The RamView Spring 2012

Southeast Polk News Magazine l Spring 2012 l Volume 1 Issue 1

What do you do

After School?

What is

NEW in the

Area?

What got us in

$7.5 Million in debt The truth on

ACT Scores

Are you a

True

Ram?

SE Polk

50 Years trivia Details on

Prom 2012 uncovered

Your View. My View. Our View.

Did you know?

RAMS

The “Old” high school was

NOT A BOMB SHELTER

Does not only stand for Runnells, Altoona, Mitchellville Surrounding area The former High School building was actually a state-of-the-art school.

It also stands for the Right The “Old” high school actually gained Attitude Means Success Altoona High School’s colors were

Purple & Gold

Only

1

national attention for the innovative design, which limited the number of windows to make it more efficient to build a school with air conditioning. It was the first school in the state with air conditioning.

Altoona High School was home to the Rams before SEP was ever formed.

Altoona’s Rams was short for the Altoona Ramblers.

114 Southeast Polk Covers

Person in the City of Pleasant Hill voted in favor of SEP during the first election

The Rowdy Howdies were originally The

Bleacher Creatures With one of the original members being English teacher Julene Felice 4 l The RamView l Spring 2012

11 Square Miles

School Districts

Did you know that Southeast Polk’s 50th Birthday was not celebrated this last summer on July 20, 2011.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY SEP!

Southeast Polk High School was built...

High School Southeast Polk

at the geographical center of the district

were merged together to form Southeast Polk. The fight to form the district was the longest school merger fights in Iowa history due to opposition from Pleasant Hill residents.

Art Teacher

Jim Peterson Designed the “New” Ram logo that was unveiled in 2008

contents Southeast Polk News Magazine l Spring 2012 l Volume 1 Issue 1

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alex Payne ________________________________ MANAGING EDITOR Miriam Lopez NEWS EDITOR Claire Kinder FEATURES EDITOR Nettie Payne

6 8

DESIGN EDITOR Ben Moeller PHOTO EDITOR Justine Blanchard ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Angela Smith

features

4 Southeast Polk, Did You Know?

A smorgasbord of sorts, with trivia on Southeast Polk history.

Contributing Editors Alex Payne, Claire Kinder, Nettie Payne, Ben Moeller, Miriam Lopez, Angela Smith, Justine Blanchard _________________________________

6 Tattoos: Are they for you?

Every year students decide to “get inked.” Find out what is behind the craze.

Printed by Jostens Publishing Adviser Amy Wilterdink _________________________________ The RamView magazine is a brand new magazine that was created by a group and of students interested in journalism, photography or design. If you are interested in becoming a part of the RamView staff contact Adviser Amy Wilterdink. The RamView consists of stories, school events and fun puzzles for students.

It is a magazine made by students for the students of Southeast Polk High School.

The RamView was named for the view of the students. This publication is one that students can choose what they want in it. Students are able to share their view on the school and community.

The RamView was created by Alex Payne during the 2011-2012 school year. Payne was inspired by the journalism talent at Southeast Polk and wanted to create a different way for students to use their talents.

8 Great New Things Coming Soon

Altoona is growing, bringing more opportunities for you to do in your free time. Plans include a new mall, concert venue, water park and more.

14 ACT-The Truth Behind the Test

Students worry every year about getting a so called, “good” ACT score. Find out the truth behind the test.

16 $7.5 Million in Debt

How did we become the school with the most debt in the Metro?

students

21

Your View

Facebook members respond to a question RamView staff asked on the popular social networking site.

22

After School

24

Who Wore it Better

26

Prom

RamView follows a student to see what students do after they walk out of the classroom doors at 3:01 P.M.

RamView fashion correspondent, Justine Blanchard, weighs in on who wore it best in the halls of SEP.

Prom committee members are working hard on making prom one that students will never forget.

puzzles

27

Are you a True Ram?

28

Crossword and Sudoku

31

Spot the Difference

Follow this flow chart to find out your level of pride.

Try the puzzles we decided to add for your entertainment.

Look at the two pictures. They may look the same at first glance but spot the ten differences between the two.

Spring 2012 l The RamView l 5

Tattoos: Are they for you?

by Claire Kinder News Editor

W

hen Barbie® released its latest collector doll, one might take less notice to her short, pink hairstyle or trendy clothes, and more on her elaborate sleeve, neck, chest and back tattoos.

The doll demonstrates how the popularity of tattooing has grown among, usually, well-educated women. The cultural status of tattooing has steadily evolved from that of an anti-social activity in the 1960s to that of a trendy fashion statement. Tattooing in women has quadrupled, and it is estimated that almost half of the tattoos now being done are on women.

Tattoos used to be most common with motorcyclists, criminals, gang

6 l The RamView l Spring 2012

members and individuals who were less than sane. These early tattoos were often two-dimensional and poorly done.

Over the last fifteen years, two separate classes have surfaced from the tattooing industry. One has an urban feel, glorifying itself with a gaudy exterior and offers “pictures-off-the-wall” assembly-line service. This is the “tattoo parlor” and its sense of cultural rebellion often over looks its less sanitary procedures.

However, the “tattoo art studio” has aimed themselves towards middle to upper-middle class professionals and has the feel of an upscale beauty salon.

Their tattoos are more often custommade with fine art designs.

Tattooing tools have stayed consistently the same since 1891 when invented by Samuel O’Reilly. The tattoo gun moves a solid needle up and down to puncture the skin between 50 to 3,000 times per minute. The needle penetrates the skin about a millimeter,

depositing a drop of dense ink into the skin with each puncture.

