DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials say Iowa student scores have dropped in statewide reading and math tests. The Des Moines Register reports the percentage of Iowa fourth-graders on grade level in reading fell to 74.8 percent last spring from 75.7 percent during the 2014-15 school year. In math, fourth-grade proficiency fell to 79 percent this year from 80.3 percent in 2014-15.

Jay Pennington is the Iowa Department of Education’s bureau chief of information and analysis services, and he says the tests are only one measure of success. Until this school year’s tests in spring, results on the Iowa Assessments have increased every year since the accountability exams were begun in the 2011-12 school year.

Officials say it’s unclear why there were drops for the 2015-2016 school year.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education Wednesday, approved the hiring of Ray and Associates to conduct a search for the District’s next Superintendent. The fee for their service is $6,500. Their bid was the lowest of the three firms interviewed by the board on September 28^th. They will be charged with finding candidates to replace Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein, who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

Board Member, Dr. Keith Swanson had suggested prior to the Board’s 4-to 1 vote, that they hire Dr. David Else, of Cedar Falls, as a consultant. Else is formerly with the University of Northern Iowa. He served as the Director of Education Leadership. (Click on the left side of the audio player to listen)

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved an annual Industrial Technology Sharing Agreement with the Griswold School District, and Superintendent Amstein said the District’s Certified Enrollment numbers won’t be available until a couple of other districts submit their open enroll-out data to the Atlantic District.

And, the Board, Wednesday, approved the resignation of Washington Elementary Special Ed Para-educator Regina Perez.