Republicans in the Iowa House have voted to remove a requirement that college graduates pass an exam before they may be hired as a teacher. The rule was included in a 2013 education reform plan touted by former Republican Governor Terry Branstad. Republican Representative Tom Moore of Griswold says about 500 people have failed the test and — after spending thousands of dollars on a college degree — they cannot enter the teaching profession.

“It’s a road block for the teacher and the administration that wants to hire them,” Moore says. Moore, who is a retired teacher, says passing a test doesn’t indicate who’ll be an “excellent teacher” who can command a classroom and connect with students.

“We had high standards before 2013,” Moore said. “Iowa has always been a leader nationally and we didn’t have a darned test to decide whether you were qualified to be a good teacher.” Moore has a neighbor who got an education degree and a job offer, but failed the test twice.

“I can give you many examples from superintendents and prospective teachers that I’ve spoke with about this,” Moore said, “and it’s simply a barrier.” Critics say the test shows a prospective teacher is proficient in the subjects they’ll teaching. Representative Mary Mascher, a Democrat from Iowa City, is a retired teacher.

“We do not want to see a dumbing down of the profession,” Mascher said. “We have standards in place and we have expectations from our teacher prep programs and we do that because not everyone should teach.” The test is graded on a curve and 96 percent pass. Representative Art Staed, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, has been a teacher for 40 years.

“It is not too strict a test,” Staed says. “It is a standard that may not be considered too high. As a matter of fact, the standard might be considered too low among many circles.” He says the test ensures teachers are “qualified to face the students” in their classrooms. The bill passed the House on a 55 to 42 vote. It will next be considered by a senate committee.

(Radio Iowa)

Two candidates for office in Audubon County have filed their completed nomination papers with the County Auditor’s Office, in advance of the June 5th Primary election.

Incumbent County Treasurer Debbie Campbell, a Democrat, has filed to run for re-election. And, Sarah Jennings, a Republican who was appointed to serve as County Attorney last December, has filed to run for the County Attorney’s position.

Jennings is currently serving the remainder of Francine Andersen’s elected term, which runs through the end of 2018.

Seven Iowa dentists (Including three from western Iowa) are the latest recipients of up to $100,000 educational loan repayment awards from the Fulfilling Iowa’s Need for Dentists (FIND) project, a collaborative public-private partnership. The unique program engages dentists to establish a dental practice in Iowa communities for a five-year commitment while devoting at least 35 percent of their practice to underserved populations such as Medicaid and elderly. Eighty-nine of Iowa’s 99 counties are designated as high priority areas for the Loan Repayment Program.

The FIND project award recipients will each receive a minimum of $80,000 in loan repayment funds in return for a five-year commitment (unless otherwise noted). The award includes the communities served contributing a minimum of $5,000 towards the award. Communities have the option to contribute an additional $20,000 toward loan repayment.

In the KJAN listening area, 2018 FIND award recipients include:

• Dr. Kathryn Handtke, Schroeder Family Dental, Greenfield and Atlantic, graduated in 2017 from The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics and obtained her undergraduate degree from Winona State University. A combination of local organizations assisted with Dr. Handtke’s award.
  

  Dr. Kathryn Handtke

• Dr. Alison Shields, Harlan Dental, Harlan, earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2009 from the University of Nebraska Lincoln College of Dentistry. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Nebraska Lincoln. A combination of local organizations assisted with Dr. Shield’s award.
• Dr. Ryan Hajek, My Pediatric Dentist, Council Bluffs, is a 2012 graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry. There he received his Certificate of Pediatric Dentistry in 2014 and served as chief resident. McClain & Associates assisted Dr. Hajek’s loan repayment award locally.

Jeff Russell, President and CEO of Delta Dental of Iowa, says “Access to dental care for all Iowans increases with each FIND award. Dentists practicing in rural communities improve their patients’ oral health, and they also improve the overall physical and economic health of the communities in which they serve.”

The FIND project recruits dentists to practice in underserved Iowa counties by helping them with their dental education debt. The Loan Repayment Program is a component of Delta Dental of Iowa’s Public Benefit program that invests in projects that support and improve the oral health of Iowans. For more information, visit www.iowafindproject.com.

FIND project partners include Delta Dental of Iowa, Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation, Iowa Area Development Group, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, Iowa Department of Public Health and the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, as well as numerous local organizations.

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Court records indicate a former information technology worker for the city of Urbandale will change his plea on charges that he stole from the city library. Forty-year-old Chad Nielsen pleaded not guilty in December to one misdemeanor and eight felony counts of theft. Police say he took more than $47,000 worth of computer hardware from the library between March 2016 and his arrest in October last year.

The records say Nielsen and his attorney have been working on a plea deal with prosecutors. His plea hearing is scheduled for March 19. Last month Nielsen asked the court for permission to pay some restitution before his plea hearing or sentencing. He no longer works for the city.

City officials in Harlan are asking citizens to “Please parallel park on any street where the snow is windrowed in the center of the street. This is primarily in the downtown area. “Thank you from the City of Harlan

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A former para-educator at a Fort Dodge high school has been accused of having sex with a student. Court records say 22-year-old Denico Johnson is charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee. His next court hearing is scheduled for March 14.

The records say the charge stems from an incident last September. A criminal complaint says the girl reported that she repeatedly told Johnson no.
The Messenger reports that a prosecutor says Johnson no longer works at Fort Dodge Senior High.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A developer plans to build a $75 million condominium tower on Iowa riverfront land with views of the Omaha, Nebraska skyline. Argent Group’s 15-story tower calls for outdoor and indoor swimming and a rooftop terrace. It’ll be the first condominium building to be built on the Council Bluffs side of the riverfront.

Moselle Residences will be accompanied by another apartment tower likely to be built afterward. The companion towers are part of the River’s Edge mixed-use development that’s anticipated to promote activity between Council Bluffs and Omaha.

Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh tells the Omaha World-Herald that the project will change the city’s image and attract residents who could raise average income, educational attainment and other factors.
Argent officials say they’ll begin pre-selling the proposed condos later this month to secure financing and start construction.

One person died and at least two people were injured during a head-on crash in Adair County, this (Tuesday) morning. The Iowa State Patrol told WHO-TV that the accident happened on Highway 25, about three-miles north of Greenfield, at about 5:45-a.m.  Officials said a southbound Ford SUV went out of control on the snow covered road, and collided with a northbound Buick sedan. Three people were in the SUV. One person was in the car. One of the SUV’s occupants died at the scene.

Two other were taken to the hospital in Greenfield. A fourth person was not injured. Both lanes of the Highway remained blocked for several hours, with a detour in-place. The road was re-opened by 11:19-a.m. No names have been released, and no other information is currently available.