The Harlan Community School District’s Board of Education has approved a wage increase for non-certified support staff and administrators. In a regular meeting Monday, the board agreed to an 8 percent increase for the support staff and a 16.85 percent for Superintendent Justin Wagner. The administration was increased the same as the HEA at 4.26 percent. Superintendent Justin Wagner says the support staff took it upon themselves to figure out where they were in the Hawkeye 10.

“So they agreed, a group of about seven women, non-certified staff members said let’s walk through a comparative-ability study. We want to see what the people in the Hawkeye 10 that do our job make. Well six months later, they found out they are ten out of ten or nine out of ten in a lot of categories. We took some steps to try and get the increase. Last night we had a recommendation for the 8 percent increase because we have to start bumping up.”

The increase for Superintendent Wagner was also due to being in the bottom tier of the Hawkeye 10. In other business, the Harlan Community School Board approved two separate STEM Sharing Agreements. The first was with Iowa Western Community College for a three year agreement to host STEM classes. In addition, IWCC agreed to pay for ½ the teaching fees, $60,000 towards technology support and training costs. The second STEM agreement was with the A-H-S-T school district for two class periods and costs for the classes. The STEM agreement will need to be approved by the AHST School Board of Education at their next meeting to go in affect.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Atlantic Police Department reports two people were arrested on drug charges, Monday. 32-year old Ryan Paul, and 52-year old Sharadee Witt, both of Atlantic, each face Possession with the Intent to Distribute/Methamphetamine, Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, and Gathering where controlled substances are used and distributed, charges. Both were booked into the Cass County Jail.

An investigation into a fight in progress Sunday in Harlan led to the arrest of  three people. Officers  called to the 1000 block of Chatburn Avenue subsequently arrested 23-year old Roger McIntosh, of  Portsmouth, 31-year old Eric Labenz, and 30-year old Jessica Dunn, both of Harlan. The suspects were taken to the Shelby County Jail and charged with intoxication in public, as well as disorderly conduct. Labenz and Dunn were also charged with simple assault, while McIntosh was charged with assault causing bodily injury. Labenz was transported to Myrtue Medical Center by private vehicle where he was treated for lacerations to his face and then released to police custody.

This past Saturday, officers in Harlan arrested 45-year old Mark Boardman, of Portsmouth, on a charge of Trespassing. His arrest took place after officers were called to the 500 block of 23rd Street following a report of an intoxicated person who would not leave the property.

And on Friday, 20-year old Shawn Hansen, of Harlan, was taken into custody after officers conducted a follow up investigation into a burglary in the North Park neighborhood. Hansen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia, prohibited acts penalties, and possessing contraband.

A couple from Dallas, Texas were arrested Monday afternoon following a pursuit in Pottawattamie County. Sheriff Jeff Danker told KJAN News 25-year old Mario Guerrero-Jaquez and 30-year old Elsa Aguirre, were charged with Theft in the 1st degree, after they allegedly stole a white Ford F-350 pickup from the parking lot of the AMC Theater in Council Bluffs.

The incident began at around 3:30-p.m.   Danker says Elsa Aguirre was following her boyfriend in a black Ford pickup after the other vehicle was stolen. A deputy observed the vehicles traveling north on Interstate 29 and engaged in a pursuit. The vehicles exited at the Crescent interchange and proceeded south on another road before the F-350 became stuck in a field, and the other truck went into a ditch.

Both suspects were apprehended and brought to the Pott. County Jail, where they were being held on $10,000 bond, each.

Officials with the Iowa Interstate Railroad plan on conducting repair and/or maintenance work on a frequently traveled road near Wiota, Thursday. Rich Hansen, Assistant to Cass County Engineer Charles Marker, said the IIR will be working on County Road N-28 east of Wiota, near the intersection with Highway 83.

The work Thursday will take about six-hours, and necessitate the closure of the road at that location. Persons who travel in the vicinity should plan to take an alternate route.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Atlantic School Board Monday night, accepted Early Retirement incentive requests from a dozen instructors and/or staff members. Superintendent Mike Amstein announced the names. They include: Joanne DeArment, Reading Support at Washington Elementary; 2^nd grade teachers Sue Riggs and Sharon Ambrose; Kindergarten/1^st grade teacher Laurie Fell; 1^st grade teacher Deb Murphy; 3^rd grade teacher Nancy White; 4^th & 5^th grade teacher Bruce Hansen; Bev Schelling, Level 2 & 3; High School Math teacher Kathy Bradfield; 3^rd grade teacher Nancy Christensen; Jayne Tyler, 2^nd/3^rd grade Math support; and, Denise Sasse, 2^nd/3^rd grade Reading Support.

Amstein said as he looked at the names, he realized there was “A lot of experience going out of the District,” especially with most of the resignations coming from the Washington Elementary School. He said it will be difficult to replace them, but it’s a process the district has gone through before. Amstein said at one time they were beginning teachers, too. He congratulated the retiring teachers on “A job well done, and a nice career.” He said they have served their time and done a good job serving the district.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved the appointment of Olivia Newburg, Secretary to the Superintendent, as Board Treasurer. They also approved, by a vote of 3-to 2, a recommendation by High School Administrators, the reducing of graduation credits from 52 to 48, beginning with the current Junior class.

Board members Dennis Davis and Phil Hascall voted against the motion. Both said they were concerned with the “rigor” of the courses being offered, and the possibility the District was “Dumbing things down,” or “lowering the bar,” for future graduating classes. Board President Kristy Pellet said she felt the same way at first, but became convinced it would help level the field a little more for kids who are struggling but making an honest effort.

Amstein said the rigor of the classes are not impacted, because they still have to meet the requirements of the Iowa Core Curriculum.

w/ Ric Hanson

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GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) – A Nebraska man has been given 25 years in prison for sexually abusing girls ages 7 and 8 in western Iowa.  The Daily Nonpareil says 64-year-old John Schondelmeyer, of Bellevue, Neb., was sentenced on Monday. He’d been found guilty of two counts of sex abuse and two counts of lascivious acts with a child.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says Schondelmeyer was in the process of moving to Fayetteville, N.C., when he was arrested Oct. 17, 2013, at his Nebraska home.  Schondelmeyer will be transferred to Nebraska, where he faces more child sex charges.

A proposal to give Atlantic High School students Apple MacBook Air laptop computers beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, was approved by the Atlantic School Board during their meeting Monday night. The 1:1 (One-to-One) program will cost more than $625,650 over the course of four-years, but the District got a jumpstart on paying for the plan thanks to the generosity of a local bank.

Board President Kristy Pellett read a letter from 1^st Whitney Bank and Trust President/CEO Paul J. Gude, whereby Gude pledged their support of the proposal to “Enhance the academic success of the district’s students.” Gude said in his letter 1^st Whitney Bank will pledge $50,000 towards the first phase of the project. On behalf of the School Board, Pellett thanked Gude and District Technology Coordinator Roger Warne for teaming together to form the public/private business partnership which will make the program possible.

Warne said the official Apple quote came in $25,000 less than what was expected. The Apple Lease Program runs $124,000 per year for the four-year contract, not including $90,000 worth of “add-on’s” that includes cases and software. Superintendent Mike Amstein had tentatively budgeted $160,000 per year for the program to make it a “workable situation.” Warne said the entire project would cost about $152,000 per year, with a two-percent loan rate.

Warne said with the Board’s approval, he can begin to solicit additional donations from businesses and individuals to help defer some of the costs, especially for the first year of the program.