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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday,
September 6, 2007 |
Anamosa School Board Candidates Participate in Community Forum
by Ben Parker |
Town members had the opportunity to attend a public forum, held on August 30 at 7 p.m. at the Anamosa Public Library, featuring the three candidates who are running for open positions on the Anamosa School Board. The candidates are Jim Mitchell, Julie VonMuenster and Brian Bieber, and they were there to make their views known on whatever questions were asked, either by mediator Joline Bierbrodt or the attending audience.
Both Mitchel and VonMuenster are current members of the board, and Mitchel serves as the board president. Brian Bieber, however, is a new face.
Bieber’s a local owner of a small business who was born and raised in Anamosa. He has three children in the school system that are heavily involved in extra-curricular activities such as sports and the FFA, and Bieber attends. He has also donated time to the school, like to the drama department to help build sets. Any position on the board requires the time and attention of the spot holder, and Bieber claims that he can be anywhere at any time.
Each candidate had to answer the following from Mrs. Bierbrodt before opening them up to questions from the audience: How do you think our district is applying the full inclusion policies for special education? Is there more that we need to be doing? What do you think are our district’s strengths and/or weaknesses? What can you bring to the board that can improve this? What do you see as the board’s role in the construction of a new building or buildings for our school district?
Bieber was allowed to start off the answers to the first. He answered openly, feeling that the school was doing well. In regards to the students receiving special education, he said, “There’s a lot of hidden talent.” When it comes to integrating them with the whole of the rest of the student body, he feels that making them feel like they’re fully a part is a good thing.
VonMuenster and Mitchel both had prepared answers that showed their knowledge as long-standing board members about the specifics behind the program. VonMuenster mentioned that the High School has implemented the program that satisfies state and national requirements, and each student has access to qualified teachers. However, she listed a great deal of items that need to be addressed in the future, like implementing the program at the middle or elementary school levels.
Mitchel pointed out that many of the students requiring special education are sent here from other schools. Each student has and IEP, or Individualized Educational Plan that the staff follows through on. However, he believes that it is everyone’s job to make sure that the students aren’t misdirected. The IEP has to be monitored and make sure that it’s working for that student.
VonMuenster started off answering the second question by listing all the strengths she has seen in the system. She mentioned a variety of things such as the new reading and science programs at the high school, the growing community and what affect that has on enrollment, and the current financial soundness in the district. Of course, she admitted that the system still has a lot of challenges. A more effective use of the block program at the high school has yet to be found and curriculum still needs to be streamlined.
Some programs are up for evaluation. She would personally like to see regular updates to the board on the issue of bullying.
Mitchel echoed VonMuenster’s positive response about the recent upswing in ACT scores from the high school, and the increase of 50 students this year. He went so far as to claim that the growth was greater than that of Marion and Cedar Rapids schools, combined. He went further to add that technology in our school system has improved drastically.
“We currently have more computers and laptops than any other school of our size in the state,” he said.
The biggest weakness he saw was that it is hard for anyone on the board to keep informed.
Bieber has seen a lot of good administration. He thinks that it is one of our district’s greatest strengths when he sees a lot of students who are not uncomfortable at school, and who actually want to go, such as for band and choir. “I see that as a very positive thing,” he said. However, block scheduling, he believes, is holding our students back, and views it as too limiting. He believes that having seven or eight classes in a day would help students keep focused on what they are learning.
Mitchel was first to address the next question, and concluded that the board could only give guidance, but the construction was, in the end, up to the architectural firm the board chose.
Bieber added to that that he felt the board’s job should be to make sure things were in line and up to code.
VonMuenster echoed the other candidates that the board’s role is to listen and find help when it comes to new construction. However the board is responsible for interviewing and finding the right architectural firm. The process, she admitted, does take a lot of time.
From the audience, the candidates were first asked what the appropriate roll for the board was when deciding tenure for teachers?
