Ready, set, GO!
Kids rush to get as much candy as they can at the Kiwanis Easter egg hunt March 29
PCM School Board sets make-up days for inclement weather
Students will now have classes April 21 along with May 22 and 23 at the end of the school year
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
School will now dismiss on May 23 after the PCM School Board approved three make-up days due to inclement weather. Make-up days will take place on April 21, May 22 and May 23, with the last day being a two-hour early out day for the district.
“We had a little more inclement weather than we wanted this year,” interim superintendent Art Sathoff said. “We ended up having four full days out plus nine hours of late starts and early outs. We do have some designated snow days on the calendar that were approved.”
April 21 was originally designated a district improvement day for the students. The previously scheduled last day of school was Wednesday, May 21. It will now be a full day and two additional days will be tacked on, May 22 and 23, with the last day
of school a two-hour early out.
“Since we do have above the minimum 1,080 instruction hours for students we will absorb the nine hours of late starts and early outs and the fourth day,” Sathoff said. “Then, we would make up the other three with the three approved days.”
The district is required to have 1,080 instructional hours for students. The approved 2024-2025 calendar had 1,137 hours. With the four snow days and nine hours of late starts subtracted and three makeup days added, the district will still have approximately 1,125 hours of instruction time for students.
“One little wrinkle, you track instructional hours for students but you track contract days for teachers,” Sathoff said. “In both cases it seems to fit pretty well.”
To fulfill the needed days for teachers, the fourth missed day will
RAINING EGGS
Prairie City Easter egg hunt features a helicopter egg drop
By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
Easter eggs will be falling from the sky at a one-of-a-kind hunt in Prairie City. The Prairie City Easter Celebration and Vendor Fair will feature a helicopter egg drop at the PCM Middle School football field giving kids and adults an experience like no other.
“We are very excited to bring this new event to Prairie City,” Prairie City Celebration Committee organizer Amy Witte said. “It brings children of all ages to help celebrate and join in on the fun.”
Starting at 9 a.m., a vendor fair featuring more than 70 entries will be set up in the middle school. From wood specialties to crocheted creations and sweet treats, there will be a wide variety of items on hand to shop.
The Easter Bunny will hop in from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. ready to pose for a picture and greet kids celebrating the holiday. There will also be raffle items available to view and take a chance on while meeting the Easter Bunny and shopping at the vendor fair.
The main event is planned for 11:30 a.m. at the football field where a helicopter from Iron Horse Aviation will take part in an egg drop. Volunteers will be on hand to help families during the egg drop and kids are invited to gather as many treats as they can in their baskets.
“We hope that it is well attended so we can bring it back next year as well,” Amy Witte said. “If guests are attending and live nearby please walk up. Parking will fill up quickly.”
For more information about the event, follow Prairie City Celebration on Facebook.
HELPING PEOPLE HELP THE LAND
By Christopher Braunschweig PCM Explorer
Which
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer
Explorer PCM
Worth Mentioning
Send your event to news@pcmexplorer.com
Upcoming events at The Gathering Place in Monroe
Thursday, April 3
• 8-11am Playgroup
• 10am Senior Living Series hosted by Andy Algreen
• 12:30pm TAI-CHI for Arthritis
Saturday, April 5
• 9am Charcuteries by Teaspoon Catering “Make & Take it”
Monday, April 7
• 10am Video Exercise Class
Tuesday, April 1
• 8-11am Playgroup
• 8am Coffee and Prayer
Wednesday, April 9
• 1pm Get Fit, Don’t Fall with Amy S.
Thursday, April 10
• 8-11am Playgroup
• 10am Patty Richards Show
• 12:30pm TAI-CHI for Arthritis
• 5:30pm Community Potluck
Seasonal walking ends at FLC
The Family Life Center is closed for walking for this season.
GriefShare session Saturday
First Reformed Church in Prairie City will host GriefShare from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday. If you have experienced the death of a loved one and are looking for support, healing and hope, you are welcome.
