Polk County, Iowa — A Johnston day care provider charged in the 2019 death of a child, was sentenced Wednesday to 10-year in prison. 51-year-old Trina Mazza had earlier pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent person. Her defense attorney had asked for a deferred judgment.

According to court documents, Mazza admitted to leaving a child in a Pack ‘n Play crib in her unlicensed, in-home day care center. Later, while she was upstairs, the child attempted to climb out of his crib and got caught between another crib close by. The child was asphyxiated within minutes.

The child died a few days later. The cause of death was determined to be accidental traumatic asphyxia. Mazza is also facing a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber, Wednesday, reported the District has an internal team that has worked extensively to get a registered apprenticeship in the area of welding.

The on-the-job training aspect is for 2,000 hours. There are interests internally, he said, from instructors, business partners, and students.

Students will be mentored by persons in the respective businesses. Once students complete the apprenticeship program, they will receive national credentials. Five prospective business partners are scheduled to meet with Administrators this afternoon, to discuss the program and offer additional, professional input.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Police report two separate arrests took place Wednesday night (12/14/22). Authorities say at around 10:50-p.m., 31-year-old Jeffrey Dwayne Currie, Jr., of Red Oak, was arrested on a Red Oak Police Department warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. He was being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a $1,000 bond.

And, at around 6:20-p.m., Wednesday, Red Oak Police arrested 28-year-old Sheyenne Linn Eilers, of Red Oak, was arrested, also on a Red Oak P-D warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. She was also being held on a $1,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The amount of taxes collected that go to fund road projects in the state has remained strong despite some decreases in travel brought on by higher gas prices. The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Shawn Majors says 95 percent of the road use tax fund comes from the fuel tax, registration fees and taxes on the sale of new and used vehicle sales. “One of the reasons we’ve seen favorable numbers as far as our revenue has been, our fee for new registration numbers that have come in this year this year so far. And I would say that based on the initial numbers we’re seeing for the November receipts, that will continue next month, Majors says.

Majors says the registration revenue is not as much as it was prior to COVID. “But definitely higher than we anticipated, given all the impacts of COVID and inflation. I guess that’s one thing I have been a little surprised about that we still continue to see really good numbers for the fees for new registration,” he says. A chip shortage has cut the number of new car sales — which has in turn driven up the cost of used cars — an new registration fees are based on the cost of the vehicle.

“That’s the biggest thing as far as how we’ve made up that balance of not having as much inventory out there for new vehicles — is those increased costs for used vehicles,” Major says. Majors made his comments in a report to the state Transportation Commission.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – An organizational meeting of the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education was held Wednesday evening, prior to the start of the regular (reorganized) Board meeting. During the first part of the meeting, the Board elected Laura McLean as Board President. She takes over the position held the past year by Jenny Williams. Kristy Pellett was elected Vice-President. And, Sarah Sheeder was reappointed as Board Secretary/Treasurer. The Board also chose to leave the dates, times and place of their regular monthly meetings the same as the past year: The second Wednesday of the month at 5:30-p.m. in the Atlantic High School Media Center.

In other business, Superintendent Steve Barber reported on areas of Academic Excellence, Team Culture and District Operations.

Zoom image of the meeting

Here are the bullet points of his report (Courtesy Sarah Sheeder):

Academic Excellence…

• We continue to hear that our new math curriculum was the right direction for math instruction.  It has created more dialogue and collaboration with students and engagement amongst students is high.  Big change for our math instructors and has been a challenge with the additional needs of preparation.  Will continue to support.
• Internal team has worked extensively to get a registered apprenticeship in the area of welding.  There are interests internally from instructors, business partners, and students.
• Feedback from teachers, TLC, and administrators has been positive based on the collaborative PD conversations taking place around Instructional Framework.  Principals will conduct mid-year conferences starting on Jan. 2.
• Implementing the three year program has been successful.  Those currently being served in this program we believe will pay big dividends in preparing students for kindergarten and beyond.
• High School has invited different professions to speak with students about their businesses.
• Administrators have been trained on utilizing student achievement data in making instructional decisions.  Close look at our Panorama platform and ensure that data is being recorded accurately, before making it a way we do business.
• Portrait of an Atlantic Trojan is visible throughout our buildings.  Language of the Portrait continues to grow.