Although it appears painful, most clientele report being surprised by how much the process didn’t hurt. Most say that it feels like a sunburn or just feels annoying. Of course the location of the tattoo has a lot to do with the pain factor. Wrists, ankles, feet, ribs, fingers or places close to bone or major veins tend to make the experience more painful.

So what happens when this beauty mark done by ink is unacceptable to the future you?

Though it’s not excruciating, tattoo removal is often reported as being much more painful than the tattoo. Removal is most commonly used with lasers that react with the ink in the tattoo to break it down. The broken down ink is then absorbed by the body.

According to a poll done in 2008, the most common reasons for regret are “too young when I got the tattoo” (20%), it’s “permanent” and I’m “marked for life” (19%) and finally, I just “don’t like it” (18%) or all of the above.

What kind of tattoos are people interested in? The most common tattoos, reported from rankmytattoos.com, include: tribal, stars, the cross, angels, wings and dragons.

Honoring his late uncle, grandfather and father, senior Jared Johnston (above) poses with a tattoo, using family symbols and a quote his grandpa always said to honor his beloved family members. During downtime in World Issues class, junior Shawneesha Clark (right) draws a possible tattoo design to honor her late classmate and friend Sydney Schwienebart, who died in a car accident August 29, 2011. Senior Amanda Waterman (opposite page), proudly displays a Wiccan pentacle tattoo showing her faith. Alex Payne Photos

And the most commonly removed?

Cursive, names, roses, stars, tribal, dragons and butterflies.

But there are ways to end up with a great tattoo and one you’re not going to regret. According to galadarling. com, you should avoid getting your first tattoo below the wrist, above the neck or anywhere you can’t cover up easily to avoid scrutiny at the work place or interviews.

“I am extremely happy with my tattoo,” senior Amanda Waterman said.

Waterman got her tattoo of the Wiccan pentacle on her wrist at the Pink Elephant in Clive. According to Waterman her tattoo came at what she considers a

reasonable price of $75.

Waterman said she was able to bring in a design she liked from the internet and the tattoo artist at the Pink Elephant was able to recreate it.

After college, Waterman plans on getting a second tattoo. She said that she is planning on getting a paw print on her shoulder blade.

Be willing to spend as much as it takes to get your desired look. Most tattoo artists have pages of what is called, flash art, up on their walls which you can pick from. They’re cheap and usually purchased from another company but they don’t show what kind of talent the artist might have. Ask to look at

their portfolio and to draw up an idea for your tattoo. Then take it with you to make sure you’re confident that it’s the design you want.

You should also avoid asking a tattoo artist to copy another tattoo you’ve seen online. Your design should be your own, although, you can bring in pictures to help the artist visualize what you’re looking for.

Finally, do your homework on the artist who’s giving you the tattoo.

Make sure their needles and work areas are sanitary so you can avoid infection and that they seem to be talented professionals who can create beautiful work that is up to your satisfaction.

Spring 2012 l The RamView l 7

Great

NEW THINGS Coming Soon Altoona, Iowa is considered the “Entertainment Capital of Iowa.”

As Altoona grows so do the surrounding communities.

by Alex Payne Editor-in-Chief

Architectural renderings of StereoType Des Moines, who plans to come to Altoona, Summer of 2013. The $40 million project will help solidify Altoona as the Entertainment Capital of Iowa. Owners are hoping to locate the facility south of Bass Pro Shops. Photo Special to RamView - by StereoType Des Moines

Concert Venue’s eyes on Altoona

A

$40 million concert venue is planning to be built in Altoona this year. StereoType Des Moines, a new concert venue company, plans on using a unique business plan they hope to franchise around the world.

Currently, StereoType owners are in the process of raising $16 million from private investors before looking to finance the rest.

Owner Ryan Lebo, hopes to get all of the funding in the next couple months, allowing them to purchase land so they may break ground by the end of this summer with construction expecting to take up to a year to complete the project.

Officials say the venue will draw over half a million people to Altoona, employing over 60 people in jobs that the state of Iowa considers, “high quality jobs.”

StereoType is looking into three locations in Altoona. “Our ideal location is in the Shoppes at Prairie Crossing,” Lebo said, “by Bass Pro Shop.”

Planning to open in the Spring of 2013 is a bit optimistic, claimed Lebo, but he said that the realistic opening date would be sometime in the Summer of 2013.

As the project is still in the planning phase, specific jobs are unknown but hir10 l The RamView l Spring 2012

ing high school students could be likley.

“Nothing is set in stone as to what positions would be available as we have to weigh the legal issues associated with each position,” Lebo said. “We’ve looked into hiring high school students to work on our street teams to actively engage the public, letting them know about our events and products.”

According to StereoType’s business plan, the same street teams will be interviewing the bands backstage and maintaining three social media sites to get the word out and to build excitement.

They also plan to hold a contest between all interested schools in the area.

“We ask them to pick a local charity of their choice,” Lebo said. “Whichever school raises the most money, we will pay for their prom, including entertainment.”

StereoType is more than a concert venue; the facility can be leased out for weddings, trade shows, proms and sporting events like wrestling and boxing.

The facility will contain six venue spaces in the building, ranging in capacities from 200 to 10,000 square feet. Lebo hopes to bring in any band out there.

“Essentially, we could have Slipknot on a Saturday night, then Sunday afternoon, have Dora the Explorer,” Lebo said.

