase their Apple computers they have used the past four-years, for $125. And, they set May 12th at 6-p.m. as the date/time for a Public Hearing on the 2020-21 Certified Budget.

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Resignations approved: 7th Grade Middle School Special Education Teacher Ashley Coffman; ESL Coordination/Teacher & TLC Facilitator Brielle Cerven; Special Ed. Teacher Hannah Ridder; Junior Varsity FB Coach/ MS Track Coach, Joe Brummer;
Special Ed. Paraeducators: Tesla Cleaver; Vanessa Proehl; Becky Kirchhoff, and Jordan Franken; and School Bus Route Driver Clair Acker.

Contract Recommendations that were approved include those for: Holly Esbeck, HS Social Studies Teacher; & Matthew Best, HS Physical Education & Weight Training Teacher/ JV Football Coach. And, the following Winter Sports Coaches were approved:

Tim Duff: Head HS Wrestling
Oran Perkins & Adam Smith: MS Wrestling
Head HS Girls Basketball Coach: Dan Vargason
JV Girls BB Coach: Shelby McCreedy
Freshman Girls BB Coach: Katy Christensen
MS Girls/Boys BB: Terry Hinzman & Trace Peterson
Head HS Boys BB Coach: Jeff Ebling
JV Boys BB: Jeremy Blake
Freshman Boys BB: Derek Hall
Boys/Girls Swimming: Dean Junker
F/BB/WR Cheerleading: Michella Bartholomew.

The Board also approved renewing sharing agreements for the 2021-22 school year, including: Girls Swimming – Audubon & Clarinda (Atlantic will act as the host school); Boys Swimming – Audubon, Clarinda & Red Oak (Atlantic will host); Wrestling – CAM (Atlantic hosts); Girls Soccer – CAM, Exira-EHK (Atlantic hosts).

DES MOINES – Today (Wednesday), Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) announced that Iowans who receive Veterans’ benefits could expect Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,400 hit their bank accounts beginning this week.  The latest round of payments applies specifically to veterans and their beneficiaries who receive Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefit payments and who don’t normally file a tax return.

Most payments will be automatically deposited into banks accounts or loaded onto the Direct Express cards where veterans receive their benefits. Those waiting on paper checks or debit cards through the mail should expect to receive their payments over the next several days.

An estimate from the White House found that more than 2 million adults and 800,000 children in Iowa are eligible to receive payments of up to $1,400 per person through the American Rescue Plan that Rep. Axne helped pass in March 2021, which included changes she fought for to make adult dependents eligible. In total, 91 percent of Iowa adults are expected to receive this round of Economic Impact Payments.

The American Rescue Plan included Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,400 per person. Individuals earning up to $75,000 annually, heads of household earning up to $112,500 annually, and couples earning up to $150,000 annually will receive the full $1,400 per person, for themselves and their dependents. After that, the checks begin to phase out, with payments stopping at individuals earning $80,000 in annual income, heads of household earning $120,000 in annual income and married couples earning $160,000 in annual income. 

Iowans can go online to check the status of their payment using the “Get My Payment” tool at: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment.

(Radio Iowa) – The president of the Board of Regents says they will continue to try and get vaccinations for everyone at the three state universities — but Michael Richards says they won’t require them. “The Regents universities will not be mandating any vaccinations for any students employees now, or for the 2021-2022 academic year,” Richards says. He did encourage students at Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa to get a vaccination.

“I strongly believe in the effectiveness of the vaccines. We will continue to make them available, and we encourage people to get vaccinated — but they will not be required at our three universities,” according to Richards. Richards noted that some colleges in the U-S are requiring student vaccinations. He made his comments during the Board of Regents meeting today (Wednesday).

The Regents today (Wednesday) voted to approve the proposed room and board rates. The most popular double residence hall room and meal plan at the University of Iowa will go up two-point-six-nine percent. The rates at Iowa State University will drop on those plans by one-point-one-four percent — while the rates at U-N-I will stay the same.

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County, Wednesday, arrested 40-year-old Phillip Jay McClish. The man was arrested on an active Page County Warrant for failure to appear on a violation of probation charge. McClish was booked into the Page County Jail, where his cash or surety bond was set at $5,000.

Two women face assault charges, following incidents Tuesday in Harlan. According to the Harlan Police Department, 30-year-old Ashley Elizabeth McWilliams, of Harlan, was arrested for Assault with Injury. And, 36-year-old Jeannie Kay Kleymann, of Portsmouth, was cited for Simple Assault.

(Radio Iowa) –  Governor Kim Reynolds predicts the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations will not be slowed by the two-week suspension of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as possible health complications are carefully studied. “While the White House reported yesterday on its weekly call with governors the temporary pausing the use of the vaccine should not impact supply going forward,” Reynolds says. “Fortunately, additional doses of Pfizer and Moderna will be available for nationwide distribution next week and we’ve been receiving an ample supply of both here in Iowa.”

None of the six women who have had adverse reactions to the Johnson and Johnson vaccine were Iowans. Reynolds says the decision to put administration of that vaccine on pause was sudden and surprising. “While news of a serious reaction to the J and J vaccine is concerning, it’s important that we don’t jump to conclusions prematurely before more details are known,” Reynolds says. “Nearly 7 million doses of J and J vaccine have been administered in the United States and at this time, we’re aware of only six cases resulting in the rare blood clots. Currently the odds of this happening are literally one-in-1,000,000.”

IA Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks during a Press Conference (File Photo)

State health officials redistributing the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to adjust and the governor is again calling for Iowans to be patient as details are finalized.  “Even though Johnson & Johnson doses are on hold right now, we were already planning for a minimal supply over the next few weeks due to the slowdown in manufacturing that had been anticipated,” Reynolds says. “The immediate impact of this decision on our vaccine supply should be manageable.” The state was only expecting to get 18-hundred doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine next week.

“Putting even one vaccine on hold is disappointing, especially as we’re fast approaching 2 million doses being given and administered in Iowa,” Reynolds says, “but ensuring a safe vaccination process, one that everyone can be confident in, will continue to be a top priority.” Reynolds and her husband got the Johnson and Johnson shots on March 3rd on live T-V and the governor says she had mild symptoms: a dull headache and fatigue.

“But I was still able to report to work the next day and within 24 hours I was back to feeling 100%, so I’m glad that I did have the opportunity to have the J and J vaccine. I would do it again,” Reynolds says. “Vaccination is the best defense against the virus and, as you’ve heard, the reward far outweighs the risk.” Reynolds is praising Linn County Public Health officials for setting up a 24-hour mass vaccination clinic.

State officials say 20 county health departments refused the doses of Pfizer and Moderna they could have received this week, so those doses have been reallocated to other counties, according to the acting director of the IDPH

In western/southwest Iowa, those counties include:

• Adair
• Cass
• Sac
• Union and
• Woodbury

There’s a new person in charge of the Audubon Police Department. The City Council, in Audubon, Monday, approved Coby Gust as Chief of Police. Gust will succeed Police Chief Matt Starmer, who announced in February, that he would be retiring effective June 1^st, or as soon as his replacement was hired. According to City Clerk Joe Foran, Gust has been with the Audubon Police Department since 2005. His starting salary will be $70,000.

Gusts’ hiring creates an opening for a Police Officer withing the department.

A man being held at the State Penitentiary in Anamosa, was arrested Tuesday on a Page County warrant. The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 28-year-old Richard Osmond McLachlan, Jr., was arrested on an

Richard O. McLachlan, Jr.

active Page County Warrant for Possession of a controlled substance and Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Institution. His cash-only bond was set at $6,000.