The Harlan Community School District will be making use of the new “Smart Board” technology in the Middle School for next year. In a regularly scheduled board meeting held Monday afternoon, the board of directors approved the slightly more than $12,500 project from CCS Presentation Systems out of Omaha, NE. CCS helped the Harlan community save over $5,000 from the 2nd lowest bid. The District will receive 11 Smart Boards for the Middle School. The normal price for each board is $1,500, however through a SMART Starter Grant, the district will receive six of the boards at half the cost. Superintendent Justin Wagner said it was another step in efforts to improve technology within the district.

The Smart Boards weren’t the only bids the Harlan School Board approved Monday. They also reviewed bids for a walk-in cooler intended for the elementary building. The current 5-by-7 cooler will be replaced with a larger 8-by-11 cooler, for additional storage. Wagner said it’s replacement was long overdue. The Board received two bids for the walk-in cooler. They ended-up accepting a bid from Kruse Refrigeration and Electric Inc. of Harlan. Their bid of $18,650, includes installation.

In other business, Harlan Board of Education hired a new girl’s head basketball coach. Zach Klaassen will replace Tony Vis next season. Vis left the district last month. The Board also hired Dan Hoch for High School Social Studies Teacher, and, Middle School Track Coach Jared Boysen, was hired for head girl’s soccer coach. In addition, Mike Bierl will become a full time bus driver at the start of the new school year.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold the second and final public hearing concerning an Illegal Dumping Ordinance during their meeting Wednesday morning, in Atlantic. Following the hearing, the Board will hold a second reading of the ordinance and move to adopt it, after waiving the third reading, assuming their are no objections.

In other business, the Supervisors will act on an extension of tax credits for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 (Homestead, Edlerly & disabled, Ag Land and Family Farm),  Expense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2013, including funding request appropriations if necessary, and, after receiving certifications from County officers for base salaries of their deputies and certifying those base salaries to Auditor Dale Sunderman, the Board will act on determining the compensation of “other employees” (meaning those not currently under a bargaining unit of other employment contracts).

The meeting begins at 9-a.m. in the Courthouse Board Room. Also getting underway at 9-a.m., in Greenfield, is a meeting of the Adair County Board of Supervisors. Members of the Board will act on: a Transfer Resolution; Notice of Vacancies and Intent to Appoint; and, an update to the Personnel Policy. They’ll also hear presentations from: Jack Reed, with Iowa Negotiations Services, LLC, with regard to services offered to the County; and, David Knapp, with ACES, with regard to a Backup Presentation and/or bid.

This Thursday evening (June 21st) marks the beginning of 2012’s “Third Thursday” Summer Concert Series, in Atlantic. Entertainment will be provided by “Dirt Road Acoustic Rehab,”  in the Atlantic City Park, from 5:30- to 8:30-p.m. Dirt Road Acoustic Rehab, a local country, rock, and blues band, frequently performs in venues around Stuart, Boone, Adel, and Panora. The group will play free of charge.

Every third Thursday in June, July, and August will feature music, arts, and produce in the park for the series, organized by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Audience members will need to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets to best enjoy the experience. Ready-to-eat meals will be available through local vendors. 

The Chamber says it is actively accepting applications from food producers and artisans who would like to set up shop during the events, an addition to the program for 2012. A partnership with the Cass County Food Policy Council, the sidekick effort is called Produce in the Park and will appeal to increasing numbers of health-conscious consumers, foodies, and sustainability enthusiasts.

On the roster for July is Travelin’ Light Band, a popular area rock ‘n’ roll group. August will feature a mix of local talents, headlined by hip hop artist Jesse Swanson (DJ Chaos), with a list of openers to be announced in July.More information on the concert series can be obtained through the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017.