The Iowa Department of Education says there’s now just one school which hasn’t qualified for the program that pays extra money to teachers who take over a mentoring role for their less experienced co-workers. Department of Education Director Ryan Wise says 38 new districts have now qualified for the Teacher Leadership and Compensation System.

“This will be the third and final wave of schools that will come in, and they’ll. begin implementing their plan in the fall of this year,” Wise says. So, 332 of the 333 districts have plans in place, with Riceville still working on getting approval to become the final school district to pass the test. The plan was to have one third of the students be in districts that received TLC approval each year for three years until it was fully implemented. A commission reviews each district’s plan before giving approval.

“We’ve seen the commission take a really close look at budgets in particular. So, really ensuring that districts have a clear vision for what they want to accomplish through T-L-C,” according to Wise. “They have clear roles for their teach leaders to take on, and goals that they want to accomplish, and then that they plan to spend their money in ways that are tied to those roles, goals and their overarching vision.” The Iowa Legislature has allocated 50 million dollars for each of the three years of implementation of the program.

“So after this year, that 150 million dollars will have rolled into the funding formula for all districts as a categorical funding stream,” Wise explains.”Which means they need to use that funding in their funding formula for the purposes of . And then because it is a categorical, it would be subject an annual increase…which would be set annually by the legislature.” Wise says the Department of Education checks up to see that the districts have worked to reach the goals set out in their plans.

“Of the first 39 districts, those districts mostly or fully met about three quarters of the goals they set out. So, we are very encouraged by the initial results from a district prospective of what they hoped TLC would accomplish,” Wise says. Along with the vision and goals districts must set their plans, they must also set a minimum teacher salary of 33-thousand-500 for teachers.

Among the latest districts approved is: Clarinda, Creston (with Prescott), Diagonal, East Mills (with Essex), Fremont-Mills, Hamburg, Harlan, Orient-Macksburg, and Stanton.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, Monday, highlighted 11 individuals, companies and organizations that were recognized with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Leader Awards for their progress, their innovative solutions and their commitment to serving our communities through collaboration and hard work.

Among the award recipients, was Homer Focht, of Red Oak, who receive a Pioneer Award for Conservation. The 92-year old Focht built his first terrace in 1946 after returning to Southwest Iowa following World War II. Northey said Mr. Focht has continued to promote conservation by building practices to control soil erosion and improve drainage. He still operates his bulldozing business near Red Oak.

Northey created the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Leader Awards to recognize, honor and promote Iowa citizens, companies and organizations who have made significant contributions to Iowa’s agriculture industry. Those recognized have displayed leadership within the categories of Innovation, Conservation, Education and Promotion, Service, and Collaboration.

Northey presented the awards at the Iowa Agriculture Leaders Dinner held at the Knapp Animal Learning Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on March 1.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a 73-year old woman from Creston was arrested Monday evening at her home, on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 3rd degree.  Frances Sharon Standley was later released from the Union County Jail on $2000 bond.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet Wednesday morning, in Atlantic, and conduct a Public Hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2017 Budget. The hearing takes place in the Supervisor’s Board Room beginning at 8:30-a.m.  Following the hearing, they will convene their regular session, during which the Board will act on:

• A Child Abuse Prevention Council request to proclaim the month of April as “Child Abuse Prevention Month in Cass County,” which includes the placement of a sign and pinwheels on Courthouse property.
• Reviewing the County Compensation Board recommendation for elected officers’ salaries and act on recommendations.
• Approving the appointment of two County Medical Examiner Investigators.
• Adopting the FY 2017 Secondary Roads and Cass County FY 2017 Budget.
• The awarding of a contract for two dump trucks for the Secondary Roads Department.
• and they are expected to approve and then sign the federal-aid project agreement for a bridge replacement project near the south edge of Massena on 740th street over the West Nodaway River.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will host a public meeting at 6:30 p.m., March 15th, in Room 900 of the Allied Health Building on the Southwest Iowa Community College campus, to discuss the proposed fish renovation of Three-Mile Lake.

Growing yellow bass and common carp populations have reduced game fish populations, decreased water quality and limited fishing activity in Three-Mile Lake.

Information will be presented on plans to eliminate yellow bass and common carp as well as future watershed and in-lake improvements to further improve the lake’s water quality and recreation opportunities.

Police in Creston say three teens were arrested Monday morning on assault charges. 16-year old Heaven Jordan, of Creston and 17-year old’s Kimberly Albrechtsen, of Afton and Deserae Osterhout, of Creston, were taken into custody at around 9:24-a.m. on Simple Assault charges. The girls were referred to Juvenile Authorities and then released to the custody of their parent or parents.

The Creston P-D says also, 32-year old Clarke Howe, of Creston, was arrested Monday afternoon on a Union County warrant for Violation of Probation on an original charge of OWI/2nd offense. Howe was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

And, 32-year old Sean Noel, of Creston, was arrested early this (Tuesday) morning, for Eluding and Driving While Suspended. He was being held in the Union County Jail on $1,000 bond.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reported on Monday, that two people were arrested Friday on separate charges. 32-year old Chad Edward Rapier, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 2:30-p.m. at the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Failure to Appear on a Driving While Barred, charge. Bond was set at $2,000.

And, at around 6:50-p.m. Friday, Deputies in Mills County arrested 26-year old Heather Nicole Martin, of Glenwood at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Used or Expired Drug Tax Stamp, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug paraphernalia, Child Endangerment, and Gathering where marijuana is used. Her bond was set at $13,000.

A Red Oak man was arrested late Monday night on a charge of Trespass, after being found in the 400 block of E. Washington Street. 29-year old Benjamin William Hrabik was taken into custody just before midnight. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.