Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will meet 5:30-p.m. today in the High School Media Center, for a regular session. On their agenda is a report from Brielle Cerven, with regard to the English Learner (EL) Program, and, Superintendent Steve Barber will report on enrollment as well as the Line Item Budget.

Action items on the Board’s agenda include the second reading of a revised Board Policy for Purchasing and Bidding. Among the revisions is two pertaining to Goods and Services. One part states “For goods and services costing at least $10,000 and up to $100,000, the superintendent shall receive proposals, quotations, or bids for the goods and services to be purchased prior to board approval. The quotation process will require written quotations.”

The second part states “For all purchases of goods and services over $10,000, the district will provide public notice to possible bidders via the local newspaper, the district’s website and/or local radio.” In past bidding experiences, the Board has been inconsistent in accepting a local bid higher than the lowest provided, which has created some consternation among local business owners.

The Atlantic School Board will also act on approving an Atlantic FFA trip for 12-to 14-students, to Indianapolis, IN., Oct. 24th through the 28th, for the National FFA Leadership Conference. All students must be in good academic standing in order to attend. School administrators have the final say in who is permitted on the trip.

Several contracts and/or Letters of Assignment will also be approved tonight, including: Ryan Henderson as Head Varsity Track Coach and Freshman Volleyball Coach.

Just over 150 restaurants across the state are involved in an upcoming event organized by the Iowa Tourism Office. The inaugural Main Street Iowa Restaurant Week begins Friday and includes eateries in 16 towns and cities. Among them is Avoca, Greenfield and Woodbine. Shawna Lode, with the Iowa Tourism Office, says each community will offer special menus and rewards.

“We want to give Iowans and our visitors a chance to get out and explore the restaurants and foods that are unique to Iowa,” Lode said. The event runs 10 days – through September 24. “We wanted to give people an opportunity to visit as many restaurants as the can,” Lode said. “We know when people travel they want to eat where the locals eat.”

Included among the communities involved in Main Street Iowa Restaurant Week is: Avoca, Burlington, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Fort Madison, Greenfield, Hampton, Marshalltown, Mount Pleasant, Mount Vernon, Osceola, Oskaloosa, Spencer, Waterloo, West Branch, West Des Moines and Woodbine.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Utilities Board is spreading the word about the federal Lifeline Program which helps low-income residents of the state pay for communications services. I-U-B spokesman, Donald Tormey, explains how the program works. “They’re entitled to receive a discount of at least nine dollars and 25 cents per month off their monthly telecommunications bill,” Tormey says. “And that nine dollars and 25 cents per month can be applied toward a landline telephone, a cellular telephone, or internet broadband access.”

He says the eligibility for the program is based on income and you should check to see if you qualify. Tormey says you can go to the Utilities Board website at IUB.iowa-gov/lifeline. “And that has all the information about how they can apply. It has a form they can fill out to apply, it explains the program. There’s also other websites that do the same thing. They can contact their local community action agency or the Iowa Department of Human Rights.

He says all participants have to enroll annually and the subscribers have to reverify their eligibility. Tormey says current subscribers should get a form from the subscribers, and if you don’t get the form you should call the company.

This is “Lifeline Awareness Week” and the I-U-B and its counterparts across the country are trying to let everyone know about the program. “If anyone does have any questions, they can call the utilities board toll free at: 877-565-4450. Or again, visit the I-U-B website,” according to Tormey.

Approximately 32-thousand Iowans participated in the Lifeline program in 2016.

(Radio Iowa)