Students with the CAM School District head back to school tomorrow (Thursday), but some won’t be taking their classes with their classmates. Students taking part in the tuition-free, web-based Iowa Connections Academy, will have their instruction at home for this, the second year of the program.

Principal James Brauer told The Daily NonPareil the Iowa Department of Education recognizes the Iowa Connections Academy as being one of the schools within the CAM Community School District. Brauer said the last school year ended with 230 students. About 84-percent chose to return for the internet-based classes this year, and with new enrollments, they’re expecting to welcome 350 students when the school year starts tomorrow.

Students enrolled at Iowa Connections Academy are able to come up with a school schedule that works best for them, with the help of certified teachers and the students’ parents. By state law, the academy is required to ensure students are completing six hours of school each day – just like any other school.

Even though the instruction is computer-based, students are required to complete many assignments without the use of a computer. They spend time reading textbooks, using workbooks, reading library books and doing hands-on experiments – just like the students at a traditional school. Brauer says that because close to 100 percent of the students between kindergarten and eighth grade showed substantial academic growth at the end of last year and surpassed Connections Academy’s goal, school officials are looking to the revamp their Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses.

Aside from regular school courses, students can take courses in law enforcement, criminal justice, business and marketing, sports management and more medical courses. The school also offers Advanced Placement courses; provides Talented and Gifted options; honors options; and Foundations – or essential courses for students who may be experiencing academic difficulties.

For more information on Iowa Connections Academy, visit connectionsacademy.com or call 1 (800) 382-6010.

A teen from Madison County was injured during a rollover crash Tuesday night, in Dallas County. The Iowa State Patrol says 16-year old Devin Umbaugh, of Winterset, was transported by Life Flight helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. The teen was not wearing a seat belt.

Officials say Umbaugh was driving a 1993 Jeep Wrangler when the SUV went out of control on a 90-degree bend on a gravel road near the intersection of South 15^th Street and Meadow Drive. The vehicle entered the ditch and landed on its side. The accident happened at around 10:25-p.m.

The school elections in Adair County will be held Tuesday, September 10th, 2013.  Voter pre-registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. Friday, August 30th.  The law now allows voters to register on Election Day; however, it is a lengthy process and takes extra time at the polls.  Voters may request an absentee ballot from the Auditor’s Office.Absentee ballots are currently available in the Auditor’s Office, for the Adair-Casey, Nodaway Valley and Orient-Macksburg School Districts, and Area College 14/Southwestern Community College (SWCC) and Area College 11/Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). Residents may cast their votes at the Adair County Auditor’s Office between the hours of 8-a.m. and 4:30-p.m., Monday through Friday, or request a ballot be mailed to them.

The deadline to request an Absentee ballot by mail, is 5-p.m. Friday, Sept. 6th. The last day to vote Absentee in the Auditor’s Office, is Tuesday, Sept. 10th, from 8-am-to 11-a.m.  Please note that the Auditor’s Office will be closed on Mon., Sept. 2nd, in observance of Labor Day.

The following is a list of candidates have filed papers for the School Election in their respective Districts, and Public Measures to be voted on:

Adair-Casey (vote for no more than 3): At Large Director – Megan Kading, Jeff Leonard, Tobin Muller, and Mark A. Williams; Area College 11/DMACC(vote for 1) – Director District 3 – Jim Knott; Public Measure A (Instructional Support Levy – “ISL”); Public Measure B – Plant Fund Levy.

Nodaway Valley School: (Vote for no more than 2): At Large Director – James Campbell and Tyson Sickles; Director District 1 (Vote for no more than 1) – Roger Jensen; Area College 14/SWCC Director, District 1 (Vote for 1) – Dennis Davis; Public Measure D – Continue to levy a tax.

Orient-Macksburg: At Large Director (Vote for 1 only) – Stephanie Mikkelsen; Director District 1 (Vote for 1) – Wendi Lynn Eslinger; Area College 14/SWCC Director, District 1 (Vote for 1) – Dennis Davis; Public Measure D – Continue to levy a tax.