Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024
Vol. 5, No. 51
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
Letter to VA commission condemns past comments
Procedural issues cleared up but veterans demand apologies for Wilson
PCM School Board selects legislative priorities for next school year By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Jasper County veterans showed up in tow once again to support veterans affairs administrator Alyssa Wilson but also condemn the commissioner who not only told her to think about veteran suicide rates the next time she decides to not answer a phone call in her office but also threatened to fire another employee. For the second time this year, the Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission meeting — which is usually void of guests — was standing room only. It was no
PRIORITIES SET
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer Alyssa Wilson, administrator of Jasper County Veterans Affairs, works in her office inside the county administration building. A letter in support of Wilson was given to the veterans affairs commission, condemning past comments about her and her work.
secret why they were there. They wanted nothing more than to confront commissioner Ed Spangenburg for what he said to Wil-
son the month before. Despite having an agenda item LETTER | 3
The PCM School Board has selected its legislative priorities for the upcoming school year. Teacher workforce, student and staff mental health needs, supplemental state aid and priority and liability insurance for districts are the focus of the school board at the statehouse for 2024-25. “This is an annual thing, the IASB (Iowa Association of School Boards) asks the field to set the priorities,” inter-
im superintendent Art Sathoff said. “As we wrote up the recommendation we looked at the past few years with last year’s selections preschool, state aid and mental health as priorities. Those are probably going to be common sense things for districts.” The IASB provided eight priorities for the district to review including student literacy, expanded opportunities through public school, school boards, working with parents, communities and SCHOOL BOARD | 3
Photos by Jamee A. Pierson and Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer
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