Thursday, May 16, 2024
Vol. 5, No. 39
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
ANOTHER ADMINISTRATOR GONE
Superintendent Michelle Havenstrite leaving PCM following school board settlement — second administrator to exit the district this school year following elementary principal Donita Geetings By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer PCM Superintendent Michelle Havenstrite has reached a settlement with the PCM School Board and will be resigning from her position effective June 30. Board president Ryan Van Der Kamp, along with Havenstrite, announced the decision in separate letters May 8. “I want to express my sincere appreciation to the staff and community members who have supported me throughout my four years at PCM,” Havenstrite said. “Together, we’ve accomplished remarkable milestones, from navigating the COVID 19 pandemic, enhancing student learning opportunities to improving communication, op-
Havenstrite erations and facilities all while fostering greater family involvement.” In a separation agreement and release of claims document it states the superintendent con-
tract of employment will continue with the district through June 30, 2025. Havenstrite has agreed to voluntarily resign from all employment and assignments as of June 30, 2024 but as of May 1 she may fulfill her duties and responsibilities using a hybrid model of working with remote and in-person for the remainder of her employment. The district will pay Havenstrite her salary of $170,443 in four equal installments along with all applicable IPERS and FICA contributions at the time of payments. The district will pay her for the value of any accumulated, unused vacation and floating holiday pay available to her through June 30, 2025. There will be no other
payout of sick leave or any other paid leave following the date of resignation. She will remain on the district’s health insurance policies through June 30, 2025 using the policies she has as of Jan. 1, 2024. The no admission of liability clause states: “It is understood and agreed that this is a compromise settlement of the contract between the district and superintendent, and that neither this agreement itself, the offering of it, not the furnishing of the consideration for this release shall be deemed or construed at any time for any purpose as an admission of anyone’s liability or responsibility for any wrongdoing of any kind.” During a special board meeting May 10, Van Der Kamp said
SENDING REINFORCEMENTS Commission meeting sees outpour of support for VA administrator and a demand for more resources
funds for the settlement will come from the district’s management fund. The district’s management funds may be used to pay the costs of unemployment benefits, costs of liability insurance and agreements, costs of judgments and costs of certain early retirement benefits according to Iowa Code 298.4. At the meeting the board also approved Grundmeyer Leader Services to immediately begin the search for an interim superintendent to serve the 2024-25 school year and a second search to begin next fall for a permanent superintendent to begin the 2025-26 school year. Search services will cost the district approximately $15,000. RESIGN | 2
Health assessment survey available through county Survey used to determine top needs in Jasper County By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
2022. The past quarter of that year saw 328 appointments between scheduled visits, walk-ins and home visits. Veterans affairs also brought in more than $2 million for veterans that past quarter. On average, the office brings in more than $780,000 per month for veterans. Sometimes it’s upwards of $1 million per month. VETERANS ARRIVE IN FORCE TO DEFEND ADMINISTRATOR Which may be why folks were so quick to react to the Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission agenda on May 8. Phrases like “administrator’s activity report,” “home visit guidelines” and “work log” did not sit well with those veterans. Initially, they saw it as unfair scrutiny and ignorance of the real problem. Apart from Wilson handling the bulk of the work, she is assisted by employee Josh Price, who splits his time between veterans affairs and general assistance. But the workload is still too much for oneand-a-half people to handle. It was too much back when Keith Thorpe, a VSO, was helping out in the office. Things got so busy that Wilson told the board of supervisors she may need Thorpe to transition from an hourly position to a salaried position. Even the administrator’s activities report included in the agenda packet shows that while Wilson is maintaining a high level of appointments — a total of 123 in April — she is not able to answer every phone call. She was able to answer 79 calls and make 104 outgoing calls, but she missed 254 calls this past month. More than 2,000 veterans live in Jasper County. When commissioners finally reached the agenda items that attendees were
