There was a changing of the guard for the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Monday night.

From the left: Josh McLaren leads the new Atlantic School Board session; Superintendent Mike Amstein; Dr. Keith Swanson & Jenny Williams.

New Board members Alison Bruckner, Keith Swanson and Jenny Williams were sworn-in, Josh McLaren was elected Board President, and former Board President Kristy Pellett was elected Vice President. Olivia Newburg, Secretary to Superintendent Mike Amstein, was elected Treasurer, and Mary Beth Fast was re-elected to the Board Secretary’s Position.

Prior to the new board taking their seats, the retiring Board, consisting of Dennis Davis, Phil Hascall and Rod Hartwig, were recognized for their years of service and provided with a plaque.

Kristy Pellett made the presentations. First up to receive recognition and an award, was Hartwig, who’s served for the past four-years.

Rodney Hartwig receives recognition from departing Board President Kristy Pellett.

Phil Hascall just received a plaque for his years of Board service.

Next came Phil Hascall, who has been a member of the Atlantic School Board for 13-years.

And finally, Dennis Davis was recognized for his 29-years of service. Pellett said she called the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) to ask who the longest tenured board members were in the State. Unfortunately, they don’t keep a list of that nature. But they did say, that when the IASB switched over to digital records, there were one or two persons who started their service in 1970.

Kristy Pellet congratulates Dennis Davis.

Dennis Davis started on the Atlantic School Board in September, 1986. He was one of a few that started in the 1980’s, so Pellett said she “Can safely says he’s in the top ten of longest tenured Board members in the State, to which Davis replied “That shows you how old I am,” a comment which drew laughs from those in attendance.

Afterward, Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein thanked each of the three retiring Board Members for the work they have done. He said each one brought a specific area of expertise to the Board, along with a specific point of view, and “Without that, we couldn’t have accomplished the things that you’ve been able to do.” He said the board hasn’t always agreed with each other and the administration, but the students have always been first and foremost in their sights.

Rod Hartwig welcomed the new Board and challenged them to keep in touch with the District’s School Principals to learn about the programs and process involved with education. Hascall said he’ll miss the experience, because of the support the district and education has received from the community. Dennis Davis said for him, the Board has come full circle with the election of Dr. Keith Swanson, because Davis replaced Swanson on the Board 29-years ago. He had this piece of advice for the new board members: Listen…listen before you speak, because…your first year you don’t know anything…listen, and talk to people. Good luck.”

The new Board then proceeded with business, and decided to set chnage the date and time of Board meetings and work sessions from Monday’s at 7:30-p.m. to the second and fourth Wednesday’s of the month at 5:30-p.m., effective Sept. 30th, due to some scheduling issues. In other business, the new Atlantic School Board approved the 2015 FFA Convention Trip to Louisville, KY, and a 28-E agreement with the Griswold School District for a Fiscal Year 2016 Industrial Technology class.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce has announced it is partnering with the Atlantic High School and several other Community minded organizations and businesses to start the Silver Cord Program in the Atlantic.  The Silver Cord Program is a graduation incentive program to promote volunteerism in the Atlantic Area.  Atlantic High School seniors who volunteer a minimum of 200 hours throughout their high school career will graduate with a silver cord and be eligible for a $500 scholarship provided by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.  The program encourages volunteer opportunities with all Civic Organizations and will benefit the entire community.

Ouida Wymer, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, said “We are pleased to partner with the Kiwanis Club of Atlantic. Their generous donation will allow the Silver Cord Program to utilize the on-line resource volunteerspot.com.” Volunteer Spot is an on-line tool used for volunteer sign-ups, scheduling and management.  Wymer says “Volunteer spot will be beneficial to the students involved in the Silver Cord Program and the entire community. Everyone will have access through www.AtlanticIowa.com.“

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce will host an educational meeting on Wednesday, September 16th, at the Noon at the Rock Island Depot (102 Chestnut Street).  The purpose of the meeting is to introduce the program to any Civic Organization or business interested. The meeting will also teach the organizations and businesses how to use volunteerpsot.com

It’s open to any Civic Organization in the Atlantic Area. Call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 to book your seat, or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com .

The Atlantic Police Department released a statement Monday evening at 5:00pm that they had cited 18-year-old Nicholas Terry of Red Oak for Leaving the Scene of an Injury Accident.

Police were searching for a suspect in a silver 2009 Chevy Malibu after an accident that occurred around 11:15am this (Monday) morning at 10th and Plum Streets in Atlantic.  Reports described a young male driver had struck a female pedestrian causing her to fly onto the hood of the vehicle at impact.  The driver then left the scene and a partially full beer can was found at the scene and taken into evidence.

Atlantic Police have identified the victim as Sarah Darling of Atlantic.  She was taken to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment and no report on her condition was immediately available.

(Update 1:24-p.m.)

An All-Points Bulletin has been issued for a vehicle suspected of being involved in a pedestrian hit-and-run accident in Atlantic this (Monday) morning. Law enforcement officials are looking for a silver, 2009 Chevy Malibu, with Iowa license plate DEA 049. The vehicle will have front end and hood damage.

The driver is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol when they struck a female at 10th and Plum Streets in Atlantic, at around 11:15-a.m. The woman was tossed onto the hood of the car during the impact. She was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, where a report on her condition was not immediately available.

A partially full can of beer was found at the scene and taken into evidence. The car is registered to a subject out of Red Oak. Authorities say witnesses told them the driver appeared to have a been a young male. The suspect has a lengthy record in Montgomery County, according to dispatch reports. He also is known to frequent a residence in Bridgewater.