The deadline is approaching for Iowa high school students who want to apply for a seat on the State Board of Education. The department’s Mike Cormack says the student must be a 10th or 11th grader. He says they are looking for talented young people who are interested in providing a voice for students on the board. Applications are taken and then the governor appoints a student to serve on the board.

“The state student board member operates like any other board member, they get the same access to materials that the overall state board has, they participate in all the meetings,” according to Cormack. The only difference for the student is they are a non-voting member. Cormack says the lack of a vote does not mean the student doesn’t get to give their input. Cormack says he serves as a non-voting member for the department for the state athletic association and says he still has a lot of influence on what happens. The deadline to apply for the spot is January 31st.

“Application materials are available on our Department of Education website. Also, there’s been information sent to high schools around out state,” Cormack says. The student’s term can be one or two years depending on the student’s year in school. Find out more at www.educateiowa.gov.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Blizzard conditions were expected in parts of Iowa on Sunday before the entire state plunges into bitter cold on Monday. Wind chills between 25 degrees below zero and 40 degrees below zero are expected Monday morning with the coldest weather in northern Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials are considering whether to adopt national science standards for what’s taught in the state, but critics say doing so would intrude on local school decisions. Supporters say the guidelines have an important emphasis on in-depth instruction and hands-on experiments.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Court records show a 31-year-old man arrested in Iowa and charged with entering the United States illegally has already been deported eight times. Jose William Lopez-Martinez was caught in September in Black Hawk County. He is a citizen of Honduras.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad and state lawmakers are billing an effort to enhance services for veterans as a way to attract new residents to Iowa. But it’s tough to gauge if this push will really have an impact on the state population.

Authorities in Montgomery County report a Villisca man was arrested Sunday afternoon on drug charges.  Kim Eugene Beedle, of Villisca faces a Possession of methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver charge, for allegedly having over five grams of the substance. Beedle was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $100,000 cash bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials are considering whether to adopt model science standards for what’s taught in the state, but critics say doing so would intrude on local school decisions. The Des Moines Register reports Iowa was one of 26 states that helped develop the national guidelines for science classes called Next Generation Science Standards. The guidelines emphasize in-depth instruction and hands-on experiments. Many experts say that’s a good approach.

But some teachers worry about sacrificing the breadth of lessons. Jill Jennings served on a state committee that reviewed the standards. She says she’s concerned that these national guidelines take control over what’s taught away from local school boards.

If the state adopts the Next Generation Science Standards, they would replace Iowa standards that have been in place since 2008.