The Griswold Community School District Board of Education held a Special Meeting Thursday evening, with regard to a Special Election for the issuance of $9.9-million in General Obligation Bonds to pay for district facilities projects. Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN News a petition was presented to the Board during the meeting.

Facilities committee member Aaron Houser presented the petition signed by 119 District patrons. The Board accepted the petitions and later voted 6-0 to call for a Bond Vote on June 27^th. The polling sites will be open from Noon until 8-p.m. on that date. The polling sites include the Lewis Library, as well as the Elliott and Griswold Community Buildings. Henrichs said if approved, the biggest majority of the $9.9-million will be used to construct a new Elementary Building in Griswold. The remainder will be used for remodeling of the Middle School/High School Buildings.

Henrichs said Facilities Committee has done its job and will be disbanding, soon. A new, “Facts” Committee will form to help promote the vote. The District, he says, will step back from that process according to the rules. The District will help them when needed.

Three additional public meetings will likely be held prior to the Bond vote. The Superintendent said the Griswold School Board expressed many different times during Thursday evening’s meeting, how much they appreciated the efforts of the Facilities Committee in getting them to this point in the process. Henrichs too, was very much appreciative.

The 14 member Committee has been working diligently since the Spring of 2016 to explore the District’s options in the light of declining enrollment increased costs.

Officials with Iowa College Aid say they’ve expanded their efforts to increase college access. The new Course to College program is a partnership with Iowa high schools to guide students toward college enrollment. The components are:

Early Awareness: Helping students understand that college is a realistic goal by explaining the benefits of a college degree and the sources of help available.

College Application Campaign: Encouraging high school seniors to apply to at least one college, often with the support of school staff during school hours.

FAFSA Completion Initiative: Emphasizing the importance of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as the gateway to most financial aid for college, and providing staff support during school hours to file the application.

College Decision Day: Holding school and community events to celebrate high school seniors who have chosen to continue their education.

Summer Transition: Ensuring that students who intend to go to college complete the necessary steps to get there, such as accepting a financial aid package, making required deposits, attending orientation, securing housing and enrolling in fall courses.

The Course to College program expands on Iowa College Aid’s former 3-Step Process, which covered the middle three steps. Participating schools receive free training, planning guides, posters and other print materials. Schools can also learn which students have filed a FAFSA.

Iowa College Aid also reminds prospective college students that it’s not too late to enroll for this fall. The FAFSA cycle is open through the 2017-18 academic year, and some colleges offer rolling deadlines—responding to applications as they come in. Students who are considering enrolling in college this fall can order a free student guide from Iowa College Aid, Your Course to College, either in print or via download.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa woman has been imprisoned for duping dozens of people into buying nonexistent tickets to the Super Bowl and other big events. The Sioux City Journal reports Ranae Van Roekel, of Boyden, was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to 51 months. The judge also ordered her to pay nearly $468,000 in restitution. Van Roekel had pleaded guilty to mail and income tax fraud.

Prosecutors say Van Roekel was a self-employed ticket broker who ran the business Get ’em Now Tickets from January 2008 to June 2012. Victims say she falsely claimed to have personal relationships and ties to events that gave her an inside track for deeply discounted tickets, hotel rooms and VIP passes.