The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Directors held their annual organizational meeting Wednesday evening, and conducted regular business afterward. During their session, the Board elected Ali Bruckner as President for the 2016-17 School Year, and Jenny Williams as Vice President.

Board Secretary Mary Beth Fast administers the School Board Oath of Office to Ali Bruckner (Left) and Jenny Williams (Center)

Mary Beth Fast was re-appointed as the District’s Business Manager, and Olivia Newberg was re-appointed as Treasurer. The Board also voted to continue to hold its regular meetings at 5:30-p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, and their work sessions on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 5:30-p.m., unless otherwise noted. During their work session on Sept. 28th, the Board will hear from three firms who will offer their services in the search for the next Atlantic School District Superintendent, who will succeed Amstein when he retires next year. The board will discuss their proposals afterward, and vote on whether to hire one of the three firms during their regular meeting in October, or proceed with the search on their own, with guidance from the IASB and other, knowledgeable Education Officials.

In other business, Atlantic Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein thanked the community for passing the V-PPEL (Voter-approved Physical Plant and Equipment Levy) Tuesday, which allows for a combination of property and income surtax charges to help meet the District’s needs.

Newly elected School Board President Ali Bruckner administers the Oath of Office to Mary Beth Fast and Olivia Newburg

He also issued a special thank you to community members Kip Harris, Hal Gronewold, Glen  Smith, and Jennifer Saathoff, for their efforts to educate the public about the V-PPEL and getting out the vote.

Amstein said also, enrollment is up this year by some 50-to 60 students, which he hopes holds until October first, when the District can certify its enrollment numbers to the State, which in turn helps to determine how much money the District receives in the form of aid.

The Atlantic School Board heard also from the District’s Justin Williams, who asked them to consider employing students in certain school-related multi-occupational positions. Williams asked for the Board to create a set number of hours for student employment within the District for work experience. He said the School District is one of the largest employers in Atlantic, and he thinks they could make the program work again. It was last utilized about six-years ago.

Williams said “It’s hard to expect the public to employ our kids if we’re not willing to.” He said also, the district could save money by paying the students less than adults for tasks such as mowing, or serving as a para-educator in a training capacity. Or, they could receive credit toward their graduation requirements. Williams said there are students willing to do the work, and “Do it effectively for us.” He said in the past, they’re paid kids to mow in the summer, and paid them to work in the lunchroom. Currently a student is being paid to work in the Tech Department. The board will discuss the request at their next regular meeting and possibly act on the matter.

And, the Atlantic School Board approved a request from Dan Vargason, Spanish Teacher and Spanish Club Sponsor, for students to begin a 21-month fundraising effort for their next trip to Costa Rica. The trip is planned for the 2018 School Year. This past year, 19 students, all from Atlantic, took a trip to Costa Rica along with a handful of chaperones and parents. The students raised the money themselves, and are responsible for their individual costs. As a group, they raised money through a canned food drive ($4,691), and a Taco Night ($3,674). Other funds were made possible through the Atlantic Community School Foundation, and a grant from the Rotary Club.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Attorneys representing a union leader and several state lawmakers argued to the Iowa Supreme Court that Gov. Terry Branstad violated state law by closing two state mental health institutes last year. Mark Hedberg and Nate Boulton told justices Wednesday that state law requires the continued operation of now-closed institutes in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant as well as Cherokee and Independence facilities. They want the closed centers to reopen.

Iowa Solicitor General Jeffrey Thompson, representing Branstad, reiterated his veto authority regarding state appropriations. The president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in Iowa and several Democratic lawmakers filed a lawsuit in July 2015, after Branstad vetoed funding for the facilities. Branstad argued patients can access care through other services.

The court could issue a decision within months.

ELK POINT, S.D. (AP) — Authorities say a body has been pulled from the Missouri River in South Dakota, and medical examiners will determine if it’s that of a Briar Cliff student missing since last week. The Union County Sheriff’s Office tells the Sioux City Journal in Iowa that human remains were recovered Wednesday from the river. The remains were sent to the medical examiner’s office in Sioux Falls for identification.

Authorities have been searching the river for the body of 23-year-old Tom Patterson, of Frostburg, Maryland, who was swimming with friends on Sept. 4 southwest of Elk Point when he disappeared. Authorities have said that information from a witness indicates Patterson was trying to help other swimmers back to shore when he was swept away by the current.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Wednesday of a Villisca man on a Domestic Abuse Assault charge. At 2:46pm officers arrested 52-year-old Gary Francis Morris of Villisca on a valid Montgomery County Arrest Warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault 1st Offense (A Simple Misdemeanor).  He was arrested in the 400 block of West Coolbaugh Street in Red Oak and taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on no bond.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa State University student is suing the school for allegedly mishandling the response to her sexual assault by another student in 2014. The 21-year-old woman alleges in the lawsuit that university officials “actively discouraged” her from formally reporting the assault, then took months to investigate and take action against her assailant.

The lawsuit says the university placed her and her assailant in the same housing complex at the start of the fall 2014 semester. She says his presence made her uncomfortable and contributed to her decision to drop out.

A university spokesman says Iowa State hasn’t been served with the lawsuit, which was filed last week in Story County. The plaintiff’s attorney, Andrew Zbaracki, said his client suffered “considerable emotional damage” from the assault and its aftermath.