Mitchel answered by saying the board’s job was to make sure all district employees were being monitored. “Are they doing their job, and are they doing it well?” he asked, figuratively.
VonMuenster clarified that it was never the board’s place to decide who has tenure.
“It’s an administrative decision to do that,” she said.
The board can ask about a person’s performance, but can’t do anything unless a situation escalates to a hearing. Then the board acts ad judge and jury. Not knowing anything about the full process.
Bieber could only say what he felt the board should do: Work with the administration to see that things got done.
The candidates were then asked their view on the current form of block scheduling at the High School. Since Bieber had already mentioned his view on the subject, the question was left to Mitchel and VonMuenster.
Mitchel answered first, explaining the difficulties behind getting the students into all their desired or required classes with the current modified block format. The problem didn’t lie with just the schedule but the sheer number of students signing up for any particular class, and assigning students can get very complicated. As to changing the format, he said that the choice was up to the administration and professional staff.
“I just know I wish the perfect schedule would fall out of the sky,” VonMuenster said. She then went on to explain that there was no perfect schedule. The current four by four block was chosen after extensive research had been conducted regarding the use of time in any given year.
Finally, Jim Mitchel and Julie VonMuenster were asked why the high school schedule couldn’t be returned to the traditional seven classes in a day.
Both explained that the mandated four years of English and Math, as well as the increasing requirements from the state colleges and universities was the reason the high school had switched to block scheduling in the first place.
The school board election is slated for September 11. |
AmericInn Still Looking for Investors
By Michelle Phillips |
David Harchanko of Category 5 Development Group, Inc. spent last week meeting with potential investors in an AmericInn, which would be located near J&P Cycles in the commercial park.
Harchanko said he has secured about three-fourths of the funds needed to construct the hotel.
“We’re still about $350,000 away,” he said.
John Parham, owner of J&P Cycles, has donated land and invested money in the project, but Harchanko said there is still an opportunity to invest in the hotel. The investment is considered long-term.
He has gathered investment information, and a market study was conducted by Greg Henis. The report shows the market as above average for tourism but below average for business traveler.
Winter occupancy is often locals who want to get the kids out of the house or go someplace with a pool.
“We can see a need for an AmericInn in the community,” Harchanko stated. “I think the market is stronger than it reads. The hard thing about analyzing Anamosa is there’s only one hotel.
If all goes as planned, Harchanko is hoping to break ground on the hotel in the fall with a proposed opening date in late spring 2008. If the hotel were constructed, it would be the first business to locate in the Anamosa Commercial Park. Parham is hoping to put in a restaurant and shops near the hotel.
Those interested in learning about the hotel as an investment opportunity can reach Harchanko at 612-220-0180. |
Legislative Roundtable Held Concerning Arts and Cultural Affairs
By Michelle Phillips |
The third of three meetings held by Gordon Hendrickson from the State Historical Society and Department of Cultural Affairs and Mary Sundet Jones from the Iowa Arts Council took place at Grounds and Goodies on Main Street in Anamosa on August 31. The meetings were designed to get people’s opinions on what can be done in regards to art and historical preservation. The other meetings took place in Council Bluffs and Des Moines.
About ten people attended, including representatives from the Jones County Preservation Commission and the Jones County Conservation Board, as well as the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED). In fact, someone from the IDED attended each of the meetings, which was a good sign to Hendrickson.
“We need to redevelop our relations with the IDED,” he said.
Hendrickson wanted to know if people perceived any barriers that could be modified without having to dip into the budget. One example he mentioned was modifying the threshold for preservation programs, lowering them so they could be more accessible.
He also wanted to know if there were any programs that needed to be put into place that didn’t already exist. |
Gordon Hendrickson from the Iowa Historical Society and the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs addresses the 10 people that arrived at Grounds and Goodies to discuss items to be taken to the Iowa Legislature; Below: Participants take part in a roundtable discussion, one of three held throughout the state. |
All the information from these three meetings will be compiled and developed into a plan, which would then be made available to constituent groups so they could advocate it in the state legislature.
