Author: Theresa Rose

Date  Monday, August 10, 2020   6:00 PM

Mount Pleasant Community School District:  High School Media Center

Mount Pleasant, Iowa 52641

1.   Call to Order
   2.    Roll Call
   3.    Approval of Agenda
   4.   Citizen Comments
   5.   Approval of Minutes, Claims, Financials
   6.    Reports
   a.      Instructional Report – Update on beginning of school year preparations – Katie Gavin, Dir. of Instruction
   b.      Superintendent’s Report
   1.      New Teacher Orientation – Friday, August 14 @ 8am, HS Media Center
   2.      First Day for all Teachers – Monday, August 17
   3.      Instructional Support Levy Renewal Information
   4.      Work Session August 24 @ 6pm: Review Student Learning Goals and Assessment Data
   5.      Iowa Association of School Board Convention: Nov. 18 and 19, Virtual
   6.      School Board Annual and Organizational Meeting Policies
   c.       Board Committee Reports
                               i.      Finance
   ii.      Site
   iii.      Policy
   7.    Other Board Communications
   8.    Consent Items
   a.   Personnel
   b.   Open Enrollment
   9.    Unfinished Business
   10.  New Business
   a.      Approve IASB Legislative Priorities for 2021 Legislative Session     (Motion)
   b.      First Reading with Recommendation to Post Notice of Intended Action,
   New Board Policy 105 Discrimination and Harassment Based on Sex Prohibited (Title IX) (Motion)
   c.       Consideration to Approve Return to Learn Plan     (Motion)
   d.      Adjournment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Collin C. Peterson (D-MN), Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Rodney Davis (R-IL), co-chairs of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus, led a letter with 32 members of Congress to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, to request additional resources for the biofuels sector in the next piece of coronavirus relief legislation.

“Biofuels production is a major piece of the rural economy in our districts, and we urge you to explicitly include much-needed assistance for the sector in the next piece of coronavirus relief legislation. For example, language requiring the Secretary to provide a per-gallon payment to producers for renewable fuels produced during the COVID-19 pandemic. This mandate from Congress is necessary to ensure that the United States Department of Agriculture has the statutory authority they deem necessary to provide aid to the biofuels sector, and to guarantee assistance for the farmers and plant workers,” the Members of Congress wrote.

As a result of state mandated closures and stay at home orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the biofuels industry has already seen a reduction in demand for corn by over 500 million bushels.  As a result, many biofuels plants reduced production to curb losses, while others shut down entirely.

The House passed Heroes Act includes language to provide a per-gallon payment to biofuels producers for fuel produced during the COVID-19 emergency. The bipartisan Biofuels Caucus supports the inclusion of this language in the next Coronavirus relief bill.

The following members of Congress also signed the letter: Cindy Axne (D-IA), Don Bacon (R-NE), James R. Baird (R-IN), Mike Bost (R-IL), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Andre Carson (D-IN), David N. Cicilline (D-RI), Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO), Angie Craig (D-MN), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Abby Finkenauer (D-IA), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Sam Graves (R-MO), Jim Hagedorn (R-MN), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Ron Kind (D-WI), Steve King (R-IA), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Jason Smith (R-MO), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Ann Wagner (R-MO) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN).

Biofuels groups have expressed their support for the funding assistance:

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor: “We’re grateful to our congressional champions who are working overtime to stop the bleeding and offer hope for farm communities. With continued uncertainty around COVID-19, and states, like California, Texas, and Florida returning to lockdown, the stakes are too high to leave any stone unturned. Leaders in Congress must work quickly to protect rural jobs and give us the certainty we need to rebuild America’s agricultural supply chain.”

Renewable Fuels Association CEO and President Geoff Cooper: “We sincerely thank these leaders in the House for their determined efforts to secure targeted and specific emergency relief for renewable fuel producers in the pending stimulus legislation. The ethanol industry has already lost more than $3.4 billion in revenues due to COVID-19 and economic damages continue to mount, as fuel demand and prices remain well below normal levels. These Representatives understand the importance of renewable fuels and they know we simply cannot afford to leave behind our nation’s rural communities and the 350,000 jobs supported by the ethanol industry.”

National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Ross: “Corn demand, farm commodity prices and rural communities have all felt the impact of significant disruptions in the biofuels market. As Congressional Leaders work to find agreement on a new recovery package, NCGA appreciates the work of the House Biofuels Caucus to direct USDA to provide assistance to biofuel producers and help keep this vital corn market stabilized and functioning.”

National Sorghum Producers CEO Tim Lust: “The last six months have been some of the most difficult in the history of the ethanol industry and U.S. agriculture more broadly. The demand destruction that occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic further illustrates the dire need for support for the U.S. ethanol industry and more outlets for their products. We greatly appreciate the work of the House Agriculture Committee and call on Congress to support ethanol producers during this difficult time.”

Wayland Sewer Lining Schedule 8/10/2020 to 8/15/2020. Crew will start working Monday 8/10 and work 7 days a week until lining is finished or they reach AUGUST 31^st .

8/10/2020

The Alley between Second & Third St. from South Washington St. to South Pearl St.

North Cleveland St. from West Front St. North ½ Block.

8/11/2020

Front St. from North Cleveland St. to North Jackson St.

West Railroad St. from North Pearl St. to ½ Block West.

8/12/2020

North Jefferson St. from Depot St. South ½ Block.

