Members of the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet in a work session this (Wednesday) afternoon, in the High School Media Center.

During their meeting at 4:30-p.m., the Board will discuss Financial Health Indicators, an Instructional Support Levy, and upcoming dates for the IASB’s Annual Convention, and their next regular Board meeting set for Nov. 8th at 5:30-p.m.

No action is expected during the Work Session, only discussion.

Governor Kim Reynolds says next year she’ll ask legislators to set aside at least five-million dollars for new scholarships and grants to Iowans seeking a college degree or professional training beyond high school. These proposed “Last Dollar Scholarships” are among the recommendations from the 55-member “Future Ready” task force. Reynolds asked the group to address the state’s skilled worker shortage.

“This is the number one priority of our administration and you know it’s necessary,” Reynolds says. “It’s critical. As we travel the state and we talk about the need for a skilled workforce, that’s how we’re going to continue to grow the economy and provide opportunities for Iowans.”

Reynolds says she’s not ready to spell out the full details, but indicated she may redirect spending or redesign existing state programs to find more money for this initiative. The governor’s goal is to have at least 70 percent of the Iowa workforce gain qualifications beyond a high school diploma by the year 2025. Dan Houston, the C-E-O of Principal Financial, served as co-chair of the governor’s Future Ready task force. He says the plan will “march” Iowa down a path to a more skilled statewide workforce.

“Iowa doesn’t have a choice,” Houston said. “We’ve got to get 127,000 people prepared to do higher-skilled jobs in this state if it is desirable for us to be a state-of-choice for establishing businesses.”

The task force is calling on Iowa businesses to offer more internships and mentoring programs. The state’s K-through-12 schools are being encouraged to collaborate with businesses to give high school students more work-based experience.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

LA PORTE CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northeastern Iowa man injured last month when he lost control of his bicycle and crashed on a highway has died of his injuries. The Courier reported Tuesday that 52-year-old Jeffery “Touie” Lutgen died Sunday at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, where he had been since the crash. Investigators say Lutgen was riding shortly after 10 p.m. Sept. 30 when his bicycle wiped out in the area of Commercial Street and Highway 218, causing him to hit his head.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The electronic system for filing criminal and civil court records in Iowa is temporarily out of service statewide. Court system spokesman Steve Davis said the Electronic Data Management System had spotty availability Monday and went down statewide all day Tuesday. He says security patches that were installed Friday “caused or exacerbated system performance issues” and that hacking isn’t suspected.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is on track to see a 10 percent decline of opioid sales for 2017 amid national concerns about the abuse of such prescriptions. The Des Moines Register reports that the executive director of the Iowa Board of Pharmacy relayed the information on Monday to a legislative committee studying opioid abuse. He says Iowa health care practitioners are trimming prescriptions of opioid painkillers and other addictive pills.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican senator from Iowa says he may try to block President Donald Trump’s nominees for key posts at the Environmental Protection Agency. Sen. Chuck Grassley wants the administration to back off a proposed reduction in the volume of biofuels blended into gasoline and diesel. Grassley says EPA’s plan would result in job losses in his home state. The EPA proposed new targets for biofuels after oil companies pushed to ease mandates for using ethanol from corn and soybeans.

ATLANTIC – The Southwest Iowa Mental Health Center Board announced today (Tuesday) that they unanimously approved pursuing a partnership with ZION Recovery Services and Heartland Family Service. The organizations will enter a period of exclusive talks through December 2017, with a goal of transferring employees to ZION Recovery Services the end of 2017 and a full acquisition of SWIMHC to be completed by July 1, 2018. The decision to proceed with ZION/Heartland as the preferred partner comes following exploratory meetings with multiple mental health entities in southwest Iowa.

“We are delighted to enter into this partnership process with ZION and Heartland,” said Marie Rourick, SWIMHC Board Chair. “Both organizations bring a lot of expertise in processes and managing the very challenging behavioral health reimbursement environment, which will complement the strengths of SWIMHC. Over the past two months, we have been exploring options that would be better equipped to stabilize SWIMHC with specialized expertise in behavioral health. The board is confident this is the right choice to ensure the longevity of outpatient mental health services in Atlantic.”

While an independent organization, SWIMHC has been closely aligned with Cass County Memorial Hospital for many years. The hospital and SWIMHC had a sharing agreement, which has allowed the staff to be employed by CCMH and contracted back to the SWIMHC. “With the dramatic changes in mental health over the last decade, we recognize the need for deeper expertise in electronic claims filing, MCO/payer contract negotiations, and strategic planning specific to behavioral health,” noted Brett Altman, CEO of Cass County Health System.

Rourick noted that the commitment of ZION and Heartland to continuing local outpatient mental health services was key to the board’s decision. “We looked at a number of potential partners,” she explained. “This pair had the most expertise, best systems already in place and most importantly, the commitment to continuing the long tradition of SWIMHC providing outstanding care for our community and beyond. We are very excited to move forward into this new partnership while not just maintaining, but enhancing the care we provide at SWIMHC.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican senator says he may seek to block President Donald Trump’s nominees for key posts at the Environmental Protection Agency unless the administration backs off a proposed reduction in the volume of biofuels blended into gasoline and diesel.