Team Culture…

• Having everyone spend a day in Happiness Advantage has been helpful in knowing that being positive is a choice.  Many individuals participated, along with community businesses in our “Wear Orange Day”.
• Some of this work is becoming evident in the student body.
• Administrators/Supervisors have been engaged in a book study called The Advantage.  This dialogue has made all of our departments more connected to our Strategic Plan and the importance of their departments in the Mission of the School.  These positive conversations will continue in the upcoming year.
• Getting into the Middle School at the beginning of the year was not only positive to those who serve in the Middle School, but everyone who had to make concessions the year prior.
• Having consistent schedules for Mental Health Professionals, along with counselors have created more effective intervention pieces.  Students needing Tier III support that do not have it outside are better served in the District.
• Being able to hire an interpreter for our Chuukese population has helped in connecting families to school.
• Feedback from staff on the Washington Playground Project, along with regular leadership meetings have provided input at the district and building level.

District Operations…

• Completed a four year Capital Project plan.  Included input from all departments and buildings.
• Continue to work on improving air quality in all our buildings.
• New sound system at the HS Gymnasium (along with a new floor) has been well received.
• Continue to do walkthroughs with Argent in identifying any unsafe areas or procedures. Includes annual safety training specific to department needs.
• Purchased two buses to help with our transportation needs and help in alleviating the pressure of transportation.
• Principals have consistent procedures in the handbook.
• Completed vulnerable assessments for each of our primary attendance buildings.
• Atlantic School Board receives award from IASB for outstanding Board work.

The Atlantic School Board approved the resignations of: Denise Masker, Preschool Route Driver; Ligia Cohrs, Preschool Bus Monitor, and Danielle Lyons, Paraeducator. They also approved contract recommendations, including: Mark Andersen, Head Boys Soccer Coach; Dayne Nakashima, ELL Paraeducator; Ligia Cohrs, Preschool Bus Driver; Patricia Johnmark, Schuler Food Service, James Pobanz, MS/Schuler Food Service; Karen Vogl, Homebound Instructor; Julie Phippen, Girls Wrestling Chaperone, and Josh McLaren, Volunteer Boys Basketball Coach.

The Atlantic School Board discussed a Registered Apprenticeship Program (more information to come), and an Employee Engagement Survey. Action items they approved include those pertaining to: Depository Institutions and Limits; a Resolution Authorizing Payments; The First Reading of Board Policy Updates for Curriculum & Instructional Materials, followed by a waiving of the second reading; and the purchase of a used (2018) Lunch Truck from Penske Leasing and Rental Company, in the amount of $45,000.

Funds for the purchase will come from the District PPEL (Physical Plant & Equipment Levy). Superintendent Barber said the truck was listed as an FY24 expense on the Capital Projects plan the Board discussed last month, but is needed now, because the current lunch truck is not operational.

The Board also approved entering into an Architect/Engineering Contract with Snyder and Associates, for the construction of a new Washington School playground. They tabled action on a contract for a High School Storage Shed, until their next meeting. The Board wanted to see if the building is something that can be constructed by students in the Carpentry Class.

The price tag for the Playground engineering/design project is $56,000, with the funds coming from the District’s PPEL and/or SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision of Education) accounts.

(Radio Iowa) – The Linn County Board of Supervisors is pausing action on a pipeline regulation effort after a pipeline developer and anti-pipeline activists alike came out against it. Supervisor Louis Zumbach also voted for the delay. “Taking more time to look at this is fine with me,” Zumbach says. “It’s really surprising that the opposing sides would both like to see more time. That’s interesting to me.”

The ordinance was a response to projects like Wolf Carbon Solution’s 280-mile pipeline project. Wolf opposed the ordinance, asking the supervisors to not make quick decisions on regulations. Activists opposed to Wolf’s pipeline argued the ordinance didn’t do enough to regulate new pipelines. Supervisor Stacey Walker was the first to side with postponing action. He says the county needs to make sure it does everything it can to craft an ordinance to keep residents safe.

“If it truly is the case that we don’t have the ability to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ if a pipeline can be here. If one is to be here what conditions can we create to make it the safest process, the safest project,” Walker says. The new ordinance would have prevented a new hazardous liquid pipeline from locating too close to dwellings, places of public assembly or in future growth areas.

(reporting by Zachary Oren Smith, Iowa Public Radio)