Starting next year, graduates of Iowa’s teacher preparation programs will have to pass exams with a minimum score to get a license to teach. The requirement is part of the education reform package that passed the 2012 Iowa legislature. Prospective teachers will take one exam on the subject they hope to teach and another to see if they have the skills to teach a classroom of kids.

Jason Glass, director of the Iowa Department of Education, says students will only have to score better than at least 25 percent of those who take the test. “Clearly this is a minimum standard and one that all teachers in Iowa can and should be able to pass before they are entrusted with educating our children,” Glass says.

Iowa is one of the last states to require testing of new teachers, but the move has critics, like current college students who say the exams are being sprung on them. Senator Wally Horn, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says he’s received over 200 emails on the topic. “They’re seniors in college and haven’t prepared for that and that’s a problem,” Horn says. Horn says they’re also concerned about the cost of the exams, which is in the range of two-hundred dollars.

Glass says a delay is not the right option. “Every year that we would delay enforcement or enactment of the law would be another year that we potentially put unqualified people into teaching roles in the state,” Glass says. “Our priority has to lie with the students, the children in our schools.”

This new requirement for prospective teachers got the go-ahead yesterday from a legislative committee that reviews state agency rules and procedures. It means this spring’s college graduates in Iowa will have to take the exams to get a teaching license.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors Wednesday morning approved the first of two readings of an Amended Ordinance that pertains to the Amaizing Energy TIF District. The action followed the first of two public hearings on the matter, with the second hearing and second reading to take place during the Supervisor’s meeting on Dec. 19^th.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman points out the parcels in the Amaizing Energy Urban Renewal/TIF District.

Prior to the public hearing, Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman said the Board, on May 23^rd 2007, enacted Ordinance 28, which provides for the Division of Taxes levied on taxable property in the Amaizing Energy Urban Renewal Area. He said the amendment proposes that certain property included in the definition of an “Urban Renewal Area” in the ordinance, be deleted from that definition. (A full description of the parcels and sections are available at the Auditor’s office)

After the public hearing was closed and the matter discussed that the Board, upon hearing no objections to the amendment after first reading, voted to approve it.

Lenox Police Chief Jon Huggins reports a Lenox man was sentenced to six-months in prison after entering a plea of guilty last week, to an aggravated misdemeanor charge of Assault with the Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse.  As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, a charge of Indecent Contact with a child, was dismissed against 39-year old Fredy Ramirez. The charge was filed August 30th by the Lenox Police Department as a result of a complaint stating Ramirez had lured a 12-year old female into his home with the intent to sexually abuse her.

Ramirez had been sentenced to pay a fine of $650 plus surcharges, but the fine was suspended. He was also sentenced to 360 days in the Taylor County Jail, but 181 days of that was suspended. In addition Ramirez: Was placed on probation with the Iowa Department of Probation for 2 years; Must pay $25 per day jail fees; Enroll in and complete a sex offender treatment program;  Must register as a sexual offender, and he must not have contact with the victim or her family. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim, as well as attorney’s costs.

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Authorities in Atlantic said Tuesday they are no longer searching for a suspect in connection with a stabbing incident that occurred Monday night at 4th and Pine Streets. According to Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green, 27-year old Raymond Cassidy, of Atlantic, suffered a single stab wound to the abdomen during the incident, which happened at around 7:40-p.m.

Cassidy was brought to the Cass County Memorial Hospital and later transferred to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, for further treatment. Green could not confirm the man inflicted the wound upon himself, due to HIPPA rules, but he did say the incident is no longer under investigation.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest Tuesday afternoon, of 57-year old Jeff Mendenhall, from Corning. Mendenhall was taken into custody on charges of OWI/3rd offense, and Driving While Revoked. He was arrested at around 3:20-p.m. following a traffic stop and brought to the Adams County Jail, where his bond was set at $6,000.

Officials with the Shenandoah Police Department announced earlier this week, that no criminal charges will be filed against a Shenandoah Elementary school teacher, who allegedly encouraged other students to spit on another student. According to a statement issued by Police Chief Kris Grebert, authorities reviewed the relevant facts in the case and the Page County Attorney’s Office determined the teacher did not have the requisite criminal intent necessary to prove any criminal charges.

Grebert said also, the investigation included interviews with students who were present in the classroom on October 8th, a day in which the music teacher at Shenandoah Elementary allegedly encouraged students to spit on Jaxon Kindopp. The boy was allegedly sticking his tongue out and blubbering to a classmate. The teacher allegedly encouraged other students to spit on the boy as way of teaching him a lesson.

Chief Grebert said Monday, that their investigation into the incident is closed.