(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Education for the Atlantic School District will receive presentations from three professional search (Headhunter) firms, Wednesday evening, as part of the Board’s regular monthly meeting, which begins at 5:30-p.m. in the High School Media Center.

Representatives from Ray and Associates, McPherson and Jacobsen, and HYA Associates are slated to make 45-minute presentations each, with regard to what those firms can offer to the district, in its search for the next Superintendent.

On August 28th, the Atlantic School Board decided to receive those, and other, possible presentations, in an effort to get an early start on finding a replacement for Interim Superintendent, Dr. Beth Johnsen. She was hired in 2023 to fill the void left by the resignation of former Superintendent Steve Barber. Dr. Johnsen took over the post with the understanding the position will expire at the end of her two-year contract, which concludes with the end of the 2024-25 School Year. Dr. Johnsen was encouraged to apply for the full-time position, if she so desires.

The special presentations will begin at 6:15-p.m., Wednesday. In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act on: funding for the Jack & Jill 4-year preschool; An HVAC replacement in the Bus Garage; and a 2026 planned trip for certain students to Costa Rica.

The Board is also expected to act on: The resignation of Oran Perkins as Asst. Baseball Coach for the 2025 Summer Season. Recommendations to hire Classified Hourly Positions for Kitchen Cooks, Felicia Swope and Destinee Well.

They will also act on recommendations for Supplemental Pay for the following Athletic and Activity roles:

• Mike Greving – HS Girls Wrestling Coach (’24-’25)
• Heath Kelley – JH Boys Basketball Coach
• Grace Clay –  HS Musical Pit Director
• Homecoming Float Sponsors:
  • Freshman – Elizabeth Herrick-Williams
  • Sophomore – Molly O’Hara
  • Junior – Trisha Koenig
  • Senior – Holly Esbeck.

View the full meeting agenda here: PUBLIC AGENDA 09112024

DES MOINES, Iowa – A federal grand jury in Des Moines has returned an indictment charging 18 individuals with offenses related to bank fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy. The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa today (Monday), said as alleged in the Indictment, Defendants orchestrated a nationwide scheme to defraud financial institutions and draw funds from stolen business checks. Defendants, located across the country, first obtained the stolen checks from uncharged co-conspirators.

They then registered sham entities with the IRS and state government agencies—including the Iowa Secretary of State—with names which were identical or similar to the legitimate recipients of the checks. After obtaining registration documents and IRS employer identification numbers, Defendants opened or attempted to open accounts at banks and credit unions in the names of the sham entities, intending to deposit the stolen checks. While attempting to open the accounts, Defendants made material misrepresentations to or concealed material facts from the banks and credit unions.

The Indictment alleges that once Defendants were able to open the accounts for the sham entities, they deposited or attempted to deposit the stolen checks in the accounts. If the deposit was successful, Defendants withdrew large amounts of cash from the accounts and/or obtained cashier’s or official checks from the accounts. Defendants distributed the proceeds among their co-conspirators.

Oftentimes, Defendants obtained cashier’s or official checks written to sham entities that were created for the purpose of laundering stolen check proceeds. Defendants used the money obtained from the stolen business checks for their personal benefit and purposes.

The Indictment alleges the Defendants’ conduct affected at least twelve business victims and at least fourteen financial institution victims. Defendants and their co-conspirators attempted to deposit at least $10 million worth of stolen checks into fraudulent accounts and were able to obtain at least $2.1 million in proceeds from their criminal conduct.

If convicted, Defendants face a maximum penalty of thirty years in prison on counts alleging bank fraud or bank fraud conspiracy and ten years in prison on counts alleging money laundering or money laundering conspiracy.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case with assistance from the Postal Inspection Service, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and Secret Service, as well as with assistance from numerous state and local agencies. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Essley, Kristin Herrera, and Joseph Lubben are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.