A decision regarding allowable growth funding for school districts in the Iowa legislature that was expected in March, is still being discussed, and that lengthy delay has forced many school districts, including Atlantic, to hold off on making decisions on spending for things other than those that directly related to students’ academic growth. The Board Monday night discussed the possibility of hiring a School Resource Officer versus a Dean of Students, the addition of a teacher and two para-educators, along with the need for extra-curricular activities.

Atlantic Superintendent Dr. Mike Amstein was not willing to step out on a limb and fully recommend to the Board the hiring of a Sheriff’s Department employee as a School Resource Officer, simply because the district doesn’t know what the Allowable Growth rate will be. He says the district hopes for four-percent, but they have budgeted for zero-percent. The difference in how much the school gets would range from $85,625 at zero-percent, to as much as $300,000 at four-percent.

The Iowa Legislature has been setting the statewide allowable growth rate since 1993. Before that the rate was automatically determined by a formula which examined enrollment figures, state revenue growth, inflation and economic indicators. The monies received typically are used to fund teacher salaries and benefits.  Even if the money was available now, Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren said it would take “Months” to hire someone, train them if necessary at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, and have them ready to serve the district. Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Corey Larsen currently serves as the SRO on a part-time basis. A full-time SRO would cost the district $78,000 per year for salary and benefits. The County would provide the officers’ car, uniform and equipment. Sheriff McLaren said an SRO’s contract would have to be for a “Multi-year deal,” and not one-year at a time.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act during its next regular meeting, on recommendations from Activities Director Josh Rasmussen, for the addition of Dance, Archery, Bowling and Swimming to the district’s extra-curricular activities in the coming years, but approval seems unlikely, given the Board’s desire to focus on spending for programs essential to student academic achievement, and the fact there is no system in-place to evaluate current, much less future student involvement.

Board member Phil Hascall said he thinks Atlantic has “enough activities,” and the board should throw its support behind proven methods of teaching, such as a those exhibited in a report Monday evening about the Lindamood-Bell teaching program which emphasizes spelling, comprehension, critical thinking, and express language.

Two pickup trucks collided Monday afternoon southwest of Perry, in Dallas County. The driver of one of the vehicles died in the crash. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 63-year old Nelson Mobley, of Dawson, died at the scene of the accident at the intersection of 170th Street and E Avenue, at around 1:50-p.m.

Officials say Mobley was northbound on E Avenue and crossing 170th, when his 1994 Chevy S-10 pickup was hit on the passenger side by a 2013 Dodge Ram 1500, driven by 24-year old Tiffany Hollingsworth, of Perry, as she traveling west on 170th. Following the collision, Mobley’s pickup went off the road and rolled into the northwest ditch on its top. Hollingsworth’s pickup spun counter-clockwise and and came to rest in the ditch, on top of the other pickup.

Hollingsworth was transported by ambulance to the Perry Hospital. The accident remains under investigation.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic state Senator Jack Hatch is contemplating a run for governor in 2014. Several weeks ago, Hatch filed paperwork with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board to change his campaign committee to reflect that he is considering running for governor. He says he’ll make a formal announcement regarding his plans after the legislative session ends.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A landmark verdict for 32 mentally disabled workers who suffered years of abuse will be reduced. Because of a law capping their damages the verdict will be reduced from $240 million to about $1.6 million. Jurors found that Henry’s Turkey Service discriminated against the men, who they hired out to work at an Iowa turkey processing plant. The men lived in a filthy bunkhouse and faced verbal and physical abuse at home and at work.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The next state auditor will be Mary Mosiman. Gov. Terry Branstad has appointed the deputy secretary of state to take over the post vacated by David Vaudt. He resigned last month to become chairman of a national nonprofit accounting board. Mosiman is an accountant who served for 10 years as the Story County auditor.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — U.S. farmers are making the most of a break from the wet spring to get their crops planted. But, the pace still keeps them well behind schedule. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Monday that 28 percent of the nation’s cornfields have been planted, up from just 12 percent a week ago. But the latest numbers are well short of the 65 percent of the crop that already was in the ground by this date over the previous five years. At this time last year, 85 percent of the corn was planted.