The Jasper County Health Department is encouraging residents of the county to participate in the Jasper County Community Health Assessment Survey. The survey, which is available through May 31, seeks to engage in a dialogue with citizens about their health concerns, experiences and goals. “MercyOne Newton Medical Center, Jasper County Health Department and numerous community partners have collaborated to launch the 2025-2028 Jasper County Community Health Assessment,” Jasper County Health Department Administrator Becky Pryor said. “We’d love for everyone to take the survey and share it at their workplaces. We want to know the needs in the community.” The survey works to gather valuable information on the health needs and priorities of the citizens of Jasper County. By documenting the results, the county can further understand the variety of challenges and opportunities people are up against, and work to address them through more specific programs and services. Questions range from ranking how active people are to what kind of foods do they eat and what chronic diseases they have. It addresses mental health, barriers to receiving healthcare and the quality of the services they have used. The survey also requests information about housing, food availability, childcare and work opportunities. Finally, it asks community members to rank the priorities for Jasper County and list areas of strength and where improvements can be made moving forward. “We had 210 back already and we’ve only been open since Friday (May 3),” Pryor said. “I was thrilled with that. We’re hoping for around 300 to 400 surveys back.” A town hall meeting will also be held Sept. 11 to discuss community needs, as well. Additional details about the town hall will be released at a later date. Once
VA | 3
SURVEY | 3
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer Members of the Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission speak to guests during a packed meeting on May 8 inside the conference room of the county administration building.
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Veterans typically do not mince words, and the ones who showed up to the most recent Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission meeting last week did not hold back their feelings over what they perceived as a lack of support for twoyear administrator Alyssa Wilson, who at times was in tears listening to feedback. Josh Davis, a veteran who arrived to the meeting in crutches to support Wilson, said, “The people that came here today shows that she needs help. She’s overloaded. I just had surgery a week ago and I shouldn’t be here. But I came over here for her.” Paul Padilla, also a veteran, suggested Wilson already has enough work to do but is being asked to do more work, saying, “She has all that paperwork there for about two weeks. She’s up to her eyeballs in paperwork. But let’s give her more paperwork to do to track her paperwork?” Judy Jones, a direct but soft-spoken woman whose sister has received support from Wilson, said, “We 100 percent — maybe even 150 percent — support Alyssa. She’s doing a wonderful job and this board needs to know that. They need to leave her alone and let her do her job.” It was the largest meeting turnout the commissioners had ever seen. There were more than 30 people in attendance and it had quickly become a standing room only event. Most of the folks who gathered in the administration building conference room were veterans. Young and old. They all agreed on one thing: Wilson needs reinforcements. To them, she is a beloved champion of all veterans who has proven she will fight tooth and nail to get them the financial benefits they deserve. Ever since she was
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hired in as the head of Jasper County Veterans Affairs, Wilson hit the ground running with her valuable expertise and followed through for her veterans. Prior to her joining Jasper County, some veterans felt disenfranchised or ignored. While many received their benefits, others had hit brick walls and lost hope that the department — or, perhaps, their government — would ever come through for them again. Wilson turned things around in part because she knows the game. Somewhere underneath all that bureaucracy and the piles of endless paperwork is a veteran’s certification to receive his or her benefits. Wilson knows it takes more than a shovel to get to the buried treasure that will make her veterans whole. She is patient and she is persistent. Some might even call her obsessive. Others, like Lisa Van Ryswyk, may call her passionate. Todd Magel of KCCI Des Moines released a report in mid-April about how Van Ryswyk’s father, Ken Van Veen, was recognized by the federal government as a Vietnam veteran only after he died. Van Veen was seeking disability benefits. Magel reported that Wilson helped Van Ryswyk fill out forms and ignore repeated denials from the feds, who later discovered their mistake. But it was too late. Wilson told Channel 5 she wished these stories were rare. It is clear Wilson is very protective of her veterans. To her they are more than just clients, and she feels very strongly that because of their service to their country they are entitled to emergency financial assistance or application approvals for VA compensation and VA pensions. Veterans say her work speaks for itself. In August 2023, Newton News reported that Wilson’s department had handled 1,042 veteran appointments in fiscal year
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