DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines principal has decided not to punish the girls who arranged for a male stripper to perform at their school’s synchronized swimming club banquet. Officials say the girls employed the stripper as a joke and say the stripper didn’t totally disrobe at Friday evening’s event at the Des Moines Social Club. A Social Club employee interrupted the performance and asked the stripper to leave.

Roosevelt High School Principal Kevin Biggs said Wednesday the girls apparently didn’t do anything illegal and didn’t violate the district’s conduct code.  The club has been operating outside of direct school supervision, with members raising all the money for its support. But Biggs says the district plans to place the club and its finances under the control of Roosevelt High’s activities department.

The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday, approved the resignation of Assistant Varsity Football Coach Paul McKay, and contracts for Alan Jenkins as Head Freshman Football Coach, along with Justin Williams, as Head Junior Varsity Football Coach.

They also approved an Operational Sharing Agreement with the Griswold Community School District, to jointly share the services of a Transportation Director for the 2016-17 Fiscal Year. The total cost to Griswold of which amounts to $13,776 per year. And, an agreement with Griswold for the sharing of services provided by Atlantic’s Human Resources Specialist, which will cost Griswold $6,576 per year. In both cases, the individuals will work four days per week on matters related to the Atlantic District, and one day per week for the Griswold District.

The Board also approved: the purchase from School Bus Sales, of three, 65-passenger propane-powered Blue Bird school buses for $90,788 each, along with a Blue Bird lift bus for $109,542, and a propane filling station from Olsen’s Fuel Supply, for $18,352.

They also approved: A bid of $63,762 from R-L Craft for work on the Washington Elementary School Roof; A bid of $81, 636 from National Playground for playground equipment and safety surfaces at Washington, and, a bid of $175,626 from Camblin Mechanical, for the replacement of heat pumps at the Atlantic High School.

The Atlantic School Board still wants to bring an income surtax vote back before patrons of district. Board Secretary/District Business Manager Mary Beth Fast said the earliest the surtax could be placed before patrons of the district, is a special election on Sept. 13^th. The Board would need to have a ballot request submitted to County Election Commissioner Dale Sunderman by no later than July 29^th. The next dates for Special Elections are in December, February and April, 2017.

You may recall, last September, voters rejected a public measure to add an income tax surcharge component to the district’s Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL). The final tally was 452 No votes to 443 Yes votes, or, 49.5-percent approval. The measure needed a majority vote in order to pass. This past February, the Board revisited the matter.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein said during the Board’s Feb. 10^th meeting, that the surtax needs to come before the voters again, because, he said, as it stands right now, the only source of revenue for the PPEL is property taxes. An income surtax would give the Board the ability to have more flexibility with what it can do with the tax levy.

Board member Ali Bruckner suggested Wednesday, that they hold a work session to discuss their plan to move forward. Bruckner said the purpose of the work session would be to schedule community forums to educate the public about why they need the surtax. The bottom-line she said, is “It’s for the kids.”

Board member Dr. Keith Swanson has said the last Surtax asking was “Sold so poorly to the public,” he couldn’t believe it…meaning, it wasn’t explained well at all. Mary Beth Fast agreed the voters need to understand the surtax would reduce the property tax asking. Superintendent Mike Amstein said the surtax “Makes such a huge difference in your property tax.” Fast said at the February meeting, that the maximum surtax the District could impose, if approved, is 10-percent. Even if the District requested a nine-percent surtax, that would generate $300,000 and make for 67-cents difference in property tax relief.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Republican-controlled House has passed legislation that would add state oversight to boarding schools in Iowa, though the bill could face future opposition over exemption language. The House voted 74-24 Wednesday for the bill, which now goes to the Democratic-majority Senate.

SIBLEY, Iowa (AP) — Sibley leaders are studying the city’s options after owners of a processing plant didn’t meet a deadline to provide $50,000 to help reduce odors coming from the facility. The Sioux City Journal reports that Iowa Drying and Processing had until Monday turn in the money.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Dubuque police are investigating an apparent cross burning and are treating the incident as a possible hate crime. Police say Dubuque dispatchers received a report early Wednesday of burning items at the intersection of 22nd and Washington streets, but authorities did not initially find anything in the area. Police were notified again around 9:30 a.m. of burned objects in the same area. They found what appeared to be two crosses damaged by fire. More information will be provided Thursday.

LACONA, Iowa (AP) — The family of an Iowa woman who was fatally shot is trying to obtain a 911 call to include in their wrongful death lawsuit against the woman’s son. Sixty-eight-year-old Shirley Carter was found shot to death in June at her Lacona home. KCCI-TV reports the woman’s husband, Bill Carter, wants to obtain the 911 call from that night. No charges have been filed in the case.