PCM Food Pantry
The PCM Food Pantry at the Monroe Presbyterian Church, 113 S. Main St. in Monroe, is open 9 a.m. to noon and 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. to noon Thursdays.
TOPS
TOPS 1025 meets at 5:30 p.m. every Monday at the First Reformed Church in Prairie City for weigh-in, with meeting to follow. Go to the north side parking lot at the church and enter in the north door. Call 515-994-2200 for information.
Lighthouse Recovery meetings
Lighthouse Recovery Ministries host a Men’s and Ladies Recovery meeting at 6:30 p.m. each Monday at Grace Alive Church, 703 W. Second St. in Prairie City. Contact Barb at b.miller@lighthouserecoveryia.com with questions.
PCM Clothing Closet
The PCM Clothing Closet, on the second floor of the Family Life Center at 105 S. Sherman St. in Prairie City, will be open from 3:30 to 7 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday and 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays.
Good News Club meets after school Monday, April 14 at the Monroe Elementary Art Room and the Prairie City Elementary Media Room/Library. This group is for Kindergarten through 5th grades and includes games, songs, Bible lesson, snacks on full days of school. Call Jane at 641-891-2733 with question regarding the Monroe location and Sheryl at 641-5213120 for Prairie City. Good News Club April 14
The City of Monroe requests all flowers placed at Silent Cemetery in Monroe be picked up by April 15, prior to mowing season.
City-Wide Garage Sales in Monroe May 3
Monroe City-Wide Garage Sales are scheduled for Saturday, May 3 and registrations are available at City Hall, Monroe Post Office, Monroe Foods or online at www.monroeia.com. Cost is $5 to advertise on the map and the deadline for signing up is Friday, April 25.
Spring Clean-up in Monroe
Monroe Spring Clean-up day is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7. For a list of unacceptable items, visit www.midwestsanitation.com.
Road construction work on
Iowa 14 between Knoxville and Monroe begins on April 7
If you are driving on Iowa 14 between Monroe and Knoxville you need to be aware of an upcoming construction project that may slow down your trip. Construction crews will be replacing the bridge over Brush Creek, 0.2 miles north of Marion County Road G-28, and performing a deck overlay on the bridge over the Des Moines River, 1.2 miles north of Marion County Road G-40. The roadway will be
closed to traffic beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, April 7, until late October, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Chariton construction office.
During this project, you will be detoured around the work zone on Iowa 14 using Iowa 163, Marion County Road T-17, and Iowa 92. For more information on the Iowa 14 construction work between Knoxville and Monroe, vis-
it iowadot.gov/IA14-DMRiver. The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.
The latest traveler information is available
anytime through our 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or X (find links at https://iowadot. gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device. It’s easy to subscribe to Your 511 and sign up to receive email/text alerts. Visit https://new.511ia. org/#login to sign up.
Prairie City native serves on Orr Fellowship Leadership Team
Orr Fellowship, an early career development program for high-achieving post-graduates and future-focused businesses in Indianapolis and Evansville, announced its Fellowship Leadership Team (FLT) for the 2025 term, which included Blake Van Der Kamp of Prairie City and graduate of Iowa State University, as the new director of marketing.
Candidates for the leadership team are nominated and elected by their peers, while former FLT and executive team members interview
each candidate. Composed of eight director roles spanning marketing, diversity, recruitment and more, the Fellowship Leadership Team’s goal is to strengthen ties within the Orr community, engage with current, former and future Fellows, and push the program forward.
“The Fellowship Leadership Team is an important component of our program,” Steven Emch, President of Orr Fellowship, said. “It gives Fellows ownership of the organization and our direction, providing additional opportunities for
them to demonstrate their leadership potential and innovative thinking that ultimately impact partner companies and the greater Indiana business community.”
Over two years, Fellows work full-time at a partner company in fields like marketing, consulting, engineering and tech. Beyond their day-to-day roles, Fellows grow through continuing education opportunities, such as hearing from top executives, taking on nonprofit consulting projects, and learning financial management skills.
