Thursday, April 25, 2024
Vol. 5, No. 36
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
Prom on the Prairie
PCM celebrates prom 2024 at Sacred Willow Farm
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
Giving back
PCM alum Carson King donates $5,000 to the Backpack Buddies Program
Decision made
PCM School Board approves upper and lower elementary building split By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
Finding the Leader in Me PCM Elementary students share their experience working on the Lighthouse Team as leaders of the schools
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
In a unanimous decision, the PCM School Board approved moving to preschool through second grade at Monroe Elementary, and third through fifth grade at Prairie City Elementary for elementary education. The decision was made for the 2024-25 school year during the April 15 board meeting. In a statement, the board shared why it came to this decision: “This was a tough decision to make, and it was not taken lightly as a lot of time was put into it. We believe, at this time, this is the best decision for PCM School District, both educationally and financially. We would like to thank all parents, staff and community members who have reached out and helped make this decision.” Discussions on the topic started in February when the proposal of aligning third grade in Prairie City was brought before the board. At that time, PCM Elementary Principal Donita Geetings said with a retirement of a third grade teacher there would be three classes in Prairie City and one in Monroe, making it an ideal time to combine the students.
The board tabled the topic after wanting to explore more options. If all of third grade were to move to Prairie City, Monroe would be left with one class in kindergarten through second grade, along with all preschool classes. The board was uncomfortable with that situation. At a work session, the board discussed the entire topic of grade alignment and if the district was moving too fast without a definite direction. Board president Ryan Van Der Kamp posed several questions about the topic: Are we rushing? Is there enough information? Have people been informed of a plan? It seems likes we have gone several directions lately? Superintendent Michelle Havenstrite said the administration hasn’t changed direction and is fully on board with total grade alignment, as was recommended by the Elementary Vision Team three years ago. The vision team, made up of parents, teachers and staff, researched how to best improve the elementary school and shared its findings with the board. They found having two sections in Monroe and one in Prairie City wasn’t the best SCHOOL BOARD | 3
Temporary stop signs to be placed at intersections near Monroe and Reasnor County engineer says 8 intersections are seeing heavy traffic due to Hwy 14 construction By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Several temporary stop signs were approved by the Jasper County Board of Supervisors on April 16 and will be placed on various intersections around the Monroe and Reasnor areas.
A publication of est. 1851
Jasper County Engineer Michael Frietsch suggested the signs are a result of the current construction along Highway 14. The following intersections will have temporary stop signs installed: • Rosebud Avenue and South 112th Avenue West
• West 24th Street South and South 104th Avenue West • West 16th Street South and South 104th Avenue West • West 16th Street South and South 96th Avenue West • West Eighth Street South and Rodeo Avenue West • West Eighth Street South
and South 112th Avenue West • West Eighth Street South and South 104th Avenue West • South 104th Avenue West and Rifle Street “These roads are receiving heavy amounts of traffic now that Iowa (Highway) 14 South is closed,” Frietsch said. “…A
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lot of these roads are hilly, the sight distance is marginal. So between sight distance concerns and increased traffic on these roads it kind of warrants at least doing some all stop controls.” CONSTRUCTION | 3
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