(Atlantic, Iowa) – An ongoing project for an Atlantic High School “Living Wall of Honor” needs your help to expand. Assistant AHS Principal Andy Mitchell said the online “Wall of Honor” can be viewed at atlantic.touchpros.com, any time. It contains most high school yearbook photos dating back to the 1920’s. Mitchell said since it’s still a work in progress, there are some areas where they need more photos and information about AHS alumni. Especially those who are veterans (past/present) and who have made notable post-secondary achievements in athletics and otherwise.

If you have photos or information you would like to share for the project, e-mail them to amitchell@atlanticiaschools.org. He added that “We’re not even close to being done” with the project. In addition to the Wall of Honor being online, a video touchscreen TV is being installed in the high school commons for viewing during the school day. There are sections in the program devoted to Activities/Athletics, Alumni and Trojan Pride, and multiple sub-sections within those choices.

In his report to the Board, Superintendent Steve Barber said of the District’s COVID-19 numbers, they are the lowest since January 3, 2022. “Over this period, we know of 30 staff members and 63 students who tested positive for the virus,” he said Barber. He says many staff and students missed days in January “There were days when staffing levels were low, and building Principals worked at creating the least amount of disruption as possible. As of Tuesday, February 8, two staff and students tested positive for COVID-19”.

Atlantic School Board Zoom meeting (2/29/22)

He said also, the process to find a replacement Middle School Principal has begun. “We will send the job posting out tomorrow [Thursday] morning, listing that we’re in need of a 6-8 Middle School Principal. Interested applicants will need to complete their paperwork by March 4th, 2002. We’ll set up interviews for March 14th through the 16th.” The candidates will be interviewed and a Special Board meeting will be held to consider the interview committee’s recommendation. The person selected for the position will replace Josh Rasmussen, who was recently chosen to become the Superintendent for the AC/GC School District, effective July 1, 2022. Barber said also, because of the Atlantic/CAM win

In addition to the previously mentioned resignations and contract recommendations, the Board Wednesday night approved the hiring of Gentri Meier as Schuler Elementary School Counselor. According to her professional page, she currently serves as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at Turning Point Evaluation, Inc., in Winterset. Meier has an MS in Mental Health Counseling/Counselor from Drake University, and a BA in Psychology from Wartburg College.

In other business, the School Board set March 16th at 5:30-p.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing on the 2022-23 School Calendar. The date was changed from March 9th due to numerous board members having a scheduling conflict. The Calendar Committee has been working on the proposal to be presented. There were also some changes to the current calendar. Since the Atlantic/CAM Wrestling Team has advanced to the State Dual Team Tournament, there will be no school on Wed., Feb 16th.  Andy Mitchell, he said, is working on a Pep Bus for transport to Des Moines. Fans are required to purchase a ticket, but they won’t be charged much for transportation.

That change means the Feb. 16th & 17th Parent-Teacher Conferences will be moved to Feb. 15th and 17th, from 5-until 8-p.m.  The Atlantic School Board approved Superintendent Steve Barber’s recommendation to provide all employees (Full- or part-time), a stipend based on continuous years of service at the conclusion of the 2021-22 school year. Payment will be made to staff on Sept. 1, 2022. The stipend amounts were mentioned in a previous story.The name “Retention pay” will be referred to instead, from here on out, as “Hero Pay,” since the Board feels the teachers and staff are heroes for dealing with COVID and the many struggles it brought and continues to bring to education.