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VOLUME 125 ISSUE 35
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Indianola schools face lawsuit after girl allegedly sexually assaulted on bus PAIGE GODDEN PGODDEN@REGISTERMEIDA.COM
Two parents have filed a lawsuit saying their elementaryschool-age daughter was sexually assaulted multiple times by an older boy on an Indianola school district bus in 2013 and accusing the district and two administra-
tors of failing to protect her. The lawsuit, filed in Warren County District Court in January, accuses Wilder Elementary School Principal Craig Sexton of failing to inform police after the girl told her parents she had been sexually assaulted on the bus. The lawsuit also contends the district refused to take ac-
tion against the boy that the lawsuit identifies as the attacker even after the boy admitted to the acts. But an attorney with the Iowa Department of Education says it can be hard for schools to know what processes to follow when one student accuses another of assault.
Nicole Proesch, a lawyer with the Iowa Department of Education, said student-on-student assaults don’t fit neatly under Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 102, which specifies procedures when a school employee is accused of abusing a student, or under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Human Ser-
vices. She said procedures are likely to be spelled out in either the school’s bullying and harassment codes or in Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual violence, in educational programs See LAWSUIT, Page 3A
Warren County prepares for LOST vote PAIGE GODDEN PGODDEN@REGISTERMEDIA.COM
The Indianola City Council and Warren County Economic Development are both urging residents to vote for the local option sales tax, which will be up for vote Tuesday, March 1. “Warren County is one of only seven counties in Iowa that has not taken advantage of this opportunity to capture extra funds through shoppers who pass through our community,” said a news release from WCEDC. “These funds are used toward public projects and improvements that benefit all residents without having to create more debt or raise property taxes.” The Indianola City Council passed a proclamation urging residents to vote for the tax. The proclamation states that the tax would minimize the financial impact to Indianola residents and would shift a portion of the financial burden of constructing a wastewater treatment plant from wastewater customers to non-residents who visit and shop in Indianola. The new facility is expected to cost $25 million and take three to five years to build. To help offset the costs of the new facility, the 1-percent local option sales tax would provide the city with at least $800,000 per year and up to $1.8 million, depending on the result of the March 1election and the way the money will be redistributed, said officials. If the sales tax doesn’t pass, Indianola city manager Ryan Waller said the city will have to raise wastewater rates by 46 percent to 54 percent per month, or about $18 per month for the average customer that uses about 4,000 gallons a month. He said there are no plans to exempt businesses and commercial users. “Doing so would likely mean an even larger increase for residential customers,” Waller said. “Passing the local option sales tax will help keep the wastewater rates lower than if the sales tax option is voted down.” He said the city is currently working with a consultant on the initial phase of the permitting process to build a new plant, though there are no specific design plans yet. That comes later, See LOST, Page 4A
MARK DAVITT/SPECIAL TO THE RECORD-HERALD
Bert Hanson and his assistant coaches Ken Beane and Casey Blake focus on the game during a Jan. 23 contest against Roosevelt. Hanson and Beane have worked together for more than 35 years and plan to keep the partnership going.
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or 35 years, two men have held court on the basketball hardwood in Indianola. Teams have changed, players have graduated and the sport has evolved over time but Bert Hanson and Ken Beane have remained on the sideline — leading young athletes in the game of hoops. As the Indianola girls basketball team wrapped up the regular season earlier this month, the local coaching dynasty marked career milestones in their coaching tenures. Hanson, who selected Beane as his Indianola assis-
of the
IHS coaching duo marks career milestones
See COACHES, Page 4A
Legislators argue over allowable growth at Simpson forum PAIGE GODDEN PGODDEN@REGISTERMEDIA.COM
Four lawmakers — two from each side of the aisle — told a crowd at Simpson College Feb. 16 K-12 education has always been and will continue to be a priority for them. But Democratic Sen. Herman Quirmbach, chair of the Senate Education Committee, called out the two Republicans at the event, Sen. Julian Garrett and Rep. Ron
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Jorgenson, for actions the Republican controlled Iowa House took two weeks ago. “A couple of weeks ago the House finally got around to taking up the allowable growth bill that we sent them a year ago for the coming school year,” Quirmbach said. “They cut it in half. They cut out $90 million saying they couldn’t find the money. “By the end of the week they had passed a bill of about $90 million for a tax
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cut mostly for corporations,” the Ames senator said. “It’s a matter of priorities. We have the money. If you want it, you can find it.” Garrett of Indianola argued he doesn’t want to promise more money than the state can actually give. He said when the Democrats “were in charge” of both houses in the Legislature and the governor’s mansion back in 2002 — Gov.
INDEX Local ..........................................2A-12A Viewpoint .......................................10A Records ..............................................8B Public Notices .............................8B-9B Classifieds.................................10B-11B Fareway .......................................1C-4C Your Life ............................................1D Calendar ...........................................2D Family Notes ....................................2D Obituaries.........................................3D
See GROWTH, Page 4A
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