Members of the CAM Community School District’s Board of Education met Monday night in Anita, to hear a report from Superintendent Steve Pelzer about an opportunity to become involved with a company which provides students a free, online learning experience. Pelzer told KJAN News the district has been involved in discussions over the past week or so, with a national, full-time online K-12 learning company, talking about a possible partnership that would create a free, online K-12 full-time learning school in Iowa.

Pelzer says Monday night’s meeting was an opportunity to share with the board what he’s learned about the company, Connections Education, based in Baltimore, Maryland. He says a representative from Connections is scheduled to appear before the board during another special meeting Thursday, Dec. 8th, at the High School Media Center in Anita. During the 6:30-p.m. session , the Connections Rep will present additional information on their program. Pelzer says the board was interested enough during the previous meeting to hear more about the school. He says Connections Education is part of Pearson Learning. The company has already partnered with Departments of Education or Schools in more than 20 states.

He says an online K-12 School is a brand new, and interesting concept in Iowa, and something that may be worth pursuing in the future. A school district in eastern Iowa is exploring a similar online program, but with a different company. Pelzer says if CAM went with Connections Education, it would likely result in a completely new school in the district, and it would benefit CAM students, by allowing them access to certain classes online that they would otherwise not be able to take. Students would take the classes from home. Pelzer says the company wants to involve parents in the process.

The reason the full-time program would be free, according to Pelzer, is that it would follow the state’s Open Enrollment laws, in that students from across the State would have the opportunity to meet all the timelines and qualifications for Open Enrollment to open enroll into an online academy. The fees would be funded by the respective resident school district.

Pelzer says no decisions have been made with regard to the program. He says the CAM District is only “Looking to explore possibilities that would benefit our district and benefit our kids.” Learn more about Connections Education at http://www.connectionseducation.com/connections-education/home.aspx

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will act Wednesday morning, on an annual Resolution pertaining to Livestock Facility Construction Evaluations. The Resolution needs to be approved in order for the County to submit to the DNR, its recommendations, if any, with regard to the approval or disapproval of a confinement feeding operation, based on the scoring that facility has received using the Master Matrix.

The Supervisors will also discuss maintenance and operation of the Southlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery, and possibly act on revisions to the County’s Indigent Burial and Cell Phone Policies. The Board is also scheduled to receive a report and Fiscal Year 2013 Funding Agreement from the Cass County Library Association.

Their meeting begins at 9-a.m Wednesday, in the Supervisor’s Board Room at the Courthouse in Atlantic.

A truck driver from Illinois missing since last Friday was found dead in his still running semi Monday evening, in Pottawattamie County. Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Dwayne Richie says 58-year old Terry Ross, of Monmouth, IL, was found by deputies after a fellow trucker located Ross’ semi along an Interstate 80 rest stop near Minden, which was under construction. Ross worked for Liberty Trucking, in Burlington, Iowa.

Riche told KJAN News the trucking company notified law enforcement agencies along Ross’ route that he hadn’t been responding to their calls. One of the agencies which was notified, was the Des Moines Police Department. Riche says an officer with the Des Moines P-D called the Sheriff’s Office to inform them of the situation.

He says Ross’ cell phone had been “pinged” and an approximate location was given of 385^th Street in Pottawattamie County. The officer also gave a description of the truck. Riche says an officer was dispatched at 7:05-p.m., but was unable to locate the semi.

The semi was still covered in snow when it was discovered by Liberty Truck driver John Gatton, of Cole Valley, IL.  Gatton called 9-1-1 after he knocked on the cab of the running semi, and received no answer. Sgt. Riche says the cause of death remains under investigation, but no foul play is suspected.