To ensure profitability, tickets will set at a price where it would be a deal for the customer yet draw in big bands to create a profit. Their goal is to keep ticket prices down in hopes to sellout most of their shows.

“It will be significantly different for Altoona,” Altoona Community Development Director John Shaw said, “and an additional draw to the area.”

“It will be more like the Civic Center than Wells Fargo Arena,” Shaw said. “It will be able to hold more people than Prairie Meadows and Adventureland.”

It also will offer better acoustics which will draw in world class acts, according to Shaw.

According to the StereoType business plan, StereoType will cover the entire roof of their building with solar panels, which will potentially power the entire facility, other than the nightclub. StereoType also plans on bringing a restaurant that will serve upscale soup, salad and sandwiches, like a gourmet Jimmy John’s.

Five additional 2,000 square foot retail spaces are planned for a section of the building, lining one side of the outdoor venue. StereoType plans on renting the retail space to such businesses as bistros, coffee shops, CD/DVD shops and other gathering spaces.

Building a big band concert venue will help keep Iowans from seeking entertainment elsewhere like Kansas City, Omaha, Chicago or Minneapolis, which could help local Iowa businesses like hotels, restaurants and retail shops.

If you decide to buy your tickets too late and the show is sold out, do not worry. “Log on to our website and purchase the live stream and watch it from your own living room,” Lebo said.

You don’t even have to leave your home to watch a concert. Every show is recorded with downloads of the performance for sale at StereoType.com.

StereoType will bring more than concerts and shows to Altoona. They hope to soon grow to host international music festivals like Ozzfest right here in Altoona. Plans are also in the works for a nightclub with a rooftop extension. The rooftop space will be home to a hydroponics garden to grow herbs fruits and vegetables. The produce from the garden will be sold at the local farmer’s markets and local restaurant owners.

The garden will need sophisticated paid agriculture interns to maintain the garden. This will be done in hopes to connect with Iowa colleges to bring college students to StereoType shows and events.

StereoType will prove to the world that Iowa is an ideal location for entertainment.

For more information on StereoType Des Moines go to their website www. stereotypedesmoines.com or like them on facebook at www.facebook.com/ StereoType.DM.Inc.

Planning a World Class Mall

The Shoppes at Prairie Crossing will be a new 173.4-acre outdoor mall planned south of Bass Pro Shops. Bass Pro was the first phase of the shopping complex.

Bass Pro originally claimed that they would bring two to two and a half million people, according to Altoona City Planner Chad Quick.

“It has not spurred what we thought,” Quick said, “but it has had an increase in Altoona’s growing economy. Shaw noted that Bass Pro has prompted people to pull off of the interstate who would have normally passed by. Those people will stay and do some shopping, get something to eat and even find a place to spend the night.

Currently, the developer of the mall, Heart of America, cannot disclose which stores will be coming, according to Heart of America’s Vice President of Real Estate Development, Damen Trebilcock.

“Even when the lease is signed, the tenant holds the right for the announcement,” Trebilcock said.

Some of the different types of stores you can expect at Prairie Crossing, according to Trebilcock are: Juniors Mens/ Womens, accessory stores, service stores, big-box, pet and electronic stores.

Other than retail stores, the Shoppes at Prairie Crossing will offer restaurants, office space and a movie theater.

Prairie Crossing is not the first major mall that has planned to be built in Altoona.

In 1981 three investors built a water park, Otter Mountain, across the street from Adventureland.

Due to cold weather in 1981 the water park was closed, and Adventureland o w n e r, J a c k Krantz, bought the land. The

property sat until 1988 when Altoona City Administrator, Tom Hadden and Mayor Tim Burget decided to meet with Krantz about cleaning it up and possibly redevelop the land.

But it was not until over a year later when the citizens of Altoona started to complain when redevelopment became an option.

“Adam Pirillo, 13, of Altoona made a statement to the council regarding what he considers to be the unsightly condition of the land that used to house Otter Mountain, “It doesn’t look very clean.

It’s one of the main ways into Altoona and it gives a bad first impression.”

Burget remarked that Jack Krantz, owner of the land, had been contacted several times about the property. He has removed the dilapidated buildings but the ‘mountain’ remains. Burget and Hadden agreed to make another contact but expressed doubt that anything else will be done with the property until it is developed,” read the September 21, 1989 edition of the Altoona HeraldMitchellville Index.

According to Altoona Herald archives, Krantz planned on turning the property into “Adventure Village.” A mall similar to the Williamsburg Outlet Mall. Plans were started in

Spring 2012 l The RamView l 11

May 18,1994.

The plan was to break ground that fall of 1994 and open the first $11 million phase in the summer of 1995 but the funding fell through and now over 15 years later a different type of mall is planning on coming to Altoona.

Heart of America is well known for their restaurants. Many locals enjoy Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse and the Machine Shed in Des Moines which are just two restaurants in Heart of America’s restaurant franchise.

There will be a steakhouse, Italian restaurant and fast casual restaurant at the Altoona mall according to Trebilcock.

“There is a planned 56,000 square foot all digital 12-14 screen theater that is scheduled for development,” Trebilcock said. “Two national theaters have approved the site and are waiting for the economy and financing to turn around.”

Sitting around waiting for the Prairie Crossing to start construction has been a long time. When asked, when they would like to see construc-

12 l The RamView l Spring 2012

tion start on the project, both Shaw and Quick laughed saying, “Tomorrow.”

“This is all dependent on the retailer.

