Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024
Vol. 6, No. 9
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
Absenteeism and truancy policies updated at PCM
Former Mustang Brandon Myers joins ANF Wall of Honor at Kinnick Stadium
Retired NFL tight end recognized at Iowa-Washington football game
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer Due to changes in state law, PCM has updated its policies on absenteeism and truancy for students. The school handbook up amended at the Sept. 16 meeting.
New state law outlines what school districts must follow for student attendance By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Due to changes in Iowa’s chronic absenteeism and truancy law, the PCM School District has updated its policies to align with the state. The PCM School Board approved the addendum to the handbook at the Sept. 16 meeting. “As a district we want to ensure you are aware of your child’s attendance record so we will continue to reach out to parents when students are absent three times in one semester, as defined in our handbook,” PCM Interim Superintendent Art Sathoff said. “A strong partnership between the school and home helps support positive attendance. We encourage parents to reach out to our building principals with questions or concerns regarding attendance and absenteeism.” In the new law, there are three key terms to understand concern-
ing absenteeism: • Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing 10 percent of the grading period. • Truancy is defined as any child of compulsory attendance age who does not qualify for the specified exemptions listed in Senate File 2435, fails to follow the school board’s attendance policy, lacks a reasonable excuse for their absence and has been absent from school for at least 20 percent of the days or hours in the grading period. • Grading period is defined at PCM by days in each semester for all students. For the 2024-25 PCM school year the first semester has 80 days and second semester has 89 days. “In an effort to address statewide chronic absenteeism and truancy, Iowa has developed the following tiers and responses,” Sathoff said. “PCM, like all public school districts in the state, are required to perform the school responsibilities listed below.” Tier 1 — The student has been absent for 10 percent of instructional time (8 days first semester, 8.9 days second semester). Chronic absenteeism initial threshold is met. The district will mail a certified letter to par-
ents. The district will contact the county attorney. Tier 2 — The student has been absent 15 percent of instructional time (12 days first semester, 13.35 days second semester). Law requires students and families attend a school engagement meeting with school officials at which an absenteeism plan is developed. Tier 3 — The student has been absent 20 percent of instructional time (16 days first semester, 17.8 days second semester). The student is considered truant. The county attorney determines any legal ramifications. “In addition to the absenteeism tiers, we must also now code absences according to the approved state exemptions below,” Sathoff said. The new Iowa exemptions vary from the district’s previous absence codes in one crucial way, according to Sathoff. Absences not counted toward chronic absenteeism and truancy include: 1) Completed requirements for graduation or obtained a high school equivalency diploma. 2) Excused for sufficient reason by any court of record or ATTENDANCE | 3
Troy Hyde/PCM Explorer Former PCM standout Brandon Myers acknowledges the Kinnick Stadium crowd at the Iowa-Washington football game after being recognized as the 12th member of the ANF Wall of Honor on Saturday. He was joined on the field by his wife Ashlee and son Carson.
By Troy Hyde PCM Explorer Brandon Myers wasn’t required to have a farming background to be eligible for the America Needs Farmers Wall of Honor. But the former PCM standout spent a lot of time on farms growing up in Prairie City. “Being a farmer was not required, but having the characteristics of a farmer is,” Myers said about being the latest member of the ANF Wall of Honor. “I was pretty shocked when I got the call. I’m now with a group of guys who are the pillars when you think of Iowa football.” Myers was an all-conference tight end for the Iowa Hawkeyes before playing nearly a decade in the NFL for the Oakland
Raiders, New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The ANF Wall of Honor salutes past University of Iowa football players who exemplify the tenacity, work ethic and character of the Iowa farmer, and Myers becomes the 12th member of the prestigious group. A four-year letter winner with the Hawkeyes, Myers credits his success to a solid work ethic and lessons learned growing up on his grandparents’ farm in Central Iowa. “It was about 10 miles west of Prairie City,” Myers said. “They had corn, soybeans and pigs. I grew up there. I drove the grain cart. We lived on a farm, too, but had only pigs and sheep.” MYERS | 3
CONSERVATION’S GROUNDBREAKING GROUNDBREAKING Long-awaited environmental education center in Jasper County to begin construction soon By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer The future home of Jasper County Conservation’s environmental education center is a lush green acreage rife with tall trees and two ponds near the corners of the property. This past week, donors, supporters, board members and staff of county conservation gazed at the grounds, imagining what it will all look like. For many of them, this will be the last time they see the site looking so bare and relatively untouched. Soon, construction of the environmental educa-
A publication of est. 1851
tion center, sometimes called the nature center, will take place and begin a new chapter for county conservation. And it was cause for celebration. Jasper County Conservation on Oct. 5 was joined by community members for a ceremonial groundbreaking at the site of the new nature center. Carol Kramer, a longtime member of the Jasper County Conservation Board and a frequent donor to projects, could not be happier to have that golden shovel in her hands. “I have been dreaming about GROUNDBREAKING | 3
Christopher Braunschweig/PCM Explorer Stakeholders, staff and supporters of Jasper County Conservation gather Oct. 7 for a ceremonial groundbreaking at the site of the future environmental education center in Newton.
CONTACT US Newsroom: 641-792-3121, ext. 7 • Advertising: 641-792-3121, ext. 2 Subscriptions/Delivery: 641-792-5320 • Billing: 641-792-3121, ext. 6
Single Copy $1