The Atlantic Board of Education had no problem approving the 2014-2015 District Supervisors’ contracts during their meeting Monday night, but they were less than enthusiastic about approving Administrator contracts, and opted to continue discussions on that topic instead of approving the increase. Superintendent Dr. Mike Amstein recommended the Board approve a four-percent increase in compensation for district administrators, at a cost to the district of $21,980, and a 3.8-percent increase for the District Supervisors, which amounts to $14,182.

When it came time for discussion on those recommendations, School Board Member Dennis Davis asked Amstein if all the goals set for the 2013-2014 school year were accomplished. “No, we didn’t meet all of our goals 100-percent, but our district certainly made progress in regards to student achievement on those goals,” noted Amstein. “For instance in reading, math and science, our district showed an increase in proficiency in every one of those areas.”

Board Member Rod Hartwig said he thought “Our principals…deserve the four-percent [raise]…I am not sure everyone else on the list does.” Amstein said the increases fall in-line with what other administrators and supervisors in Hawkeye 10 Conference schools are making. Amstein said “Basically the goals that the building administrators took at look at this year was 85-percent of their students would be proficient in reading, science and math.” He says they made good progress. The other was to reduce the special education deficit by 10-percent. Amstein says the majority of the school district did just that.

Amstein said “Based on that information, I believe our principals were deserving of that raise along with our Supervisors.” After the Board approved the Supervisors’ increase as a separate motion, they discussed at length, but did not act on approving an increase for the Administrators because they want to see more progress in the attaining Board established goals for those administrators.

Another survey released today (Tuesday) is showing a lot of companies in the state have plans to add employees. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey shows 22-percent of the companies surveyed expect to increase staff levels over the third quarter of the year. Another 72-percent plan to maintain staffing levels, while four-percent anticipate layoffs. That’s good for a Net Employment Outlook of 18-percent. Manpower spokesperson Karen Miller says the results, while positive, show weaker optimism about hiring expectations compared to recent surveys.

“The Net Employment Outlook is 18-percent, as compared to last quarter when it was 21-percent and last year at this time when it was also 21-percent,” Miller said. The Des Moines metro area remains one of the top performing markets in the country, according to the Manpower survey. For the third quarter, Des Moines posted a Net Employment Outlook of 24-percent. “Iowa, in general, has always performed very strongly, but Des Moines has been a very strong pocket for the state,” Miller said.

Nationally, the Net Employment Outlook for the third quarter is 14-percent. That’s up from 13-percent three months ago. More than 18,000 employers across the U.S. take part in the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education, Monday night, approved the hiring of some new teachers. Superintendent Mike Amstein read from a list of recommendations submitted by the district school administrators. Among the new hires is Eric Waldstein (Wald-stine), as Physical Education & Social Studies teacher. Waldstine will also serve as Head Coach of the Trojan Football Team.  His wife Hillary Waldstine will serve as the Level 2/3 Special Ed teacher.

Ashley Hack was recommended as a temporary Level 1 Special Ed Instructor at Schuler Elementary. Kelly Juhl was hired as the High School Business Teacher for the upcoming school year. Juhl comes to Atlantic from the Exira/EHK School District.

Also coming to Atlantic from the Exira/EHK District is Stephanie Graham, who will serve as High School English Teacher. And Alisha Lindquist, who previously worked in the CAM School District, was hired as K-1 Multi-Age position.