IRS: Free File provides quick and easy way to file taxes
As the end of tax season approaches, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that IRS Free File is a quick and easy way to file federal tax returns for free.
IRS Free File lets qualified taxpayers get free tax preparation, free electronic filing and free direct deposit of their federal tax refund, if they’re owed one, using guided tax preparation software available only at IRS.gov.
IRS Free File is available to taxpayers and families whose 2024 total adjusted gross income (AGI) was $84,000 or less. A taxpayer’s AGI includes wages, tips, business income, retirement income and other forms of taxable income. Through a public-private partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, tax preparation and filing software providers make their online products available to eligible taxpayers. Each provider sets its own eligibility rules based on age, state residency and income.
IRS Free File will guide taxpayers through choosing the provider that’s right for their needs
Benefits of IRS Free File
Using IRS Free File can help taxpayers find and calculate valuable tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Credit.
Any individual or married couple that meets the income limitation is potentially eligible, and IRS Free File can also handle complex tax returns.
IRS Free File partner companies cannot disclose or use tax return information for purposes other than tax return preparation without the taxpayer’s informed and voluntary consent.
Taxpayers can use IRS Free File to file their taxes on any personal computer, tablet or smart phone.
All products are available in English, and one guided tax product is available in Spanish.
Easy way to file an extension
Need more time to file? IRS
Free File is one of the easiest ways to request an extension. A tax filing extension guarantees the taxpayer six additional months to file, with an extended deadline of Oct. 15.
Although an extension grants extra time to file, it does not grant taxpayers extra time to pay if they owe. Taxpayers are still obligated to pay taxes due on April 15, 2025, to avoid penalties and interest. Taxpayers who owe should either pay their full tax bill or at least pay what they can afford by the April 15 deadline.
Other free tax filing options
In addition to IRS Free File, the IRS reminds taxpayers that there are other free programs available to help: Free File Fillable Forms. All taxpayers regardless of their income can use the IRS’ Free File Fillable Forms. These are the electronic versions of IRS paper forms and are best for people who are comfortable preparing their own taxes using IRS forms and instructions. Direct File. Taxpayers who lived and worked in one of 25 participating states for all of 2024 may use IRS Direct File to file federal tax returns online—for free—directly and securely with the IRS. Go to IRS Direct File to find more information, including eligibility requirements and updates to the list of tax situations added to IRS
Direct File for the 2024 tax year. VITA and TCE. People who generally make $67,000 or less, persons with disabilities, limited English-speaking taxpayers and those who are 60 years of age and older, can also find free one-onone tax preparation help around the nation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. VITA/TCE sites are operated by IRS partners and staffed by IRS-certified volunteers who provide a trusted source for preparing tax returns. MilTax. Offered through the Department of Defense, MilTax is a free tax resource available to members of the military, as well as qualifying veterans and family members. It is a suite of tax services designed to address the realities of military life—including deployments, combat and training pay, housing and rentals, and multi-state filings. MilTax includes tax preparation and electronic filing software, personalized support from tax consultants and current information about filing taxes. Eligible taxpayers can use MilTax to electronically file a federal tax return and up to three state returns for free. For more on IRS Free File or other filing methods, check out the File your return page on IRS.gov.
Jasper County Tribune or PCM Explorer. Call 641-792-3121 or email advertising@newtondailynews.com to
Please recycle your old newspapers.
Explorer PCM
2025 Iowa State Fair Way We Live award entries now open
The Iowa State Fair and media sponsors Iowa Farmer Today and WHO Radio, The Big Show, are seeking entries for the 2025 Way We Live Award, in its 17th year, and will be awarded to six Iowa families who exemplify hard-working farm values and a love for the occupation of farming. So far, the Way We Live Award has been given to 95 well-deserving Iowa families.
To nominate your family or someone you know, submit an entry form that describes how living on a farm and choosing the occupation of farming has shaped the
family’s life. All entries must include a family picture that illustrates the family’s commitment to their farming operation.
