The Harlan Community School District’s Board of Education offered a counter-proposal to the Harlan Education Association (HEA), Monday. The HEA made its initial proposal at a meeting with the school board two-weeks ago. During that meeting, the association had asked for a 5% wage increase and some policy changes, with regard to personal leave, the adding of duty free recesses for teachers at the Primary and Intermediate buildings to work with students, and early retirement.

During Monday’s meeting, Harlan Superintendent Justin Wagner made a few changes to the contract proposal, including one pertaining to realignment. Previously, the rule stated an employee would have first priority to a vacancy in the district. However, the new proposal says an employee may apply for the vacancy and be considered for the position before the district seeks an applicant from outside the bargaining unit.

Also in the realignment, the school district added, “After a teacher has been realigned at their request, the teacher will not be eligible for any other voluntary realignment until they have completed 3 full years in the new position.” And, with regard to compensation, the Harlan School board proposed a 2.05% increase for the teacher’s total package. The Education Association will have a chance to review the counter-proposal before further meetings will take place between the HEA and the school board. The subsequent meetings will take place in closed session.

And, as we reported Monday, Harlan Superintendent Secretary/Board of Education Secretary Terry Cox is retiring from her position. Cox has been the board secretary since 1999 and has been with the district a total of 32 years. She told the board she has seen many changes at the district over the years, but the goal has always been the same: To educate the kids.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department report three people were arrested Monday. 26-year old Jeffery Knight, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Assault, involving a female victim. 24-year old Johnny Kirchner, of Atlantic, was arrested for Harboring a 15-year old female Runaway, who was not from Atlantic,  and, 36-year old Mish Loghry, of Lewis, was arrested for Domestic Assault involving a female victim. All three were booked into the Cass County Jail and held, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City man has been given 11 years in prison for vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated.  The Sioux City Journal reports Lenley Schofield Jr. had pleaded guilty on Feb. 4th. His agreement with prosecutors included the 11-year prison term. He was sentenced on Monday.

Prosecutors say the 28-year-old Schofield was driving on Iowa Highway 141 near Mapleton in November 2011 when his car veered into an oncoming truck. His passenger, Robert Palmer, later died.  Schofield also must pay $150,000 restitution to Palmer’s estate.

Iowa Senator Charles Grassley will hold two out of 10 state-wide town hall meetings this week, in Greenfield and Guthrie Center, while the senate takes the week off. Grassley will travel to 16 counties to hold the meetings, which will also features a question-and-answer session with students at four high schools, employees at a manufacturing plant in central Iowa, and members of the Des Moines Rotary Club.

Residents will have a chance locally, to listen to what Iowa’s senior senator has to say, and make comments of their own, during an Adair County Town Hall meeting at the Adair County Health and Fitness Center (202 N. Townline Road), in Greenfield, from 6-to 7-pm Wednesday. Another, hour-long meeting will be held Thursday at the Guthrie County Courthouse in Guthrie Center, beginning at 7:45-a.m.  Afterward, Grassley will travel to the ADM High School in Adel, to hold a Q&A session with  students at the school, beginning at 9:45-a.m.

Senator Grassley has held at least one meeting with Iowans in each of the state’s 99 counties since 1980, when he was first elected to serve in the U-S Senate.

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) – A former fourth-grade teacher in western Iowa has been given a year of probation for drug possession.  The Sioux City Journal reports that 44-year-old Karen Bartelson, of Blencoe, had pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge. Court records say police found methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia in her purse on July 21st.

District Judge Jeffrey Poulson deferred judgment on the charge. That means the charge will be removed from Bartelson’s record if she were to successfully complete probation.  Bartelson was a fourth-grade teacher at Central Elementary School in Onawa when she was arrested. She resigned before the school year started in August.