No other area tennis players advanced to the state tournament from regional play on Wednesday. You can see the full results from the Spencer regional HERE
Ten years after graduating from Atlantic High School Dalton Franken will take over as head boys varsity basketball coach. Franken has been an assistant with the program for the past five seasons, including as JV head coach last season.
Franken was a standout player for the Trojans, his team going 22-2 their senior season. After graduating in 2013 went on to star at Dordt University. He scored 1,165 points in his college career.
Franken was approved for the position at the Atlantic School Board meeting on Wednesday night. He succeeds Derek Hall who recently left for a position in Council Bluffs after leading the team for two seasons.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – [UPDATED] – The Atlantic School Board, by a vote of 4-to-1, Wednesday evening approved a 2023-24 Interim Superintendent Contract with Dr. Beth Johnsen. School Board President Laura McClean said there were 19 applicants for the position. Four were interviewed. Johnsen, she said, “Rose to the top.
School Board elections will be held this Fall. Board members McLean, Jenny Williams and Nicholas Hunt will all be up for re-election.
McLean said Dr. Johnsen’s contract will be for two-years, beginning on July 1st, 2023. Board member Josh McLaren voted against the two-year contract.
Dr. Johnson is currently serving as an interim Superintendent at Thayer Central Schools in Nebraska. Prior to her working in her current district, Dr. Johnsen was a Superintendent for 10 years at Conestoga Public Schools, in Southeast Nebraska. She has spent time as an educator at Buena Vista teaching educational leadership courses and also has spent time consulting and coaching individuals in school leadership. ACSD Interim Superintendent, Dr. Johnsen sees herself as a leader of leaders, with her primary focus being on empowering and supporting all staff.
Johnson shares that she is eager and excited to become a Trojan. Right off the bat, she plans to focus on the current culture of the district and where the district wants it to be. She is ready to empower leaders within every department, which she hopes has a significant impact overall. Dr. Johnsen currently resides in the Underwood area with her husband, Ben, of 42 years. Dr. Johnsen and Ben have 5 grown and married children, and 15 grandchildren. Additional information and a bio about Dr. Johnsen and her family will be coming in the near days ahead.
Dr. Johnson plans to introduce herself to the district soon and looks forward to working together for the common goals and priorities for Atlantic. Dr. Johnsen’s position is effective July 1, 2023. She will succeed current Superintendent Steve Barber, whose resignation is in effect as of June 30, 2023.
(Atlantic, Iowa) [UPDATED] – The Atlantic School Board meeting Wednesday evening began with a Public Hearing on the Amended 2022-23 Certified Budget. Afterward, the regular Board session got underway. During the Public Comment segment, LeAnne Pellett, of Atlantic, spoke with regard to a student walk-out held March 1, 2023. The event was to protest what was termed in the online school newspaper “The Needle,” as “anti-LGBTQIA+ bills being debated at the time in the Iowa legislature. Pellett said was speaking “On behalf of the citizen taxpayers” who were in attendance at the meeting, and “Many more citizens who were upset” about the event held on school property.
The event on March 1st was scheduled for 1-p.m.
Pellett asked rhetorically, “Were opposing views on this protest ever presented to all persons?”
Similar walkouts occurred at 14 school districts in Iowa, led by the Iowa QSA, or Queer Student Alliance, a youth-led organization. Atlantic High School Principal Heather McKay stated to the Needle prior to the event, that “If a student chooses to participate in this activity in a manner that does not cause a school-wide disruption and [they] remain on school grounds, they will not be disciplined for truancy.”
Other public comments received during the meeting were with regard to news last week, that the Atlantic School District sent a letter to the Nishna Valley Family YMCA. Executive Director Dan Haynes said “The letter gives notice that we should vacate the ELC Infant Room by Dec. 15, 2023.” An agreement between the District and YMCA Board, stipulates the agreement to vacate should have been given no less than 120 days before the end of the end of the current school year, in order for the termination to be in effect for the next school year. The letter was dated April 25th, 2023.” The letter stated an increase in Special Education needs for the district’s three-year-old population necessitated the need for an extra preschool room.
