The Atlantic School District Board of Education will hold a special session beginning 6-p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16th, in the High School Media Center (the meeting will be recorded and made available for viewing soon after it concludes). The Board will discuss Employee Absences for COVID-19. Emergency Paid Sick leave (EPSL) is provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, but it is scheduled to expire Dec. 31, 2020. That means ESPL (Which includes extended FMLA) will no longer be available to employees for leave related to COVID-19.

Employees will be allowed to use their available sick leave for one of four following reasons related to COVID-19, through the end of the 2020-21 school year:

1. They are experiencing symptoms of CV-19 are being tested or are waiting for test results. (a copy of the test results will be required)
2. The employee tests positive for COVID. (a copy of the test results will be required)
3. The employee is identified as a close contact to a person who has tested positive for the coronavirus AND has been required to quarantine by public health officials.
4. The employee is caring for a dependent who is subject to reasons 2 or 3 as mentioned.

The Board will also act to approve the resignations of Chase Roller – Middle School Wrestling Coach, and Matthew Smith – Assistant HS Boys Soccer Coach. They will also discuss and act on Remote Learner Guidelines, which stipulates “Students will be required to watch live instruction/or recorded videos and submit work back to their teacher for grading. Attendance is shown by the necessary work being turned in (even if attending Zoom classes).

And, the Board, as mentioned last week, will discuss/act on District Guidelines for the use of face masks. During their regular meeting on Dec. 9th, the Atlantic School Board extended the 30-day mask mandate through the end of the 2020-21 1st Semester (12/22/20). Face coverings will continue to be required when social distancing is not possible, under the extended policy.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday morning (Today), approved the establishing of a new deputy sheriff classification. The title of Sergeant for two positions was adopted and included in an addendum to the employee handbook. Supervisor Steve Green said he’s discussed the matter with Sheriff Darby McLaren since last Summer.

The addendum is effective as of January 1st.

In other business, the Supervisors held a public hearing on County Ordinance 37: a re-compiling of county ordinances in accord with the Code of Iowa. There were no written or oral comments. The Board approved the second reading of the ordinance, waived the third reading and adopted the ordinance.

They also approved the abatement of tax for parcels owned by the City of Massena, and, adjusting the temporary shop foreman’s wage in Griswold retroactive to October, as he has been and continues to, fill-in as foreman for the full-time foreman, who is experiencing medical issues. Supervisor Frank Waters abstained from the vote due to a potential conflict of interest.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday (today), said there were two arrests and one accident during the past week. On Thursday, Dec. 10th, Deputies responded at around 1:19-a.m. to a single-vehicle rollover accident at Corning-Carl Road and 200th Street. Deputies arrived to find an overturned truck with the 14-year female driver from Creston trapped inside the vehicle. Once extricated, the teen was transported by Life Net Helicopter to a trauma center. Authorities say the truck had been reported stolen out of Creston. The accident remains under investigation.

On Sunday, Dec. 13th, Adams County Deputies arrested 50-year old Vincent Sanders, of Brayton, at the Casey’s General Store in Corning. Sanders was charged with OWI/2nd offense, and Open Container. He was transported to the Adams County Jail. And, on Dec. 10th, 19-year old Andrew Mills, of Lenox, was arrested in Adams County for driving while suspended and failure to prove security against liability. Mills was also transported to the Adams County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – A coronavirus relief package worth 908-billion dollars was unveiled Monday in Congress, which has until the end of this week to pass it along with a long-term spending plan, but Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley remains skeptical. Grassley, a Republican, couldn’t say with any confidence that the massive measure would win approval in both chambers before Friday. “It should pass, that’s my opinion,” Grassley says. “People are in need and there’s so much that has bipartisan agreement, but a couple of big things that have no bipartisan agreement might hold it up and maybe we won’t get one before Christmas.”

Oct. 12, 2020 file photo, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP)

Grassley says there’s disagreement over issues like how much federal aid should go to state governments, and whether to squelch lawsuits some consider frivolous which were filed over COVID-19. He says there are many elements on the table that have broad, bipartisan support and they should all focus on those, starting with extending unemployment benefits. “Helping small businesses stay open and keep their employees on the payroll like we did in the spring,” Grassley says. “More (COVID) testing, more money for the distribution of the vaccines, and help for K-through-12 education.”

The measure, in its latest incarnation, does -not- include direct payments to virtually all Americans, as the initial relief package did earlier this year. “That’s right, as far as I can tell,” Grassley says. “There’s a few senators, at least one Republican, one Democrat, thinks it should have something go directly to everybody, whether they’re unemployed or not.”

Speed in passing the measure is critical. It’s estimated as many as 12-million Americans could lose their unemployment benefits on December 26th, while millions more may face eviction as protections for renters are also expiring.

Police in Glenwood report one arrest and one hit-and-run property damage accident. Authorities say 64-year old Robert Rusco, of Glenwood, was arrested Monday on four Mills County warrants for one count of Ongoing Criminal Conduct, and three counts of Fraudulent Sales Practices. His total cash or surety bond was set at $50,000.

Glenwood Police said also, a legally parked 2012 GMC Yukon was struck by an unidentified vehicle, late Monday morning. The SUV was in a parking stall on the north side of Sharp Street, and unoccupied, when a vehicle backed out of an adjacent stall and cut the turn too sharp. The unknown vehicle struck the SUV on the driver’s side rear bumper. The unknown driver of the vehicle drove-off without reporting the incident, which was caught on a business surveillance video.

The Exira-EHK School Board met Monday evening, and among the most awaited decisions they made, was one concerning the Return to learn Calendar, with regard to attendance on Wednesday’s. Superintendent Trevor Miller told KJAN News after discussion, the Board decided to go with a 1-p.m. early dismissal on Wednesday’s, beginning Jan. 13th.

Miller said they’re considering their voluntary remote learners, especially those who may be struggling.

In other business, the Board discussed the makeup of the Negotiation Committee and Approved requested modified funds.

Miller said also, the Board approved Jessica Allen as Instrumental Music Teacher. Allen who is from Woodbine, was chosen from eight qualified applicants. And, Brianna Sampson will start as an Elementary ParaEducator at Exira.