We plan every year to break ground before the winter,” Trebilcock said. “If construction begins on some part of the center this year it would be 12-14 months before opening. It is impossible to predict, as the last couple of years, retail and the economy have been going against expansion. We are working very hard to get something moving.”

Water Park Expansion

As Altoona sits waiting for Prairie Crossing to become a reality, the original Altoona attraction Adventureland is getting ready to move waves this summer.

“New for our 2012 season is a great addition to Adventure Bay! Breaker Beach, Iowa’s Largest Wave Pool will be 25,000 square feet of water fun! A new kid activity pool is almost complete,” Adventureland’s website reported.

New waterpark expansions keep things fresh at Adventureland according to Shaw. He said that the water park has been a huge success in Altoona and Adventreland is ahead of schedule.

Adventureland did not reply back to our request to an interview.

New for Gamblers

February 24, 2012 Prairie Meadows opened their brand new hotel. The hotel features an indoor swimming pool, restaurant and lounge, ballroom, event and meeting space, fitness and business centers, wireless high speed internet and interactive in-room service system, according to www.PrearieMeadows.com.

“Self-cleaning windows and a saltwater pool are just a few of the latest technology innovations featured in the 168-room structure,” according to Prairie Meadows’ Media Kit. “The hotel project covers 135,000 square feet and connects to the Prairie Meadows facility from the northwest.”

The windows of the hotel are Cardinal Glass Industries’ Neat Glass which uses a layer of titanium dioxide. The UV rays from the sun will decompose whatever is on the glass and easily rinse away the rain.

Along with the hotel, Prairie Meadows has given out their annual Community Betterment Grants.

Southeast Polk received two grants this year. The Hall of Honor received $3,000 and the Junior High School received $9,980 for iPad Education.

The racetrack and casino has given $1.2 billion back to the community since 1995, with $513 million in community betterment funding and $664 million in taxes, according to the Prairie Meadows officials.

Two Southeast Polk seniors, along with two seniors from every high school in Polk County, will be awarded $2,500 scholarships this year. According to officials, 386 students in Central Iowa have benefited from the scholarships since

2001. Applications are due Friday, April 6, 2012, according to Prairie Meadows Media Relations Specialist Mary Lou Coady.

Future Pleasant Hill Plans

The City of Pleasant Hill is planning on a lot of work in their local parks this season.

“The City Council and park and recreation commission are working on several ideas and plans,” Pleasant Hill Community Development Director Benjamin Champ said. “Additional parking at Copper Creek Lake and permanent rest rooms are an immediate priority. Efforts are also being planned for improvements at Doanes Park for more parking, ball field upgrades and new concession facilities.

The newly refurbished sign at Doanes is now the model that will start showing up at other parks soon. New trail signage will appear in the spring with some key locations that match the new metro-wide standards.”

Last year, there was a great deal of conversation about the city purchasing the former White Water University Water Park or building an aquatics park of their own but Champ said there are no current plans from the city regarding White Water University or an aquatic center.

August 2, 2011 the voters of Pleasant Hill voted against a new youth sports complex that was to be built on the south side of the high school across Meacham Drive.

The plan was to build four baseball fields and five soccer fields. It was not the first attempt for the plan to pass. It had been voted down twice before in 2009 and 2010.

“There are no current plans or efforts toward another referendum for a new sports complex.

The concept of a large quality facility remains important for economic development purposes and the need has not gone away so the issue may resurface in future years,” Champ said.

School District Expansion

With our school’s budget crunch, not many projects are being planned for a while but Superintendent Craig Menozzi said that there will be normal changes, like new windows at Centennial.

Menozzi said that in a few years the district will be looking into renovating Mitchellville Elementary and possibly purchasing land.

Purchasing land is important to plan appropriately for the potential of building a new elementary school in the future.

Many students say the high school is already starting to get over crowded but Menozzi said that is not true.

“We are in good shape,” Menozzi said.

“We are not growing that fast.”

We are at around 1,800 students at the senior high but it was built to house 2,400, according to Menozzi.

Why Altoona?

Many people wonder why all of a sudden these places want to build in Altoona.

“Location,” Shaw said. “Research shows a large population is underserved with

retail.”

Many people are traveling to the westside for shopping and Shaw said that it could stay here. Many people from the eastside of the metro including Ankeny, Pella and Grinnell pass through Altoona if they want to go shopping.

“Why not have them stop here,” Shaw explained.

Currently, the city is looking into other large-scale projects to bring to Altoona.

Shaw thinks a large-scale indoor water park resort would be a good fit.

There are also other large-scale projects that the City of Altoona is working hard on bringing to the area. Shaw could not talk about the projects that are in the works but they plan on breaking the news about one of the projects very soon.

Large-scale projects are not the only thing that Shaw hopes to come to Altoona.

He is hoping for more clothing, retail stores and restaurants for Altoona.

StereoType, Bass Pro and the Shoppes at Prairie Crossing are helping put Altoona on the map and solidifying Altoona as the “Entertainment Capital of Iowa.” Altoona will soon bring in world-class music acts and a world class shopping center.

“It is like a mirror image,” Shaw said, referring Altoona to becoming like the west side. Like the popular Altoona T-shirt for sale at the famous East Village shop Raygun reads, “Altoona: the westside of the eastside.”

Spring 2012 l The RamView l 13

ACT Students all over America take the ACT to be able to get into the college they desire. Southeast Polk is trying to make sure students do the best they can to get what both students and colleges consider a “good” ACT score.

by Ben Moeller Design Editor

The ACT is our nation’s premier aptitude test. Students all over the country take it in anticipation of college, hoping to get a “good” score so they may be accepted.

