Thursday, July 3, 2025
Vol. 5, No. 46
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
Updates tighten open campus policy at PCM
Student behavior and work-based learning options further defined as school enters second year of program By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
PCM Community School District
Updates to the PCM open campus policy adds requirements for students to be able to use the privileges. The PCM School Board approved the updated documents unanimously during its June 16 meeting. “Last year was our first year with open campus, and, like anything, it was trial and error in some cases,” PCM High School Principal Kristen Souza said. “I’ve made some changes to the policy where I saw some gaps.” To be considered for the open campus program, students must now be enrolled in
a study hall period and have appropriate behavior in class. That adds to the already established points of having a passing status in all enrolled courses, having no missing work, no excessive tardies and have an attendance rate of 95 percent or higher, regardless of excuse. There were also additions made to the work-based learning portion of the policy. It states: To participate using work-based learning, qualified students must have an authorization form completed and signed by a parent. Once signed, qualified students are enrolled in a school-approved work-based learning place-
ment course, an online course through DMACC or another postsecondary enrollment options course, are in a study hall or have a paid job that does not interfere with other coursework. Students not enrolled in a WBL course who have a free period may not use work status as a reason to not have open campus privileges removed. “We had to put in some language about how students have to be enrolled in a school-approved work-based learning program,” Souza said. “We had a lot of students saying they had to work and therefore they were put on the open campus list and be allowed to leave. If they weren’t involved in work-
based learning, it was hard for us to verify.” Overall, the school has seen open campus as a positive for the district. When established, it was a part of the mission and strategic plan to help prepare students for college, career and life. Open campus is one way the district found to recognize the hard work of our students, while providing real-world opportunities for career-based learning. “It was a very good incentive,” Souza said. “Students get their work in and it is a good incentive for behavior, as well. It teaches them a lot of responsibility and time management.”
Democrats are starting 20 YEARS OF LITERATURE Prairie City Library early in the campaign Director Sue Ponder celebrates 20 years of for Congress hard work getting the library to where it is today
Potluck picnic lets constituents and party members get acquainted with Bohannan, Terrell
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Prairie City Library Director Sue Ponder celebrates 20 years serving readers in the new library building during an open house June 28.
Supervisors want to draft contract with conservation over nature center duties Idea met with skepticism, board wants to ensure it doesn’t fall back on taxpayers By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer Travis Terrell, top, a Democratic candidate vying for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District seat, and Christina Bohannan, bottom, a Democratic candidate seeking her third bid for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District seat, speak during a potluck picnic hosted by the Jasper County Democratic Party on June 28 at Maytag Park in Newton.
To better establish the responsibilities in operating the future nature center, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors wants its legal counsel to work on a 28E agreement with the conservation department, whose director and board were apprehensive of the idea and question the motivations behind the contract. Supervisor Brandon Talsma said in order to create the agreement the board had to approve an engagement letter with
Ahlers & Cooney since it is “beyond the normal scope they would provide” to the county. He stressed the document provided to the board and included in the agenda was not the 28E agreement. “This is an engagement letter saying we would like to engage Ahlers & Cooney’s services to help us draft this agreement is all it is,” Talsma said. Skepticism about the agreement began at the board table. It seemed to Supervisor Doug Cupples that it could be something the county could work out
FIGHTING FOOD INSECURITY
Area agencies and organizations are making sure no kid goes hungry this summer By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Between the Salvation Army preparing food boxes for families who enroll in the Healthy Kids Iowa program, are school participating in the Summer
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Groceries program and the Newton Public Library offering free snacks for kids and teens throughout the week, no kid should go hungry this summer. Ed Poe, the food pantry coordinator for the Salvation Army in Newton, said about 380
families have received Healthy Kids Iowa food boxes this past month. The boxes are packed full of nutritional foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins, and they are available
without paying a lawyer, but Talsma countered that he would like it in writing. Cupples even suggested the matter be held off until a later date, and he wanted the county to avoid paying exorbitant lawyer fees. “We just spent, like, $100,000 for the rail park,” Talsma said. “Two thousand dollars in attorney fees really isn’t that much. So what are you proposing?” Cupples proposed the county try to work things out with conservation before going down this route. Talsma argued
whatever they work out will still have to be put into writing, which would require the county to still pay an attorney to draft a 28E agreement. Talsma felt an agreement was needed for the nature center. “That way going forward — and even with subsequent boards of supervisors — it says this is the county’s responsibility, this is what we will do, this is what we won’t do, this is what we’re expecting conservation to do,” Talsma said. “And it’s all CONTRACT | 3 Christopher Braunschweig/ PCM Explorer Ed Poe, food pantry coordinator for the Salvation Army in Newton, searched through some of the food options available in the Healthy Kids Iowa boxes distributed at the facility.
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