2024 LCSD TEACHER OF THE YEAR
photo courtesy Abby George
This morning, the Le LMars Community School District announced the recipient of the 2024 Teacher of the Year.
Ms. Amy Gehling, a 4th grade teacher at Kluckhohn Elementary School, has been with the school district for 21 years. She’s also a mentor teacher and a model teacher through the district’s Teacher Leadership program.
Gehling was nominated for the award by Amber Christiansen, a parent of one of Ms. Gehleings’ students.
The Decades of Excellence Crystal Bell award is co-sponsored by the LCSD Foundation and the LCS Alumni Association. This annual award honors outstanding teachers who have dedicated their careers to educating the community’s children.
Ms Gehling will be honored at the Foundation Banquet on Wednesday, April 24 at the Le Mars Convention Center.
LE MARS SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM
For the first time, the Le Mars Community School District is offering a summer food program.
Superintendant Dr Steven Webner says the Director of Food Services, Eva Valesco, introduced the board to the program this week.
Dr Webner describes how the program works
The district will initially offer the program for one month, and decide if it should be expanded.
While it’s aimed at latch-key children, all Le Mars district students are eligible for the summer food program.
Dr. Webner says the Director of Food Services, Eva Valesco, and other employees will prepare and package the meals, and bring them to delivery sites in the district. They are also accepting students to help distribute the meals.
LCSD SCHOOL BUS
The Le Mars Community School Board has approved the purchase of a wheelchair lift school bus.
Superintendant Dr Steven Webner says approval came after a public hearing on the purchase of the vehicle.
Four bids were received for the vehicle.
The low bid for the vehicle, which was approved by the board, was 157-thousand dollars.
RESURFACING PROJECT
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have purchased right of way for a resurfacing project to take place east of Le Mars. Plans are in the works to grade and resurface 3-tenths of a mile of K64, at the intersection of C30. A total of 2.23 acres was purchased from land owners adjacent to the project. The total cost of the right of way is just over 75-thousand dollars. Bid letting for the project is June 18.
RECORDER REPORT
The Plymouth County recorder took in 219-thousand dollars in total fees in the first quarter of the year. Jolynn Goodchild presented her office’s quarterly financial report this week to the Board of Supervisors. Of that grand total, the county retained 60-thousand dollars. One third of the total came from transfer taxes, another 28-thousand dollars from sales, use, and local option taxes. Another 13-thousand dollars came from mortgage processing fees.
IOWA SUPREME COURT HEARS LEGAL ARGUMENTS OVER IOWA’S SIX WEEK ABORTION BAN
The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments Thursday on the fetal heartbeat law that’s been on hold since the governor signed the bill. The state’s attorney, Eric Wessen, argued the state has a rational interest in enacting the law and that’s how it should be viewed.
Wessen says there are several interests the law considers.
Wessen says he believes the district court would have to drop its injunction if the High Court follows his argument.
Peter Im represented Planned Parenthood and the A-C-L-U of Iowa which are seeking to block the law. He says a rational interest interpretation should not be used.
He says the law block the rights of women.
The court is expected to issue a ruling in June.
HOUSE SPEAKER SAYS BILL FOR BOY SCOUT ABUSE VICTIMS NEEDS REVIEW
The top Republican in the Iowa House says there needs to be more review of a bill designed to ensure Iowa men who were sexually abused by Boy Scout leaders decades ago get full payments from a national settlement. Iowa’s current time limit on suing perpetrators of childhood sexual abuse means Iowa victims could get as little as 30 percent of the money victims in other states will receive if the legislature doesn’t act soon. The Senate unanimously passed a bill on the topic this week, but House Speaker Pat Grassley says the legislation could have broad implications. Grassley says these victims went through a terrible experience and, while the bill is narrowly crafted, it’s a significant change. A lawyer familiar with the case says the governor has to sign the bill into law by April 19th for about 350 Iowa men who were Boys Scouts to get a full settlement payment.
SPRING CLEANING CAN HELP IMPROVE MOOD, PRODUCTIVITY
With the warmer weather, Iowans are finally starting to launch into their spring cleaning projects, sprucing up both their homes and their work spaces. Jessica Boland, a worksite wellness consultant, says cleansing and decluttering can help to improve your mood and your productivity level while reducing stress, though she reminds, don’t stress yourself out by trying to tackle too much at once. Boland suggests doing one room at a time, making two piles, things to keep and things to donate or throw out. Once you get your space looking like you want it, Boland says you should consider what it will take to maintain that level of organization and to keep the clutter from reappearing — like doing dishes or laundry daily.
CHANGING ENTRY FEES, PRIZE LIMITS FOR CHARITY BINGO GAMES
A bill that’s cleared the Iowa legislature would let churches and non-profit organizations that host bingo games as fundraisers offer a gun worth up to five-thousand dollars as a prize. The bill cleared the Senate almost unanimously in February without debate, but there was some push back this week before it passed the House. Representative Eric Gjerde (JER-dee), a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, suggests any prize worth five-thousand dollars should be allowed.
Representative Shannon Lundgren, a Republican from Peosta, says she agrees, but that expansion would doom the bill if it was returned to the Senate.
The bill does raise the entry fee limit for bingo fundraisers to 50 dollars. The current limit on bingo prizes in Iowa is 250 dollars. The bill raises the value limit on prizes to 900 dollars — except for guns. The bill is headed to the governor for review. Bingo fundraisers for charity are legal in Iowa as long as the games are run by volunteers.