Sen. Chuck Grassley said in a phone call with Iowa reporters Tuesday he plans to speak with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt about the Renewable Fuel Standard. Pruitt has proposed targets for 2017 and 2018 set slightly below current levels following a push by oil companies to ease mandates for using ethanol from corn and soybeans.

Grassley said EPA’s proposed rollback would result in job losses in his home state. Pruitt’s position is in contrast to the staunch support for the biofuel industry Trump pledged as a presidential candidate last year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The electronic system used by lawyers, judges and clerks to file Iowa court records is temporarily out of service statewide. Court system spokesman Steve Davis said the Electronic Data Management System had spotty availability Monday and went down statewide all day Tuesday.

He says security patches that were installed Friday “caused or exacerbated system performance issues” and that hacking isn’t suspected. Amid the outage, Chief Justice Mark Cady signed an order Tuesday allowing clerks of court in Iowa’s 99 counties to accept paper filings until further notice.

Davis says the computer system is regularly backed up, and workers are using that information to restore the system to its condition prior to Friday. When the system returns, he says paper filings made in the meantime will have to be added.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa is on track to see a 10 percent decline of opioid sales for 2017 amid national concerns about the abuse of such prescriptions. The Des Moines Register reports that the executive director of the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, Andrew Funk, relayed the information on Monday to a legislative committee studying opioid abuse.  Funk says Iowa health care practitioners are trimming prescriptions of opioid painkillers and other addictive pills. He says the state is expected to reach about 270 million prescription pills sold for 2017, down from 301 million pills sold last year.

The totals are determined by Iowa’s Prescription Drug Monitoring system, which tracks pharmacies’ sales of addictive prescription medications. Committee members say the figures are a promising development amid a national epidemic of abuse of addictive narcotics.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports three people were arrested last week on warrants. 49-year old Kevin Eugene Stark, of Adair, was arrested Oct. 12th at the Polk County Jail on an Adair County warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance/ 3rd or subsequent offense, and on warrants for Driving While Barred (2 counts). Stark was being held without bond in the Adair County Jail.

29-year old Seth Robert Lee Baker, of Stuart, was arrested Oct. 12th, also at the Polk County Jail. Baker was wanted on an Adair County warrant for Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness. He was released on Oct. 13th after posting a $1,000 bond or surety.

And, 25-year old Haley Nicole Hamler, of Knoxville, was arrested Oct. 13th in Marion County, on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Her bond was set at $5,000.

The Harlan Police Department reports the arrest on Oct. 14th, of 18-year old Juan Carlos Andrew Lara Juaraz, of Harlan. Juaraz was arrested following a traffics top and transported to the Shelby County Jail, where he was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also charge with failure to hold a valid driver’s license.

Harlan Police also issued separate citations to three individuals. 20-year old Kelsie Michele Kleffman, of Harlan, was cited Oct. 10th, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and speeding. 23-year old Brandon Lee Anderson, of Harlan, was cited Oct. 16th for driving while suspended, and 26-year old Jessica Rae Borquez, of Harlan, was cited for driving while suspended, Oct. 9th.

Harlan Police report also, there were non-injury accidents that took place Oct. 11th, 12th, 13th and 16th.

The Griswold School Board, Monday, discussed their enrollment numbers. Superintendent Dave Henrichs said the certified numbers are down. The certified enrollment [resident students regardless of where they attend school] was 505.9, down 10.69 from a year ago. The BEDS enrollment students that are served everyday regardless of where they live] was 478.8, which was down 8.29. Those numbers were not unexpected, according to Henrichs. BEDS is the Basic Educational Data Survey. Henrichs said as they went through the bond referendum process, they told the public the numbers were expected to drop 15 students in each of the next three years, so they are ahead of what was projected.

The Board tabled action on Backpack restriction, opting instead to have further research conducted. The Griswold School Board also approved a request with regard to girls basketball practice procedures. The girls basketball coach asked if the 8^th grade girls could practice with other athletes, and it was approved, but left as an option and up to the discretion of Athletic Director Katie Elwood. It would not be mandatory.

Henrichs said a meeting will be held 2-p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 18^th) with regard to the facilities project and the budget. He said also no decisions will be made on the purchase of a replacement van or suburban for an older model that’s experiencing costly mechanical issues. The Board did approve the specs to be sent out to bid.

The Griswold Board he says, hired Haley Tryon as a 1:1 elementary level para-educator, Amy Hook was hired as assistant high school girls basketball coach, and they approved the resignation of Bob Amos as assistant high school wrestling coach, but he will remain as a volunteer. Henrichs also wanted to recognize Farm Credit Services of America. They donated $6,000 to the Griswold FFA for their Greenhouse Project. The greenhouse hoops are up. The next phase is to install the siding.