The story is no different at Southeast Polk: get up early on a weekend, check the list to see the room you are in and hunker down for two hours of a test that will hopefully get you into the college of your choice.

While some students study diligently, some not at all; some students take tests from previous years in preparation; some, as 2010 Southeast Polk graduate Tyler O’Connor has said, just take it a bunch.

ACT offers many different solutions to prepare for the difficult test. Some of the products they provide are ACT Online Prep,™ the only test preparation program designed exclusively by ACT development professionals, and The Real ACT Prep Guide, which is the of14 l The RamView l Spring 2012

ficial ACT prep guide—the only one that includes five actual retired ACT tests—each with an optional writing test, according to www.ACT.com.

Southeast Polk offers a workshop for students to attend, RamPlan excused. Dr. ZAPS ACT Workshop will be hosted at Southeast Polk April 26 and 27. The workshop costs $75 and is worth it according to many students who have taken the course.

Students first take a sample test and after the training, the workshop leader helps with suggestions on how to improve your score.

The workshop is similar to the new Composition II class taught by English teachers Shelly Stille and Julene Felice, which was created to help prepare students for the ACT and college life.

ACT staff suggest to get plenty of rest the night before test day, dress

comfortably, make sure you have acceptable identification and bring snacks or drinks to consume during the break.

Southeast Polk will be a testing center June 9, 2012. The deadline for sign up for the June 9th test is May 4, 2012 and a late fee would be required if you sign up between May 5th and 18th.

Source: College of St. Scholastica

Working on a practice ACT test, junior Matt Juhl uses skills from ACT prep books to help increase his score. Students like Juhl work hard to be able to get the highest ACT score they can. According to ACT, the national average ACT score is 21. Alex Payne Photo

Slowly a financial crisis has crept up on Southeast Polk. Spending money we do not have has left us in a $7.5 million deficit with the worst solvency ratio in the metro. The Southeast Polk School Board and new Superintendent Craig Menozzi have had to make difficult cuts with more on the way.

by Alex Payne Editor-in-Chief

W

ith a $7.5 million deficit hovering over Southeast Polk the 2012-2013 school year will be a difficult one according to Superintendent Craig Menozzi. When Menozzi stepped up as Superintendent, summer of 2011, he inherited a district that was already consumed in debt.

Menozzi referred to our problem like a credit card. “It is like we maxed out our credit card,” Menozzi said. “We do not have the money to pay our bills.”

“It cannot be fixed in just one year,” Menozzi said. He plans on reducing our budget by $3 million every year, with the hope of getting to a 0% solvency ratio, in the next five years. Currently, Southeast Polk’s solvency ratio is the worst in the Metro at -15.34% with the only other negative school being Ankeny at -3.2%.

It may be the first time anyone in the Southeast Polk area has heard of a solvency ratio. So how bad is a -15.34% solvency ratio and what is a solvency ratio?

“One of many ratios used to measure a company’s ability to meet long-term obligations. The solvency ratio measures the size of a company’s after-tax income, excluding non-cash depreciation expenses, as compared to the firm’s total debt obligations. It provides a measurement of how likely a company will be to continue meeting its debt obligations,” according to www. investopedia.com.

“Acceptable solvency ratios will vary from industry to industry but as a general rule of thumb, a solvency ratio greater than 20% is considered financially healthy. Generally speaking, the lower a company’s solvency ratio, the greater the probability that the 18 l The RamView l Spring 2012

The Harbor Alternative High School, in Altoona, has fallen victim to the $7.5 million deficit for the school district. After this school year the building will be sold and students will attend classes at the high school. Harbor students will have their own section of the building to house their classes. Alex Payne Photo

company will default on its debt obligations,” www.investopedia.com, explains.

Menozzi said that Southeast Polk does not have a reserve fund, which makes it hard when the funding dries up. That is why our ratio is so bad according to Menozzi. Other school districts have a reserve fund and when funding dried up they were able to tap into

“It is like we maxed out our credit card. We do not have the money.” ­­—Craig Menozzi their reserve fund to stay in the positive.

The State of Iowa did not give Southeast Polk any more money this year but will increase funding to Southeast Polk by 2% for next year.

The amount of money that Southeast Polk must include in their budget increase 4% - 5% every year so we will still be adding

to our debt if we do not do anything now, according to Menozzi.

Although the state will be giving Southeast Polk more money next year, we will not be receiving money from the Federal government through the Education Jobs Fund. The fund granted the State of Iowa $97,915,400 and created 1,406.23 jobs according to educationjobsfund.gov.

Southeast Polk received $1,205,936 through the one time grant, according to the site.

“Ed Jobs funds are used to repair cuts to staff at the school district building level,” according to educationjobsfund.gov.

The program provided $10 billion to states to pay salaries and benefits and to rehire, retain or hire employees. These funds were not able to be used for administrative expenses, overhead or other support services.

Changes, like moving the Harbor to the high school and raising parking pass and activity prices, have been tossed around and are rumored to be put into effect next year.

One of the programs that does not take up much of the budget is Ram Plan.

Ram Plan is an incentive program put in place to keep kids from skipping school and showing up tardy. If you miss two or less days of school you are able to “Ram Plan” or opt out of semester finals for those classes you are passing to meet all of the Ram Plan qualifications. Since it was put in place, teachers say it has cut down on the number of absences.

But Menozzi said that the rumors were false. He is not looking into the Ram Plan himself.