After a brief introduction from everybody in attendance, he started off by asking: “So, what kinds of things can we be working on?”
One of the subjects discussed at length was the availability of talented artists but no connections to take advantage of opportunities. Santiago Sanchez, a local artist, brought up the subject.
Currently, a well-known artist with many contracts under his belt, Sanchez credits his teachers for opening up opportunities to him. He wanted to know if there was anything that could be done to address the problem of declining art in school curriculums. He suggested a mentorship program.
Another problem is one of advertising. Many students who have gone to school as artists end up working outside their field of expertise because they don’t know where to find the contracts they can bid on. A lot of suggestions were brought up, ranging from a website or book with a list of projects or artists for contract to entrepreneurial training for artists.
Someone had the idea to help spread the name of artists beyond their community and to promote and hold recognition events.
Hendrickson went so far as to suggest teaming up with the power company to have the giant wind generators stylistically decorated.
Some of the suggestions have solutions. The state does have an artist roster available online at www.iowaartscouncil.org as well as a site for artists to display their work at www.buyiowaart.com.
However, very few people know about these, in or out of state. Iowa does not have a reputation for artists and more needs to be done to advertise that fact.
The other subject to receive a lengthy discussion was that of cultural districts. Hendrickson mentioned there was strong talk among legislators to develop a package of incentives for cultural district towns. He wanted to know what kind of incentives people felt were needed.
A technical consultant was suggested. Many communities want to include art and culture in their development but have no clue how to go about doing so. Cash incentives were brought up. How the idea of a cultural district is advertised needs to be strengthened. It was also suggested that legislation be implemented to bring challenge grants similar to those for ‘Main Street Communities’ down to the state level using state funds. Elkader is an example of a Main Street Community.
Towns and cities have to apply, and usually receive a great deal of technical assistance if they are labeled as a Main Street Community.
There were a few other questions posed to Hendrickson near the end about insurance and retirement for artists and small business, or about mini-grants for conservation arts. If it didn’t have an immediate solution, like the insurance topic, it would be added to the plan to be put in front of the legislature. If it did have a solution, like the mini-grants, then the problem came back to public knowledge and finding a way to make things known. |
Richardson Makes Campaign Stop in Anamosa
By Ben Parker |
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson stopped in Anamosa after taking part in the Cancer Research Forum in Iowa City, hosted by Lance Armstrong on August 27. Armstrong had personally called and asked Richardson to attend the forum as a friend. As Iowa is the first caucus state, it seemed like a good opportunity for him to express his views on Cancer Research and preventive medicine.
Richardson addressed a small gathering of nearly thirty people about his tour in Iowa and his plans as president, starting with his first six days. He planned on touring as much of the state as he could, heading to towns he couldn’t pronounce like Maquoketa, as well as towns he could pronounce, and even towns with no people.
There was a long list of things he was supposed to address when he was introduced, and he tackled them all.
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Presidential candidate Bill Richardson laughs with Anamosans during a stop at the Lawrence Community Center on August 27. Richardson first spoke of his plans for the country and followed up by taking questions form the audience. |
His biggest issue was the war, explaining that these summer months have been the deadliest three months, not just for U.S. Troops but for Iraqis as well. Richardson is firmly set to bring troops back, Not just some of them, but all of them and within six to eight months.
“I’ve been to the region,” he said, and then explained that the troops are targets over there. “It is a civil war there, a sectarian conflict.”
But, he wouldn’t just cut out and leave Iraq as it was. He has a diplomatic plan to reconcile the three religious groups.
Moving on to education, Richardson believes that a lot can be done to improve early education for students and teachers alike, such as returning mandatory physical education and art programs to keep the kids healthy and expand their imaginations. Programs can be implemented to help spur on the talented.
