Newton
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Tuesday, April 29, 2014
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Newton, Iowa
Callaghan presents report in support of neighborhood schools
OBITUARIES Helen M. Horn, 76 Harlan L. Schuring, 78 Carroll E. Warner, 93 INSIDE TODAY
By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer The results the Newton Community School District received from both its demographic study and facilities study are laying the groundwork for some possible major changes in the future for Newton’s schools. Superintendent Bob Callaghan said at Monday’s school board meeting he and the rest of the district’s administrative team have been gathering what they’ve heard and read from the School Improvement Advisory Committee, the SIAC facilities
subcommittee, a teacher survey, community members and others that favor the district going back to neighborhood schools at the elementary level. “We need to think about a return to neighborhood schools,” Callaghan said, referencing his and the administrative teams findings from the listed groups. The district made the decision to switch from five neighborhood elementary schools to two K-3 buildings and two 4-6 buildings in 2010. When the decision was made, Woodrow Wilson was selected to continue to serve as an elementary build-
Local
ing over Emerson Hough in a 5-2 vote by that school board. Callaghan’s finding also indicated some other possible changes the district should consider in the future. “We need to think about having a minimum of three grade classrooms at each grade level. That we need to utilize our classroom space to accommodate smaller classroom sizes, particularly in the K-3 level,” Callaghan said. SCHOOLS See Page 5A
Council sets meeting on sale of bonds to fund new projects
Vocabulary Parade at Berg Elementary Page 2A
By Zach Johnson Daily News Staff Writer
Agriculture
Best Breaded Tenderloin Contest Page 8A
Submitted Photo Blues musician Liz Mandeville performs in Traverse City, Mich. Mandeville, who was recently inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame, enjoys touring and collaborating with other blues musicians. She will be presenting to students in Baxter for Blues in Schools today and performing for blues fans at Cadillac Jacks on Wednesday.
Sports
Vander Pol signs for Grand View
Chicago musician brings blues to students and fans
Page 1B
Weather
By Kate Malott Daily News Staff Writer Liz Mandeville is a small woman with a big voice. Even friends have called her “Little Miss Big Voice” and “One Woman Riot.” She’s played in Iowa numerous times over her 30-year career, including the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival in Davenport. Last spring, she was introduced to the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame. Today and tomorrow, Mandeville will be performing in Jasper County. Mandeville will be participating today in Blues in School for the Baxter Com-
Wednesday
High 48 Low 39
Thursday
High 49 Low 37 Weather Almanac
Mon., April 29 High 59 Low 51 .46 inch of rain
Astrograph Page 5B Classifieds Page 4B Comics & Puzzles Page 6A
By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
Opinion Page 4A Obituaries Page 3A Police Page 2A Our 112th Year No. 241
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Bolinger graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in business management at the height of the recession. With not many business management positions available due to the economy, Bolinger made a decision that would get her the general manger position at Boulders Inn &
Council approves two resolutions amending urban renewal plans By Zach Johnson Daily News Staff Writer
Suites. “I knew I had to begin from the bottom and work my way up in an industry, no matter if I didn’t know much about the industry,” Bolinger said. “I took a risk to try a new industry, BOULDERS See Page 5A
COUNCIL See Page 3A
MANDEVILLE See Page 5A
School district to renew talks with AT&T
Dear Abby Page 6A
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By Zach Johnson Daily News Staff Writer
BONDS See Page 5A
Newton City Council approved two resolutions April 21 amending the North Central and East-Mart urban renewal plans by unanimous votes. The plan specifies upcoming projects and cost for the North Central Urban Renewal Area in conformance with Iowa law. The area was created in downtown Newton in 1987 in order to facilitate redevelopment, clear blighted areas and promote economic development. The amendment cites anticipated bond projects in the district. The projects are being done in order to comply with a 2012 change in Iowa Code that mandated urban renewal plans specifically list all the projects and their costs. The projects for the North Central Urban Renewal Area Plan and costs include:
Bolinger new general manager at Boulders Monday is a day that marks the beginning of the work week, but last Monday it marked the beginning of a new job in a new industry for Boulders Inn & Suites General Manager Angie Bolinger.
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munity School District, an event that takes place around area schools to introduce and educate students about the blues and jazz. This program is supported and sponsored by the Iowa Arts Council Big Yellow School Bus Grant, the Baxter Parent Teacher Organization and Baxter School PBIS funds and is organized by the South Skunk Blues Society. She will start the morning out at Baxter Community School and throughout the day present to students in kindergarden through 12th grade.
The Newton City Council passed a resolution setting May 5 for a public hearing on the proposed issuance of three bonds not to exceed a total of $2,510,000. The May 5 meeting day gives the council an opportunity to set May 19 as the sale day of the bonds. Two of the three bonds are for essential corporate purposes, which value a total of $1,020,000. The third bond is for urban renewal process. The bonds are valued at $1,490,000 with a $30,000 issuance cost included.
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It’s been almost three months since the Newton Community School Board of Education made its decision to end discussions with AT&T on placing a cell phone tower on district property, and on Monday, it reversed that decision in a 4-2 vote. “It’s certainly attractive getting our attorney fees paid for, but on the other hand, I think of all the time it feels like we’ve wasted,” board member
Donna Cook said, prior to the vote. Cook and board member Bill Perrenoud were the two “No” votes. The board agreed to reopen discussions with AT&T and Steve Ward, who had been working with the district previously as the company’s representative. Ward apologized with how things went wayward previously and expressed a strong desire to get a deal done. During the discussion on the matter, Perrenoud presented Ward with a
series of questions on the deal and asked Ward “is there any way to guarantee that we wouldn’t be strung along again?” “My dad always said, ‘There’s no guarantees in life,’ but I want to get this deal done,” Ward said. By agreeing to reopen the discussion with AT&T, there were a number of things the district wanted changed from the previous contract. The new deal wouldn’t be anywhere near DISTRICT See Page 5A
Ty Rushing/Daily News AT&T Representative Steve Ward asked the Newton Community School District’s Board of Education to reconsider its decision in February to end negotiations with AT&T. In a 4-2 vote, the board agreed to re-enter talks with the company.