After just one meeting in person at the high school last month for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak, the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education is going back to their electronic session for their regular meeting this month. The meeting takes place 6-p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 12th), via YouTube (The meeting can viewed here). Anyone who wished to enter comments on the record can e-mail them to Board Secretary Sarah Sheeder, at ssheeder@atlanticiaschools.org. Comments must be received by 4-p.m. Wed., Aug. 12th. If you have any questions, call the Central Office at 712-243-4252.

During the Board’s meeting, they are expected to act on six resignations: LaVon Sager. Aubrey Stuart and Linda Karstens – Special Education Paraeducators; Head Boys Soccer Coach Oran Perkins; Food Service employee Traci Luke, and Special Education Car Driver Lory Erickson. The Atlantic School Board will also act on approving the following Contract Recommendations:

• Jessica Larsen, MS Volleyball Coach
• Dan Vargason, Head Varsity Girls Coach (Interim)
• Brandon Baggett, Spring Play & Co-Speech/Debate Sponsor.
• Matt Mullinex, 9th Grade Football Coach
• Oran Perkins, MS Wrestling Coach
• Lory Erickson, Car/Van/Suburban Driver
• Loretta Barringer, Car Driver
• Jenny Madsen, Marnie Leiferman, DeLana Harris, Rhonda Hawkins, Angela Oglesbee and Mandi Brauer – all TLC Mentors

The Atlantic School Board will also discuss the latest news on the District’s Facilities Project, and Return-To-Learn plan. Action items include (but are not limited to):

• Disposal of Vehicles due to safety issues: A 2003 Chevy School Bus (#1), with 170,610 miles (Ordered taken out of service by the State Inspector 7/25/19 due to rust issues); and, a 2007 Ford Taurus (#12), which also has rust issues and deterioration of the unibody frame. The car was only being used to run errands for the Central Office during the 2019-20 school year, and is currently not in use.
• Approving Josh Rasmussen as District Title IX (9) Coordinator
• Approving 2020-21 Summer Sport Coaching Contracts as recommended by Activities Director Andy Mitchell, including:
  • Weight Room Coordinator – Derek Hall
  • Head Softball – Terry Hinzmann
  • JV Softball – Molly O’Hara
  • 9th Grade Softball – Derek Handel
  • Head Baseball – Joseph Brummer
  • JV Baseball – Robert Hanson
  • 9th Grade Baseball – Oran Perkins.
• Approve two pay requests associated with: the 6-foot safety fence at the softball diamond; removing gates at the north end of the Trojan Bowl. The changes amount to $1,783 from the General Operation Bonds.
• And, approval of a pay application for the Athletic Facilities Improvement Project in the amount of $935,827, for General Contract work, including electrical and mechanical.

Atlantic Mayor Jones would like to remind Atlantic citizens, in light of the extensive damage due to Monday’s storm, that tree trimmers performing services in the city need to be licensed – this is to protect the citizens by verifying tree trimmers’ proof of insurance.  Citizens can call City Hall to verify if a tree trimmer has a current license.

Iowa Health officials today (Tuesday), report (as of 10-a.m.) there were four more deaths in the State attributed to COVID-19 since 10-a.m. Monday, for a total of 935, and, 164 new, confirmed cases of the virus (compared to 268 previously), for a total of 49,182. Long-Term Care facility deaths account for 500 of the State death toll.

The IDPH says 525,823 Iowans have been tested, 2,456 tested negative since 10-a.m. Monday, for a total of 473,531 to-date. And, 37, 982 Iowans have recovered from the virus. Hospitalization data show: 244 are hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms, a decline of 20 since Monday; 64 are in an ICU, down from 57 Monday; 34 were admitted to a hospital since Monday’s report, compared to 26 Monday, and 25 people were on a ventilatir.

Southwest/western Iowa hospitals report: two more have been admitted since Monday, for a total of 16; six people are in an ICU (compared to 5 Monday); one person was admitted (compared to 0 on Monday), and one person remains on a ventilator. The IDPH says “Due to severe weather conditions on August 10, 2020, some Iowans being treated for COVID-19 in a long-term care facility or at a home, may be transferred to a hospital or other care facility for temporary treatment due to damage to their place of residence. This may cause hospitalization data on the site to fluctuate in the short term.”

Long-Term Care (LTC) data today, show: 25 Outbreaks (unchanged from Monday); 808 patients/staff have tested positive (5 more than on Monday); 466 have recovered (an increase of 41), and there have been 500 deaths altogether at those facilities.

There has been very little change in the positive case numbers for southwest/western Iowa since 10-a.m. Monday, but there were some changes in the number of persons who have recovered (counties with changes since Monday, have highlighted numbers):

• Cass County: 74 cases (44 recovered [1 more than Monday]); 1 death (since the outbreak began)
• Adair County: 30 cases (19 recovered)
• Adams County: 16 cases (12 recovered, 2 more than Monday)
• Audubon County: 28 cases (18 recovered, one more than Monday); 1 death
• Guthrie County: 132 cases (100 recovered, three more than Monday); 5 deaths
• Montgomery County: 59 cases (37 recovered); 4 deaths
• Pottawattamie County: 1,325 cases (981 recovered, 38 more than Monday); 26 deaths
• Shelby County: 185 cases [1 more than Monday] (158 recovered, 3 more than on Monday); 1 death.