“The (school) board is looking at reviewing and reassessing the Ram Plan,” Menozzi

$$

$$ Metro Schools $ $ solvency ratios best to worst

Source: Craig Menozzi

said.

As many students are worried about Ram Plan, other things need to change too. The district will have to cut programs that cost the district money and we will all feel the pinch according to Menozzi.

In an email sent out by Menozzi on January 23, 2012. Menozzi stated we will all experience cuts.

“As we silence the selfish voice of individualism, we can begin to offer ideas of how each program and group can do their part,” Menozzi said in a district email.

Like the famous quote President John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.” Menozzi changed it up a bit by saying, “It is time to stop asking, ‘What can the Rams do for me and my program?’

And ask instead, ‘What can I do for SE Polk?”

But this is not the first time that Southeast Polk has had to deal with a budget problem.

Two years ago, in 2010, $2 million needed to be cut.

In the spring of 2010 the board released a budget reduction plan to get Southeast Polk out of debt. The plan called for eliminating $2,195,698 in spending and creating $75,000 in revenue through increasing registration fees from $25 to $50.

The reductions included: getting rid of the Unifier, a monthly newsletter sent out to the community, eliminate district paid field trips, eliminate 7th grade athletics, eliminate Director of Communications, eliminate Title 1 Math Coach, eliminate Language Arts Coordinator, reduce 2 industrial technology

teachers at the high school, reduce 1 business education teacher at the high school and driver education was to be paid by parents.

“At the June 24, 2010 meeting, the Board of Education contracted with consultant Dr. Theodore S. Blaesing to conduct a study to review and identify those SEP programs, services, budgeting and staffing processes, that if modified, instituted or abandoned, could realize potential savings or additional revenue streams to the district,” according to the district website.

The final report was received at the September 16, 2010 board meeting and is available on the district website.

At that time, many groups protested the cuts, mainly from the music and fine arts, who wore yellow ribbons and were kicked out of the Iowa State Capitol building for playing in the rotunda to protest state funding cuts for the arts.

This time Menozzi said that all programs will feel some sort of cut.

Menozzi does not know the number of staff that will need to be cut but he said that the district will try to keep it from the teaching staff.

Right now about 83% or four-fifths of the budget goes for salary and employee benefits.

“I am not really that shocked,” sophomore Drake Allen said.

Allen said that he sees a lot of wasteful spending in the district that should be cut.

Many students like to point out the new baseball field built last year with a price tag of over $1 million or the brand new high

school building that totaled well over $50 million.

According to Economics teacher Mike Johnson, there is a difference in the types of funds.

Students said that Johnson has described that there is a “schoolhouse fund,” which is brought in by property tax and can only be used on fixing the “school house.”

Students said that Johnson taught them that it is a very hard process to cut the $7.5 million deficit and he has put it in perspective where they understand that the next few years will be difficult.

On March 1, 2012, the School Board proposed $1.3 million in teacher reductions, which Menozzi and Johnson’s students have both said is something that is obvious to have some cuts.

The proposed cuts by the budget committee are: 1.5 health services reductions, 4.5 administrative assistants reductions, JH security management restructure, 1 HS family consumer science teacher reduction, 1 CEC support staff reduction, .75 warehouse custodial reduction, 9.25 library clerks reductions, 1 TAG reduction 1 counseling staff reduction (retirement), 1 PE teacher reduction (retirement), 1 behavior interventionalist reduction, 1 HS world language teacher reduction, 1 HS campus monitor reduction, .75 JH accompanist reduction, .5 Spring Creek band reduction.

The $1.3 million is just a portion of the $3 million Menozzi is hoping to cut.

Spring 2012 l The RamView l 19

Cardmember ......................................................................................................

Occupation .........................................................................................................

Perfect day ..........................................................................................................

Recent impulse buy ............................................................................................

Most unusual gift ................................................................................................

Can’t shop without .............................................................................................

My card ................................................................................................................

My Life. My Lunch Card.

Your

VIEW

Your view on issues at Southeast Polk and in the local community.

Please Just Remove the Chain Walking from the junior high is far enough as it is, especially during the winter when it is freezing cold but the one thing I don’t understand is why it is so hard to shovel the staircase. Chaining off the staircase and making us walk around just adds more time being cold, possibly making us late for class.

Considering how we pay as much to park at the junior high as people pay to park at the high school and also having to walk five times

farther, I do not believe it is really that hard to just shovel the staircase.

I do not get why the chain was up for a few weeks with no snow and then gets taken down for about 3 days and after we barely have an inch of snow it is put back up again with no snow on the ground and no snow even showing on the forecast. Just frustrated.

Adam Galasso, senior

The RamView What do you hate to love?

Like · Comment · 8 hours ago

Brett Ratashak Laughing at things that aren’t funny but that’s just me.

8 hours ago · Like

Maddyson Herselius I hate to love food because it’s hard to burn off the calories afterward.

7 hours ago · Like

Connor Botts I hate to love filmmaking; it’s fun but it is complicated sometimes and it takes a lot of effort. Mostly with the editing I do.

7 hours ago · Like

Rachel Hanson I hate to love going shopping. I always end up spending more than what I plan on. So many things to buy.

6 hours ago · Like

Juan Hernandez I hate to love working. It takes time out of my day but it’s always worth it.

6 hours ago · Like

Caitlin Wilson I hate to love buying things like shoes, clothes and movies. I buy a lot of movies.

2 hours ago · Like

Morgan Doerhoff I hate to love Twitter. It’s so addicting. I spend lots of time on it. about an hour ago · Like

Letter From the Editor

Recently our girls basketball team came close to winning the state championship but our rival, Ankeny slipped their way in to beat us in the class 4-A semifinals March 3, 2012.