Entry forms can be printed or filled out on the Iowa State Fair website: http:// www.iowastatefair.org/participate/the-way-we-liveaward/. All entries must be postmarked or submitted by May 15.
Winners will receive a prize package including $250 cash, fair admission, a parking pass, food vouchers, a one-night hotel stay and recognition on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage and in
School Board
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be made up May 30. The teachers were already scheduled for final district improvement days May 27-29. “For having not very nice weather it works out pretty well,” Sathoff said.
The board did inquire about using virtual learning days when students are unable to attend in person. Staff said while the middle and high schools did do a practice run on virtual learning, the elementary schools are not set up to facilitate a day from home yet.
Land
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When NRCS sees a problem, they work with landowners to fix it. Help can be as simple as providing general advice or as complex as working with NRCS’s engineering staff to survey a site and then design a structure that can fix the problem. Financial programs can also be utilized when appropriate.
In Jasper County, NRCS shares office space with representatives from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). So if there is a program or
service that is a better fit to a specific farmer’s needs, they’re close by to respond.
Aaron Sande, a district conservationist for NRCS, said in addition to finding solutions to soil erosion — which is the main issue his department encounters on a regular basis — the agency also works with farmers on improving water quality and increasing wildlife habitat through conservation efforts.
Financial assistance toward land conservation projects is another service NRCS can provide farmers. Some programs provide funding for total acres.
Other farmers have issues that go beyond a dollar-amount-per-acre
the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center during the Iowa State Fair, August 7-17. Eligible families must be residents of Iowa and the farming operation can be centered around any agricultural commodity. Families may be nominated by a member of the family or by others.
Nominations must be submitted online (www. iowastatefair.org) or postmarked by May 15, 2025, and sent to: Iowa State Fair, Emily Wynn, PO Box 57130, Des Moines, Iowa 503170003 or e-mail all materials to ewynn@iowastatefair.org.
Board member Jeremy St. Peter also asked how the updated calendar would be relayed to the public. Sathoff said it would be distributed through many avenues including email, Facebook, the school website and reminders with the students.
The board also approved a sharing agreement with Knoxville Community School District for girls tennis. Currently, the district has six students who expressed interest in playing tennis.
“Unfortunately, at this time PCM cannot support its own girls (or boys) tennis team due to the lack of tennis courts in town,” activities director Jeremy Swink said. “For the time being, sharing with Knoxville is the best opportunity for our kids who are interested in participating.”
solution. For instance, Sande said if a farmer has a horrible gully cutting through their field, then NRCS may work with that individual to reshape the eroded area, make a smooth grass waterway, seed it down and install some sort of structure.
“So (in that example) when it exits the field it’s not then becoming a problem for the neighbor. We offer cost share for those, but generally they’re about 50 percent of the cost — so we pay half, they pay half,” Sande said. “Some of them pay a little bit more, but at least they’re generally that 50 percent margin.”
Jasper County SWCD and NRCS have similar environmental goals. NRCS works alongside the district by administering some of their programs, and Sande attends every meeting and works as a point man with the district to spread awareness of their programs and increase participation in programs.
Working with Iowa farmers, Sande said, is important in conserving
natural habitat and wildlife. Farmers need quality top soil for quality crops. By implementing conservation efforts to preserve their land, they can effectively reduce the negative impacts on the environment.
“Extensive cultivation and rain events and wind events — that top soil just keeps on shrinking,” Sande said. “We need to do our best to hold on to what we have so that 100 years down the road we can still keep growing crops … Some areas of the Middle East were incredibly fertile. Now, they’re dominated by desert.”
Stripping land of its nutrients proved devastating to that region’s fertility. Iowa certainly does not want to move in that direction.
More than three-quarters of the state was once covered in prairie. Nowadays, nearly all of the natural prairie has disappeared due to developments and agriculture. As a result, a lot of the natural wildlife habitat is no longer here. Sande said conservation efforts
Knoxville will charge PCM $300 per student to participate.
