Le Mars Community Schools Expanding Its Technology
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Community School District Technology Director, Bruce Ludwig shared a report with the Le Mars Community Board of Education during their Monday evening meeting. Ludwig says the school district has been expanding its technology for the last several years to the point there are
more than 3,500 computers being used at the schools. Ludwig chose Clark Elementary and the high school as his examples showing the expansion of technology.
Ludwig says the ratio for students to computers is at one and a half computers for every student attending Le Mars Community schools. Ludwig says the students are not allowed to take home the computer, lap top, or tablet, but every student has access to a computer in their lab study or classroom. Ludwig says the need for computer servers has grown. He says each of the school buildings are equipped with a server.
Ludwig informed the school board that if power is ever disrupted, the servers have only a backup battery life of about 30 minutes.
The school technology director told the school board the school district is constantly upgrading the server system to better accommodate the schools needs for computer technology.
Gross Presented School “Employee of the Month”
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Community School District awarded its “Employee of the Month during a small ceremony held Wednesday morning. Middle School Administrative Assistant Keri Gross was presented a plaque by her daughter.
Gross has been an employee of the Le Mars Community Schools for the past five years. Middle School Principal Steve Shanks and Activities Director, Karlton Hector nominated Keri Gross for the honor. Their nomination reads in part: “Keri is an awesome secretary who is great with students, staff, and parents. She multi-tasks with the best of them, and helps keep the main
office calm during in times of storm. Keri understands that kids come first, and goes the extra mile in helping them navigate their day. Keri can handle any project that comes her way. She also helps our main office plan important events like birthdays, and group Powerball entries (when the jackpot gets really big). Keri is a great employee for this school district, and we are very fortunate to have her here at LCMS.
Congratulations go to Keri Gross for being named the February Employee of the Month for the Le Mars Community School District.
Legislative Leader Comments On “School Snow Days”
(Des Moines) — The top Republican in the legislature says Iowa schools struggling with the accumulation of “snow days” have the option of extending the hours of future school days to make up for lost time. A recent law change set the number of HOURS Iowa students are to spend in the classroom for an entire school year, not the number of DAYS. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, a Republican from Clear Lake, says at the beginning of the school
year, many districts included extra hours to plan for EXPECTED snow days.
Extending the school year later into June is not a popular option, according to Upmeyer.
Upmeyer says she’s intrigued by districts that are experimenting with “digital snow days.” However, state regulations do NOT let schools count the hours students spend doing that kind of online homework as regular school hours.
Tickets Now On Sale For “Friends of the Gehlen Ball”
(Le Mars) — Are you tired of the snow, cold temperatures, and what seems like the never-ending winter? Perhaps a “Magical Getaway” will help relax your mind, body, and soul. “A Magical Getaway” is the theme for this year’s “Friends of the Gehlen Ball” fundraiser. Bob & Margie Augustine & Lee and Angela Nilles, all of Le Mars, are this year’s co-chairs for the annual
event, scheduled for April 27th at the Le Mars Convention Center. Tickets are now on sale for $125 per couple. The event will feature a dinner, silent auction, the presentation of the Spirit of Peter and Catherine Gehlen award, plus two levels of music and dancing, featuring disc jockey Lenny Brazil upstairs, and a new band, “Shirts and Skins” will be on the lower level of the convention center.
Pork Producers Donate To Iowa Food Banks
(Sioux City) — Area members from the Iowa Pork Producers Association presented a $1,685 check to the Food Bank of Siouxland Thursday to help store and transport pork products from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The local gift was part of a $25,000 total donation from the Iowa
Pork Producers to six Iowa’s food banks.
Board member Bill Tentinger of Le Mars says it’s part of the pork
producer’s “We Care” program:
Jennifer Hart of the Food Bank of Siouxland says the donation is
very important to area clients in need of protein:
The food, which includes frozen and canned pork, have been provided through USDA to food banks as a result of ongoing trade disputes.
Unlike normal USDA food distributions, these “trade mitigation”
products have not come with funding for storage and distribution.
