Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024
Vol. 6, No. 2
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
WELCOME BACK, MUSTANGS! The perfect fit PCM students kick off 2024-25 school year
New PCE principal brings knowledge and experience to position By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Kids get their annual back to school picture at the first day of school at Monroe Elementary Sept. 24. All students were back to start the new year Sept. 25.
94 years of Percy family fun Percy Fair celebrates annual gathering Aug. 25 with games, songs and friends
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
With a big shift in the elementary layout, new Prairie City Elementary Principal Jenni McCrory was the perfect leader to bring on board. Having served as the 3-5 principal for 14 years at Sergeant Bluff, McCrory brings in a wealth of knowledge to help make the transition as smooth as possible for the new school year. “I’m really feeling good about things. We’re going to have some good things going on this year,” McCrory said. A Walthill, Neb. native, McCrory received her music education degree from the University of South Dakota. She taught middle school band for six years before getting her masters in administration, going on to serve as the PK-4 principal in Sheldon. After seven years she moved back to the Sioux City area for the 3-5 principal position, which was “a dream job.” “I was very excited to be there, closer to home, my husband is from the area so closer to family and a great place to be as
my kids were growing,” McCrory said. In 2018, she got her doctorate in education leadership and superintendents endorsement from USD and started to look at what was next for her family. “My youngest son had graduated and my husband and I always said once our kids are out of school we can go wherever we want. I had been looking in this area for almost two years and was just keeping my eyes open. We knew we wanted to be in Central Iowa, our daughter is here and we enjoy the metro area,” McCrory said. “When former superintendent Havenstrite called me and explained the job I had an ‘Ahhh’ moment. I know this. I was super excited. It’s what I have lived for 14 years. Thinking about my leadership skills and my experience, I was really drawn to coming to help the staff and communities roll into this new culture, the new transition.” Having just the older elementary students is McCrory’s “sweet spot.” PRINCIPAL | 3
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer New Prairie City Elementary Principal Jenni McCrory joins the districts with almost 15 years experience leading 3-5 students.
BOND ELECTION SCHEDULED Jasper County calls for a $6.4M bond election this November to pay for a new secondary roads maintenance shop By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer Supervisors have called for a special election this November in hopes Jasper County residents will agree to a $6.4 million bond to pay for the second phase of the new Liberty Avenue Yard project, which will become the new home for the engineer’s office and the secondary roads department. According to the resolution included in the board of supervisors agenda, general obligation bonds or capital loan notes would be used for the design, construction, equipment, furnishings and land site improvements for a secondary
A publication of est. 1851
Submitted Photo By the time Election Day arrives on Nov. 5, voters will get to not only choose a new president and two new county supervisors but also whether or not a $6.4 million bond for the secondary roads maintenance shed will pass.
roads maintenance building. Voters will decide whether it passes on Election Day. So in addition to voting for the next president of the United States and which two candidates will be on the county board of supervisors for the next four
years, Jasper County citizens will essentially vote “yes” or “no” to this proposed project and payment method. The project is currently estimated at $6,224,080. Similarly to how Jasper County pitched its bond referendum proposal
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for the new administration building a few years back, supervisors say the bond will not raise the county’s property taxes. The bond for the administration building was for $3.6 million and passed with 64 percent approval in March 2021. Officials say the county can accomplish this due to its low debt. The resolution approved by supervisors on Aug. 20 states the property taxes of a home with an actual value of $100,000 is estimated not to exceed $10.41. But changes in other levies may cause the actual annual increase in property taxes to vary. Newton News previously reported other projects besides the second phase of the new engineer’s office were included in the bond vote. However, it was explained by supervisor Brandon Talsma that spending thresholds for those projects did not exceed past the point where a vote of the people was needed. “The reason it’s at $6.4 million is because, once again, with Ahlers & Cooney BOND | 3
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