The loss was disappointing as any loss would be but it would have been only the second, team state title in Southeast Polk history.

As I drove home after the game all I could think about was how proud I was of our girls basketball team. They truly represented what Southeast Polk is all about.

I also had the question in my head: “Do the girls on this year’s team know the significance of girls basketball and Southeast Polk?”

Through my years of researching local history, I have learned that many people were not happy to have their school become part of the bigger school, Southeast Polk.

It was not until Southeast Polk’s 1977 girl’s basketball team won the state championship that people’s view of Southeast Polk changed. People were actually proud to be a Ram. People were proud to be from Southeast Polk.

As I sat there in my car driving down University Avenue I was thinking about all of the people who left school to go to the game, not being Ram Plan excused. That is Ram Pride. I was proud,until I remembered that in the latest issue of the school newspaper, the Rampage they had a “Ram Dictionary” in which they had the definition of The Southeast Polk Way as, “A description of a type of behavior that often is used as a joke among teachers and students when a student is caught acting up.

EX: Teacher #1: A student got caught smoking in the bathroom. Seriously, what’s wrong with kids these days? Teacher #2: Well, it’s the Southeast Polk Way… *giggle giggle*” Giggle, giggle? That is the way we now show school pride? Seeing an example like this in a school publication made me sick. That is not the way to show pride for our school. We should always be proud of who we are, like we were on March 3rd or in 1977.

I had a wake up call March 2nd when one of my teachers said, “Forget Ram Plan. Your high school years are limited and are more valuable.”

I knew I couldn’t let something like Ram Plan stop me from supporting my school to show my Ram Pride.

I believe that our pride has been slipping and I think we need to regain our pride again. We need to be proud to be a Ram; it is what makes us strong.

I know many people make fun of Bredlow for his “Proud to be a Ram” saying but it is true and exactly what we need to be continually reminded.

Alex Payne, senior Spring 2012 l The RamView l 21

After School

by Miriam Lopez Managing Editor

RamView Managing Editor Miriam training.

On Tuesdays, Thursdays and SatLopez followed a student to see what some students do after they walk out of urdays I run 2-3 miles consistently but I increase the number of miles I run the classroom doors at 3:01 P.M. without stopping every two weeks. I want to get to the point where I’m runMariana Vega, senior I like to workout after school. There’s ning 8-10 miles consistently. All this nothing better than losing weight and hard work I’m putting in is for the half marathon I’m running on June 2nd for gaining muscle. On Monthe Dam to Dam. I have ran a half days, Wednesmarathon in the past; this days and Fritime my goal is to beat my days I do personal record from circuit 2010 when it took me 2 hours and 22 minutes.

When I run the marathon this spring, I want it to be under 2 hours or at least 10 minutes less from last time.

I know I will be able to do better because when I ran it in 2010 I was a vegetarian and didn’t eat any meat which wasn’t good. My body 22 l The RamView l Spring 2012

needed more iron and protein from meat to give me the proper strength and energy.

Now my diet is normal. I try to eat small amounts of food every 3 hours so I don’t end up eating more calories than I can burn.

Running a half marathon was on my bucket list, which was what made me run one in the first place and I’m thinking to run a full marathon this October if everything goes well with my half marathon.

These types of things take dedication and hard work; it feels good once you cross the finish line. I haven’t been a runner my whole life. I joined cross country my sophomore year and that’s where it all began. I am strong and I believe that I can do anything I set my mind in to.

You can’t ever say, “I can’t do it,” when you haven’t tried or pushed yourself far enough. I have to say that it does take a lot of motivation but just working out is like brushing your teeth or taking a shower, it’s something you must do every day. So that’s what I do after school.”

From the SEP hallways RamView Fashion Correspondent, Justine Blanchard weighs in on...

She Did!

24 l The RamView l Spring 2012

WHO

WORE IT BETTER?

He Did!

She Did!

Spring 2012 l The RamView l 25

How would you spice up a

Titanic themed dance?

Philip Velez: “I’d have a swimming pool and drop money from the sky instead of balloons.”

Matt Curry: “I’d turn the air down below 60 degrees and bring in the wind.”

Savannah Wallace: “Make it way darker, add more strobes and have lots of glitter.”

Tiana Tiao: “No glitter! It’s the herpes of arts and crafts; we’ll never get rid of it.”

Myles Brown: “Music is the biggest thing. They should only play remix, club songs.”

SEP students enjoy the 2011 Prom, Knight of Dreams. File Photo

Prom 2012

A Lavish Cruise

You will Never Forget

by Alex Payne Editor-in-Chief

The 2012 Prom Committee is hard at work on a prom that will be like no other.

Prom Committee members came up with the theme “High Seas Affair,” towards the beginning of the fall semester. The nautical theme will give the feeling of being on an elegant cruise ship.

The committee will use the same decorator, InnovativEvents, of Des Moines, as they have for the last two years.

According to the decorator, students will enter through the west doors and walk down one of two bridges with red aisle runners leading to checkpoints. At the checkpoints, students will present their “Boarding Pass,” identical to what a Titanic Boarding Pass 26 l The RamView l Spring 2012

would have looked like.

Once students pass through the checkpoint, they will walk into the ship’s “Grand Ballroom” with crystal chandeliers, elegant drapes and projected stars.

Committee members have decided to help with the decorations to keep costs down.