One of the biggest changes he would make is a minimum wage for teachers nationwide to at least $40,000 a year.
As for the No Child Left Behind Act, he said, “One-size-fits-all testing is not working.”
Regarding the American economy, Richardson knows that not all is well. He wants to stop the shrinking number of unions and get union membership up to 20% from the current eight. One of the keys to his state’s success is fiscal responsibility and pushing for an amendment to balance the budget in five years. “We currently owe other nations, such as China and Japan, nine trillion dollars. We have to do something about that debt before we can begin to looking at spending on things such as healthcare and education,” Richardson said.
“It’s got to be universal,” he said about health care, explaining that everyone should be covered.
Currently, one third of all health care funding does not go into direct care and that’s several hundred million dollars. Richardson would see that that one third is pulled away from mere administrative costs and insurance companies that do not cover direct care. He would give incentive for medicine, preventive programs and cancer research.
On energy, Richardson said 65% of oil is imported from countries that are not friendly. He intends to reduce our dependence over twelve years to about fifty percent, by finding alternative sources such as biofuels.
To make a dent on pollution, he explains that we have to make sacrifices in our choices of appliances, vehicles and other energy consuming devices. He would also fine large polluters.
In the end, the search for alternative energy will create high technology jobs, as well as agriculture.
To promote agribusiness, he also plans to do subsidy reform to help the family farms, instead of the huge corporate farms. He believes that they’re the real power behind agriculture.
Richardson promises the American people, “I’ll follow the Constitution of the United States.”
He would consult congress before going to war and would make sure that members of his staff are part of the executive branch.
Richardson opened the floor for questions from the audience. Here are a few of those questions:
What’s your view on global warming?: “I think it’s a threat,” he answered. He added that the country needs to make a shift to other sources of energy, although it would be impossible to completely get rid of fossil fuels. In order to get anything done, Richardson plans to implement targets and mandate reductions, such as dropping emissions by thirty percent by 2020. The technology is there, but it costs, so he would help to give companies incentives to finally do what needs to be done.
How about his view on immigration?
Richardson does believe that increasing border security agents, improving detection equipment, and leaving the National Guard to do its job are all major keys to help reduce the influx of illegals.
And, it all has to be done with full disclosure. Frank talks with countries like Mexico are also key.
Inside the country, those who knowingly hire illegal workers need to be punished.
And what do we do with the 12 million we have here? This is where Richardson stays true to himself. He explains that we have three options. Do nothing. Declare them all felons, round them up and export them. Or, set up a procedure that will provisionally allow them to stay. The third is what he’s in favor of, but it’s not giving them amnesty or making them a citizen. Illegal immigrants would have to go through five steps in order to stay, and they have to pass them all. They would have to:
• Learn English
• Pay back taxes for the time they were here
• Pay a fine for entering illegally
• Undergo a background check
• Embrace American values, or show they can behave as law-abiding citizens would.
For more information about Bill Richardson, feel free to visit his website at www.RichardsonForPresident.com |
Eagles Charter to Take Place in October
By Michelle Phillips |
After several months of recruiting members, the Fraternal Order of Eagles has enough members to begin a chapter in Anamosa.
“We’ll be receiving our charter and installation of officers on October 28 at 2:15 in the afternoon at the Lawrence Community Center,” said new Eagle member and AmVets Commander Jim Caswell.
Caswell said the group reached its original goal of 50 members, but is still looking to add more. In addition, the Eagles Auxiliary still needs women to join to get its own charter.
“Anyone who gets in before October 28 will be a charter member,” included Caswell.
The Eagles are planning to have a booth at Pumpkinfest as their first community event.
“We’re working on getting some t-shirts printed up and we’ll have balloons to give out to the kids during Pumpkinfest,” Caswell explained.
Those interested in joining the Eagles or Eagles Auxiliary can visit www.FOE.com or contact Mike Duehr at 563-557-1098 for more information. |
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