The
Good Sports
Tiger HI-LINE
Friday, May. 23, 2014
Tigers accept responsibilities on and off the playing fields/ See story on page 4
Follow us on Twitter at tigerhiline, Facebook at TigerHilineOnline and on our website at www.hiline.cfschools.org
Volume 53 Edition 26
Working for a Song
Buzz about raising minimum wage has some students, staff talking
The minimum wage in Iowa is currently $7.25 an hour, but that may be about to change. During the last legislative session in Iowa, the topic was brought up, but never made it to the floor. A group called “Raise Minimum Wage Iowa” is now attempting to raise awareness for the issue in an attempt to get it back into the legislative discussion and maybe to even get a bill passes before the end of the year. The minimum wage is the lowest legal amount that an employer can pay an employee either by the law or by special agreement. If a bill is passed, the minimum wage in Iowa will rise to $10.10. There are arguments on both sides on whether or not the existing wage should change. Democrats in the Iowa state legislature think that the minimum wage should be raised because the current minimum wage has not adapted to inflation, and because of the this, many minimum wage earners are living below the poverty line. Those in favor of a raise argue that another major reason to raise it is that when more people have more money, they will buy more goods, and that will ripple throughout the whole economy. CFHS economics teacher Chris Dyvig says that the minimum wage that companies pay is not related to the companies’ income. “McDonalds is a good ex-
ample, as they start all their workers out at minimum wage and have for the last 6 years. However over the last 6 years, McDonalds profits have grown significantly and they have given their shareholders a dividend raise each of the last 6 years, a 45% raise over a 6 year period, however,
their entry-level employees still make $7.25 an hour, the same amount they were paid in 2008.” In an interview with Bloomberg TV, McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson says that even though McDonalds’ employees start out at minimum wage, there are many opportunities.
“We’re about providing opportunity,” Thompson said. “When we can help people to be able to have viable income, we make sure we do that.” Republicans in the Iowa legislature, however, think that minimum wage should not be raised. The reasons for this are that because employers will
This school year has brought many changes including the very well-known intervention system, creating more opportunities for students to get help from the teachers throughout the day. The system was broken up into three major parts; academic zone, small study hall and the commons. The use of the small study hall has been seen to have extreme success this school year, and it’s the teachers that have played the biggest role in the success by having a core class
teacher in both the academic zone and in the small study hall during each period, thus allowing students to talk to either teacher when they need assistance in a core class. The success is in the numbers, “Students are anxious to complete their homework and assignments on time,” assistant principal Dana Deines said. “We looked back at data from the previous semester and saw that there were 34 percent fewer [failures than in the past].” With the help of referrals
and help from the small study hall, students have become better at studying and getting everything turned in and graded. Last semester there were around 500 referrals to the small study halls; however, one student can be referred several times throughout the semester . “Quite a few [students] are able to get in, use the resources offered and get out [fairly soon],” math teacher Joe Brown said. The system also benefits teachers. The most helpful part is “communica-
tions between teachers, [by keeping track of the] assignments between the teachers.” As of now, the intervention system is making a great impression. So much that the system is set to continue into the school years to come, though there will be a few changes. “Next year, there’ll be an additional five minutes each day, making classes 45 minutes long,” Deines said. “[We also hope to] move small study hall closer to the academic zone.” With these small changes, the 2014-2015 school year
Aysenur Parpucu Photo
Rocking out on the fake guitar outside of Little Caesar’s is senior Luke Kreger. He said that during the fall and winter time he works inside Little Caesar’s and makes pizzas and pretty much everything they need him to do inside, but during the spring and summer, he works outside, advertising by playing the guitar and dancing a little.
have to pay more wages to their workers, they may have to lay some workers off in order to balance their budgets, and that could increase the unemployment rate. Another reason against it is that employers may hire less people in order to balance their budgets. Pizza Ranch manager Sam Pearce sees both sides of the argument. “I think that the minimum wage is fine where it is at, but I definitely see the other side of the argument,” Pearce said. “It is hard to make a living off of $7.25 and hour.” Dyvig thinks that minimum wage should be raised. “I support a raise in the min wage, and would support a law where raises would be builtin every three years based on cost of living adjustments. That way, business would be able to plan for wage hikes, and the workers would be guaranteed earning a more competitive wage.” Dyvig said. Sophomore Jacob Watters, who used to work at Texas Roadhouse as a service assistant. “For high school students, I think the current minimum wage is enough,” Watters said. “But for adults, I’m not sure. If they have enough money to invest in an education they should be doing that, but if not, then maybe it should be raised. By Staff Writer Zuhayr
ALAM
Intervention plan continues to make strides
will end each of its school days at 2:50 p.m. and have small study hall closer to the academic zone for students to have a chance to talk to multiple or different teachers in a core class. This way if a student has a question in biology and there’s a chemistry teacher in the small study hall, the student has a quicker route to check in the academic zone for a biology teacher. By Staff Writer MacKenzie
DALLENBACH