In other business:
• A 28E sharing agreement with Newton Community School District for the transportation director position for the remainder of the fiscal year. Should the district want to continue the agreement for the following school year, they would need to be in contact by June 30.
• An agreement with Gateway Recreation for high school boys and girls golf was approved by the board. The district will pay $600 per team. The membership is limited to high school golf privileges only and includes scheduled practice times and team events for the golfers.
from farmers actually help bring that back.
Pheasants have made a historic return in the state in recent years. Concerted efforts from all sorts of groups have made that possible.
Of course, conserving wildlife is not the only thing NRCS wants to help farmers with. Improving water quality is another goal the agency works toward regularly. While many people get their drinking water from underground wells, some get their water from rivers and watersheds.
High levels of nitrate in rivers pose a big challenge and make the water unsafe to drink, and it can also be harmful to the environment.
Which is why farmer’s voluntary conservation efforts are crucial. Sande said it comes down to reducing soil erosion, improving water quality and enhancing wildlife habitat. A lot of what the local SWCD does is holding outreach events and increasing participation from farmers.
“We do that through
field days, workshops, educational days — stuff like that,” Sande said, noting a field day in August 2024 alone discussed the benefits of notill farming and planting cover crops, and better ways to get more consistent and positive results from cover crops. About 25 producers attended the field day. SWCD also had an individual share how they apply cover crops using drones. The district is all about educating farmers and producers, and, in turn, changing their thought processes. Sande said it is not easy for farmers to make these changes overnight. It takes time to yield the desired results.
Farmers know this all too well.
“A lot of times we might just plant that little seed in their head, and maybe a couple of years later they come back and it’s maybe grown a little bit,” Sande said. “Then maybe they’ll try something on a few acres and see how that does. Then maybe they expand it to a whole field.”
The PCM
National Honors Society Inducts
New Members
On April 2, PCM hosted its annual NHS Induction, announcing and inducting 17 new members and recognizing all 20 current members . New members include:
Addison Beener
Alyssa Buckingham
Carolyn Burkett
Harrison Brinegar
Jessalyn DeVries
Kash Fischer
Jayden Fridley
Charlie Ford
Mathew Holmes *
Jaden Houser
Abe Kiernan
Tori Lindsay
Rylee Parsons
Addyson Pederson
Peyton Rardin
Carly Steenhoek
Dominic Witt
* Indicate new senior member
Off to All State
Piper Clark Website Editor
Junior Carter Dudley is the first student to go to Individual All State speech in two years. Individual All State is the highest level a performer can go in speech. Dudley stated, At State, you have three judges, and they all give you a score, but after that, they also have to pick who they nominate. You have to get two out of the three judges to nominate you to get into All State.” He has participated in speech for three years and gone to Large Group All State with Grace Taylor one year. Dudley stated, It’s exciting because last year, Grace Taylor and I were non-performing at All State, but this year I get to perform.” Dudley went to State Individual for the literacy program. Dudley elaborated, It is a mix of a short story and a poem that have to revolve around the same theme.” He continued, Mine is all about fear, and it talks about how when we are young, we fear monsters, but when we get older, we realize it’s not really monsters that we were scared of.” Dudley’s poem and story had to include the same theme of fear, so finding a script to use is a struggle. Dudley described his story in further detail, stating it is about ”a monster coming to a little boy’s window in the middle of the night, like a nightmare.” He continued, saying his poem “is about breaking free from those monsters.” Some advice that Dudley has for getting into All State is to “try to make yourself as memorable as possible so the judges keep your performance in their minds.” Individual All State is located at the University of Northern Iowa every year and includes performers from all across the state. Be sure to support PCM High School’s speech team during next year’s speech season!