Due to the budget crunch, they decided to cut some of the decorations they felt were unnecessary so they went out searching for decorations that would cost less, sometimes the same thing that the designer had planned but cheaper.

“It is a lot of fun being able to help pick out the decorations,” junior Allison Woodard said.

“I have enjoyed looking up things that I think students would like to see.”

If the ballroom and the dancing is too much for you, the committee decided to have an area for you to kick back for a while, on the back of the ship. Along the east side of the commons there will be a starry backdrop with a moon hanging from the ceiling, lighting the deck of the ship.

The ship deck will include lounge chairs and cocktail tables.

“It will actually make you feel like you are standing on the back of a cruise ship at night,” Woodard said. “I think the moonlight will just top it off, making it romantic.”

Sherry Lynn Photography will be taking photos at prom again this year, according to Prom Committee advisors. Sherry Lynn will be located in the locker banks, which will add more room for decorations and dance space in the commons.

Tickets are expected to go on sale the week before Prom and committee advisors said to expect tickets to be around $20 each.

“I think that this year’s seniors will be pleasantly surprised,” Woodard said.

are you a...

True Ram?

We are all a part of the Ram Nation but a “True Ram” is someone who participates in activities here with gusto. A True Ram supports other students, respects teachers and ultimately loves Southeast Polk. Find out what it takes to get more out of your Southeast Polk experience by taking this quiz.

SEP fought their way to the football playoffs and were one game away from the dome. Would you rather go to a SEP football game or a movie?

Game of Course!

The movie is more entertaining for me.

This year’s homecoming dance was out of this world with hundreds of space creatures at the “Space Jam.” Did you attend this year’s dance?

Definitely not.

The members of Skills USA hosted their annual “Combat Hunger” food drive. Did you donate food for the food drive?

Fired up Ram!

YES! I’m in a club!

Nope.

There are dozens of clubs offered here at Southeast Polk with more and more being offered every year. Are you a member of one?

Absolutely!

Nope.

Moderate

I totally agree!

Definitely Southeast Polk is known for having the craziest fans around.

Some people say that our fans are the reason we are so good.

Do you agree?

This year’s students had to go online to vote for Homecoming King and Queen. Did you log on to Infinite Campus to vote?

I don’t agree.

No.

Halfhearted fan

Of course!

The SEP girl’s basketball team and wrestling team were some of the top teams in the state.

Did you go to either of their games/meets?

Regrettably no

This year’s students and staff started a clothes drive for local families. Did you donate or volunteer at the clothes drive?

This year’s Spirit Week included class colors, ugly sweaters, athletic wear, formal wear and Black and Gold Days. Did you dress up for Spirit Week?

Giving back makes me feel better.

Absolutely not.

YES!

Unenthusiastic

No way!

Drama members took on the task of preforming a play with an invisible rabbit, in the play”Harvey.” Did you attend this year’s play?

I wouldn’t miss it!

What play?

Cold school spirit Spring 2012 l The RamView l 27

d n a u k sudo 7

9

5

7

3

5 3

4

7

6 8

6

4

2

4

8

6

9

2

1

ACROSS

3 4

1.

Hippie History 4.

Gamerz Club 6.

New Superintendent 8.

Skills USA 9.

Adult Living Skills 11. The largest city in SEP 13. Student Body President 19. Literary magazine 21. Traditional lunch food 25. Local theme park 26. French teacher 28. Health Occupations 29. Activities 31. Student newspaper 32. Prom decorator 34. Assistant Principal 37. Yearbook Adviser 39. Weights 40. Same lunch everyday 41. Varsity Show Choir 42. Prairie Meadows built a 43. Volleyball 44. Boys Track 28 l The RamView l Spring 2012

9

DOWN

2. Drama/plays 3.

Softball 5.

“Great day to be a ram!”

7.

Prom theme 10. The school yearbook 12. Water Park in Altoona 14. New concert venue 15. Designed the “new” Ram 16. Wrestling 17. Ethnic lunch food 18. New Mall for Altoona 20. OASIS 22. # of schools formed SEP 23. New Assistant Principal 24. SEP Mascot 27. DECA

Answers

3

4

5

NO

2

8

Cheating

crosswordS E P O L K 29. Newspaper Adviser 30. Student Council 33. Girls Golf 35. Football 36. Associate Principal 38. Boy’s Cross Country

Be Proud Southeast Polk Schools

Be a Ram.

Southeast Polk Community School District

Pleasant Hill, Iowa

(515) 967-4294

SpotDifference the

Statistics

Jill Niehaus started working for Southeast Polk in 1989. In 1986 Niehaus graduated from the University of Northern Iowa.

Niehaus has a masters in mathematics and has also studied computer science and coaching.

Niehaus is the only teacher for the dual credit Statistics and Finite course offered at Southeast Polk, in which students earn high school and college credit from DMACC for completing the class.

Niehaus’ statistic’s students are currently working on creating their Stats Olympics events, in which high school students will be invited down to take part in the games so statistics students can collect data for their chosen project.

10 Changes.

Keep Score

Answers: The greater than sign was changed to less than. Niehaus’ glasses are missing. A blue marker was changed to red. The n and p in the standard deviation equation was switched. A shading line in the box on the board is missing. A hook is missing on the top of the board. Niehaus’ sleeve is longer. #18 was changed to #1. A B was added to the answer key. Niehaus’ back pocket now has some “bling.”

Spring 2012 l The RamView l 31

? r e m m u S r o F ! y e d W a Re o Are S

The 2012 Ramshackle coming soon!