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Daily News
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014
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Babysitter pleads to lesser charge By Jamee A. Pierson Daily News Staff Writer
A Newton child care provider has pleaded guilty to child endangerment a n d w a s s e n tenced to two years of probation. S ara Stepanek L. Stepan e k , 54, was charged March 7, 2013 after a 10-monthold infant Stepanek was babysitting suffered acute subdural and retinal hemorrhaging after she allegedly dropped him.
Stepanek was initially charged with child endangerment causing serious injury, a Class C felony. She pleaded to child endangerment, an aggravated misdemeanor. According to court documents, Stepanek notified the child’s mother of a medical issue about an hour after his mother left him in her care. His mother took him to Skiff Medical Center and he was later flown by helicopter to Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines where he was diagnosed. In addition to the two years of probation, Stepanek was ordered to pay $660 in restitution and a $625 fine.
Park Board discusses future plans for Westwood clubhouse By Jamee A. Pierson Daily News Staff Writer The future of the clubhouse at Westwood Golf Course was heavily discussed at Newton’s Park Board meeting on Wednesday at the Newton Arboretum. Options ranged from improving what is there to building a completely new structure. The current clubhouse, 3387 Highway F-48 W., was built in the 1920s with additions put on in the 1960s,
1980s and early 1990s. In its current condition, there are many issues that would need to be addressed. “Where the new bathrooms are conjoined onto the old building, there’s plenty of water that comes through there on really hard rains as well as when the snow melts in the spring,” Brad Sponseller, golf pro at Westwood Golf Course said. WESTWOOD See Page 3A
Newton, Iowa
Ty Rushing/Daily News Attorney Christy Hickman, right, spoke Wednesday on behalf of the Iowa State Education Association — which represents more than 36,000 teachers in the state — to oppose a rule change by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners that would change requirements to be a special education teacher in the state.
Special education reform met with strong opposition By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
DES MOINES — One size doesn’t fit all is the argument Iowa educators and educational advocates are making to a proposal from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners to change the way special education teachers are certified in the state. “Everyone present here today can agree that more special educators are necessary, but as you can see from the number of special educators and parents in attendance, there are some concerns to the proposed solution to this problem,” said Michael Couvillon, a Drake University professor who spoke on behalf of the school’s education department. Couvillion’s comments were made during a public hearing Wednesday held by IBBE that contained a standing room only crowd. The board of examiners is proposing a singular K-12 special education license in the
state. Currently, Iowa teachers can teach special education under a strategist I certification, which covers K-8 students, or a strategist II certification, which covers 5-12 students. This proposed change would not only affect potential special education teachers, but it also wouldn’t grandfather in practicing special education teachers in the state. Instead, once those teachers current certifications expire, they would be required to take additional courses to fall in line with the new standards. IBEE’s plan also doesn’t specify if the state, school districts or if the teachers themselves would have to pay for the courses to earn the new certification. Representatives from Drake weren’t the only ones to blast the proposal — education department heads from Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, Central College, Grand View University, Simpson College and Buena Vista University also spoke out on the measure. Carl Smith, ISU’s associ-
NFD promotes awareness
ate director of administration, said his school currently has 50 full-time faculty members and a number of adjuncts under employment, but this proposal would force them to hire more staff. He said this would be financially difficult for an institution as large as ISU, and that it could be crippling to the state’s smaller colleges and universities. “We understand the proposed change is an intent to address the hiring difficulty by school administrators due to the special ed teacher shortage across Iowa; however, hiring relief for districts through a single special education credential should not overshadow the unique need of students being served,” said Jennifer Ulie-Wells, who serves as Grand View University’s only special education professor. “The increase in coursework places a heavy burden on colleges and universities, particularly small universities like ours. We have one person, that’s me,
School board elects new leaders By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News “If you see the Fire Department in October, we’re going to be in pink,” said Rick Norrish, firefighter and paramedic. The Newton Fire Department will wear pink for the month of October to promote breast cancer awareness. They are also making a donation to the Pink Ribbon Support Group of Jasper County. “We wanted to do something locally,” Norrish said.
SPED See Page 3A
After two years at the helm, Andy Elbert turned over his gavel to Sheri Benson, who will now serve as the president of the Newton Community School District Board of Education. Benson was elected to the position in a unanimous decision by the board after she was nominated by board member Donna Cook. Bill Perrenoud was elected as board vice-
president, the position Benson previously held, over Robyn Friedman in an anonymous vote. Before the election took place, the board handled a bit of business in its previous incarnation and voted on the four measures it feels the Iowa School Board Association should make its legislative priorities with the Iowa State Legislature. After receiving a recommendation from BOARD See Page 3A
Shots available for the start of flu season
Cardinals to clash with Tigers in showdown
With the cold and flu season rapidly approaching, flu shots and sprays are starting to be offered at local businesses as well as through the school.| 2A
No. 9 Gilbert’s Tigers present a challenge for Newton High’s Cardinals in their third Class 3A District 6 game of the season. On Friday, Cardinals will travel to Gilbert. | 1B
INDEX Local Health • 2A 7
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Calendar • 5A Obituaries • 5A
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High 77 Low 61 State News • 7A Opinion • 4A
Comics & Puzzles • 6A Dear Abby • 6A
Classifieds • 4B Astrograph • 5B
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Volume No. 113 No. 91 2 sections, 14 pages