He added, “We believe that with widespread community collaboration, we can meet the needs of all families we both have already committed to. After meeting with the State Fire Marshall and our DHS consultant this, we also believe that without widespread collaboration the YMCA board will have to seriously evaluate if we can physically and financially be able to continue to provide infant care in our community.” Local economic development officials, including Atlantic Chamber Director Bailey Smith, CADCO Executive Director Jennifer McEntaffer, and Christina Bateman, speaking on behalf of CCHS CEO Brett Altman, also spoke of the dire need to leave the child care space alone, citing current and future child care demands upon the community. No action was taken on either topic during the School Board’s meeting.
In response, Superintendent Steve Barber, in his report to the Board, said in the discussion, it’s important to talk about the needs of the district’s preschool program, and how to best serve those children.
He said “fast forward to March of this year…”
By adding a fourth section of preschool, Barber says “We were faced with a space issue.”
At the beginning of the new school year, Barber says, “A temporary classroom will be created in the southeast portion of the multi-purpose room, which connects the ELC and Wickman building. Half-way though next year, we are looking at permanently moving into the ELC classroom with our fourth, three-year old program.” Those reasons, he said are part of the rational “behind the thinking of meeting the needs of our preschool programs, and we anticipate moving forward and noticing some great things with those students.”
Atlantic senior Jada Jensen signed on Wednesday afternoon to continue her basketball and academic career at Simpson College next season. Jensen has been a standout in many sports for the Trojans and she said her love for hoops grew the past few years.
Jensen signed at Atlantic High School with family and coaches in attendance. Jensen averaged 10.7 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game this past season, helping lead the Trojans to a share of the Hawkeye Ten Conference Title. She said Simpson won out because they recruited her the most consistently.
She said Simpson sees her staying in the point guard role and they like the versatility she brings with her size. She feels like she’ll be a great fit.
Jensen plans on studying Biology to eventually pursue a Masters for a nursing career. She’ll join former teammate Haley Rasmussen on the Simpson roster.
Class 3A Boys Golf Sectional @ Majestic Hills GC (Denison-Schleswig)
05/10/2023 @ Denison (Par 69)
Team Scores
ADM 302 (Qualified for Districts)
Ballard 322 (Qualified for Districts)
North Polk 334
Bondurant-Farrar 339
Denison-Schleswig 352
Atlantic 356
Saydel 447
Perry NTS
Individual Results
Easton Korell, ADM, 70
Grant Hickey, ADM, 73
Carter Madison, ADM, 79
Jacob Egan, North Polk, 79 (Individual District Qualifier)
Hudson McIntosh, Bondurant-Farrar, 79 (Individual District Qualifier)
Atlantic Scores
Tristan Hayes 91
Hudson McLaren 87
Roth Den Beste 93
Sam Brosam 87
Trevan Hansen 91
Tate Niklasen 95
Atlantic Head Coach Ed DenBeste: “We knew that going into this match we were going to have to play very well. We had three teams that had better averages than we did this year. I knew we could do it but had to come out well. Unfortunately that didn’t happen today. We have lots of three putts as well as several holes with large numbers. Tristan had a tough hole 7 today. Had a hard time getting it going today. Hudson had too many 3 putts. Roth had several double bogeys as well as a couple of triple bogeys. I thought Sam played well and so did Trevan. Both worked through some tough holes. Tate worked hard to keep it in the mid 90s as well. Disappointing day for us. Hoped to get at least an individual through and possibly the team. Not the time to play one of the worst rounds as a team however, it was a good year of learning. Looking forward to next year with so many coming back. We will miss Cruz as he moves on as well.”
Northern Iowa softball coach Ryan Jacobs says team chemistry has been a big part of the Panther’s success. UNI takes a 38-11 record and school record 17-game winning streak into Thursday morning’s quarterfinal round of the Missouri Valley Tournament in Carbondale, Illinois, against Drake.
Jacobs says all of the players accepted their role.
Drake advanced with a 7-0 win over Evansville. The Panthers beat the Bulldogs three times during the regular season by a combined score of 29-5.
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