Alley between Front St. & Depot St. from Jefferson St. to ½ Block East.

North Pearl St. from the South side of Highway 78 to the NE to the North side of Highway 78.

8/13/2020

East Railroad St. from ½ Block East of North Madison St. to ½ Block West of North Roosevelt St.

East Main St. from 400’ West of the East End to 150’ West of the East End.

8/14/2020

West Main St. from North Lincoln St. to North Jackson St.

Alley between West Third St. & West Fourth St. from ½ Block West of South Pearl St. to just short of South Washington St.

8/15/2020

South Jefferson St. from ½ Block South of West Second St. to ½ Block North of Front St.

Front St.  from North Adams St. to ½ Block East.

(Des Moines, IA) Iowa native, actor, and philanthropist Ashton Kutcher will participate in COVID Recovery Iowa’s “Tell Me a Story,” a virtual story time for Iowans of all ages. Kutcher will read The Book With No Pictures, by B.J. Novak, in a pre-recorded video which will air at 10 a.m. on Monday, August 10, 2020 on the “Tell Me a Story” Facebook page, and on the COVID Recovery Iowa YouTube Channel.

COVID Recovery Iowa is for Iowans who have been impacted in any way by COVID-19. In addition to support groups, activities, and resources, COVID Recovery Iowa offers virtual counseling to all Iowans at no cost. COVID Recovery Iowa is administered by the Iowa Department of Human Services, made possible with support from FEMA, and is an extension of Project Recovery Iowa. COVID Recovery Iowa utilizes partnerships with a statewide network of service delivery providers to determine how best to serve each individual participant.

Kutcher is just one of many well-known Iowans, along with the COVID Recovery Iowa staff, who will read pre-recorded stories to help Iowa kids and their families cope during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Tell Me a Story” sessions will also include stories for bilingual children and families.

Mandy Gesme, a mental health therapist for Pathways Behavioral Services says “Tell Me a Story” helps children and their parents connect amidst this difficult time and gives a sense of routine. “It provides a family-friendly activity and sparks conversations that allow parents and children to connect and focus on something positive. It may also allow parents to have a few moments to themselves while their children listen to a story,” says Gesme.

For more information on COVID Recovery Iowa, including access to resources visit www.COVIDrecoveryiowa.org. COVID Recovery Iowa can also be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Mount Pleasant Community School District School Board Committee Meetings

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING 

Mt. Pleasant CSD – Central Office

1010 East Washington Street – Suite 102

Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641

The Mount Pleasant Board of Education FINANCE COMMITTEE will meet at 2:30pm on Friday, August 7, 2020, to review/discuss:

1. Instructional Support Levy Renewal Information
2. Return to Learn Plan Review

POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING

Mt. Pleasant CSD – Central Office

1010 East Washington Street – Suite 102

The Mount Pleasant Board of Education POLICY COMMITTEE will meet at 4:10pm on Friday, August 7, 2020 to review/discuss:

1. Review Iowa Association of School Board Legislative Priorities
2. First Reading of new Board Policy 105 Discrimination and Harassment Based on Sex Prohibited (Title IX)
3. Review Return to Learn Plan

 These meetings are open to the public and patrons are welcome.

West Burlington, IA —  This fall, SCC will offer an Early Childhood Education Associate of Applied Science Degree. Students who successfully complete the program will be prepared to work in licensed child care centers or pre-school settings. It will be offered at the West Burlington and Keokuk campuses.

SCC Dean of Career and Technical Education, Dr. Ashlee Spannagel, says this program is unique to the state of Iowa. SCC faculty and administration worked with dozens of stakeholders including local public school officials, Great Prairie AEA, the Iowa Department of Education, child care providers, and economic developers.

“Many Iowans lack access to quality childcare, and three out of four kids under the age of nine have parents who work full-time,” explains Spannagel. “It’s not just a child development or education issue. It has economic impacts for working families and local businesses.”

The program is designed to provide a pipeline of skilled professionals to find employment in child care centers and related service providers. It also prepares students for careers in education to replace the increasing number of teachers who retiring out of area schools.

Students will be able to choose one of two pathways: Child Care Management or Educator Licensure/Transfer.

The Child Care Management Pathway will be two years in length; this involves multiple, stackable credentials including three certificates, one diploma, a two-year degree, and a national- and industry-recognized credential. Students who complete this pathway will have the skills necessary to serve in an entry-level or management capacity at a child care facility or own a child care facility.

The stackable credentials provide added flexibility.

“Since students earn credentials along the way, they become qualified for more jobs at each step and increase their employability,” continues Spannagel.

The Educator Licensure/Transfer Pathway will provide students with the fundamental knowledge and skills to works with students within an early childhood setting, but students will also be prepared to transfer to complete a bachelor’s degree in education and ultimately obtain a license through the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.

Through a special articulation agreement, graduates will be admitted into Iowa Wesleyan’s Elementary Education Teacher Education Program enabling students to complete a licensure program locally in two years.

“We worked hard to make sure this program would be versatile because it’s so critical our region,” Spannagel says. “Students can prepare for careers in child care and possibly even open their own businesses. Or they can get a good start of becoming a teacher before having to transfer to complete their degree.”

For more information about the program, visit scciowa.edu or call (319) 208-5000.

For more news or to learn about Southeastern Community College, visit http://www.scciowa.edu/rss/news/index.html