DES MOINES — Yesterday Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced at their weekly press conference the creation of a Chronic Absenteeism Advisory Council to address chronic absenteeism in Iowa schools.

Branstad and Reynolds were joined by Jean Kresse, President and CEO of United Way of Story County and current Board Chair of the statewide United Ways of Iowa organization. Plans to create the Chronic Absenteeism Advisory Council were announced at the 2016 Future Ready

Iowa Summit, which began a statewide conversation about how to close the skills gap, one of the biggest challenges Iowa faces.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10 percent or more of schools days for any reason, excused or unexcused. In Iowa, that means at least 18 days of school a year, or nearly a month. Chronically absent students are more than one and a half times less likely to be proficient in reading by the end of third grade according to analysis by the Child and Family Policy Center. In Iowa, nearly 25 percent of students did not read proficiently by the end of third grade in 2014-2015. Those numbers reflect the skills gap that could potentially be keeping students from graduating from high school ready for college or career training.

The Council will meet once a month in Des Moines at the Grimes State Office Building starting in August and make final recommendations to the Administration in November. Each meeting is held from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Council includes many educators, school board representatives, non-profit and business leaders as well as state legislators.

Meeting Dates:

Tuesday, August 16 – Basement Room 100

Tuesday, Sept. 20 – ICN Room, Second Floor

Tuesday, Oct. 18 – Basement Room 100

Tuesday, Nov. 15 – Basement Room 100

Story provided by The Oskaloosa Herald

Plans for “Let Freedom Ring,” Montezuma’s annual July 4th observance, were front and center during the Montezuma Community Boosters’ monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 8, in city hall.

This year’s event will be on Saturday, July 2.

Time for the children’s parade is 10 a.m., with the big parade to follow directly.

A grand marshal and special guests were nominated and voted on. They will be announced closer to the date of the event.

The usual lineup of events will take place, but there are some additions and adjustments. The Poweshiek County Historical Society will host a bake sale at 8 a.m. and an ice cream social after the parade.

A corn bag tourney will be held on 4th St., on the block north of Main, after the parade.

Montezuma Public Library will have a book sale from 8 a.m. to noon.

The High Bank Boys will play in the courthouse area after the parade.

Parade announcing will be provided by Dr. George Salnave and Linda Hamilton.

This is not an all-inclusive list. That list, including the Lions chicken BBQ at 11 a.m., and a pancake breakfast, will be published in coming days.

In other business, Whitney Baethke of Montezuma Community Development said that Montezuma Farmers Markets will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on the same days as the upcoming Summer Nights programs. The market will be on the sidewalks on the southwest corner of courthouse square.

It was noted that about 160 or so took advantage of the Montezuma Night at the Iowa Cubs game. There was some discussion to making the date for next year’s excursion a little later in the year, but no action was taken. There again were good reports from those attending in terms of having fun and receiving excellent value.

It was noted that Montezuma’s 150th anniversary takes place in 2018, and the Boosters indicated they want to coordinate with the city and the historical society on a celebration event.

OSKALOOSA — Mahaska Health Partnership’s Relay for Life team, the MHP Jaywalkers, held a “pie in the face” contest as their main fundraiser.
Five MHP leaders agreed to get pies in their faces if enough funds were donated per person.

CEO Jay Christensen, Chief Nursing Officer Darlene Keuning, Business Development Director Ross Schultz and Director of Emergency Services Andrea Hagist each received multiple pies in their faces as fellow employees watched with glee.
Relay for Life of Mahaska County will be held on Saturday, June 25 from 10 am – 10 pm on the square in Oskaloosa. Multiple events will be available throughout the day, with the common goal to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Join in the fight against cancer; for more information, look up Relay for Life of Mahaska County IA on Facebook.

Director of Surgical Services Michele Manternach, enjoys smearing a whip cream pie in CEO Jay
Christensen’s face. Though it was hot, employees enjoyed the spectacle and supporting a great cause.

Story provided by the Oskaloosa Herald