Diamond Trail FFA in Good Hands
Kenna Grier Staff Writer
PCM Diamond Trail FFA has elected a new team of officers to lead the organization throughout the 25-26 school year. This year’s election brought together a group of dedicated students eager to make an impact. The former 24-25 officers were Rebecca DeVries (President), Rylee DeHaai (Vice President), Seriah Nolin (Secretary), Johnathan Swan (Treasurer), Gretchen Uitermarkt (Reporter), and Meredith Chipps (Sentinel). The team consisted of four seniors, with four juniors replacing them for the upcoming year. The newly elected officers are Gretchen Uitermarkt (President), Seriah Nolin (Vice President), Carter Dudley (Secretary), Wade Uitermarkt (Treasurer), Tristen Valcore (Reporter), and Kailyn Padget (Sentinel). Next year’s seniors on the officer team will be Gretchen Uitermarkt, Seriah Nolin, Carter Dudley, and Tristen Valcore. President Gretchen Uitermarkt, Vice President Seriah Nolin, and Secretary Carter Dudley shared their thoughts on their FFA experience. When asked about the best part of FFA, Nolin responded, “For me, it’s the experiences I get, like going to National Convention and just random fun trips we’ve been on.” As Vice President, Nolin’s role is to “help Gretchen make decisions on meetings and just help the chapter overall.” President Gretchen Uitermarkt added, “The best part of FFA for me is being able to hang out with all my friends.” As President, Uitermarkt’s role is to call meetings to order and take care of the business during the meetings. Finally, Secretary Carter Dudley shared that the best part of FFA for him is the contests that they have the opportunity to take part in. He enjoys being able to learn through them and having lots of fun as well. As secretary, his main role is to “take notes during the chapter meetings,” Dudley stated. Being an FFA officer is a huge accomplishment and an impressive role to take on. These students have displayed creativity, leadership, and dedication towards the entire FFA chapter. The community looks forward to seeing how these new officers will display their new role as next year comes around.
Hi! It’s Libby again, and for my column for the March 24 week, I’ll be writing all about my spring break and all the fun things I did. This year, I traveled to Bradenton, Florida. My trip was very exciting, and I enjoyed it very much, but there was one thing that I truly hated. The car ride. Unfortunately, we traveled the whole 21 hours in the car. Although I don’t necessarily love traveling by plane, sitting in the car for 21 hours was a lovable experience. Throughout the car ride, I was able to be on my phone for approximately 3 hours before it was 5 percent. I was unprepared, and I didn’t bring a portable charger, and the outlet in our car was not working. I sat and looked out the window and slept for the majority of the ride. Now, onto the actual enjoyable part. When we arrived, it was about 10 in the morning, and we took a little bed break and got settled, then went to lay by the pool. The weather was pretty nice on the first day, and I even got a little tan. The second day that we were there, they may have also been pretty bad. We went to the beach that day, and it might’ve been around 11 in the morning when we got there, and it was packed. We took about 40 minutes just trying to find a parking spot. When we did, we unloaded and went down to the water. When we got there, it was nice and sunny, but only one bad thing. Wind. The wind was about 20 miles per hour, and the beach that day was not very enjoyable. There was sand everywhere, and our car had sand in every crevice. The next day that we went to the beach, it was very nice; it was Thursday, and the weather was very nice, and the UV was a 9. Throughout the week, we went to many amazing restaurants. We went to beachside restaurants, and it was very nice. My favorite place—I don’t remember the name, but they had fire strawberry daiquiris. Finally, when my vacation came to an end, we spent the last day on the beach, and the weather and the UV were perfect. On Friday morning, we left and arrived back in Iowa around 8 in the morning the next day. The car ride felt a lot shorter but a little more uncomfortable due to how burnt I was, but I loved the warm weather and wanted to go back!
Scan here to learn more about staff writer Libby Winters!
Skyler Jennings Staff Writer
FFA members Carter Dudley, Gretchen Uitermarkt, and Seriah Nolin pose to spell out, “FFA.”
Photo by: K. Grier
Classifieds Explorer PCM
Dr. Jenni McCrory Building Principal/Early Childhood Director: Mandy Shannon AEA Staff: Aleah Hollady Jen St Peter, Chris Pierson Parent: Jessica Rinehart, Missy Phifer Tricia Boggs Special Education Teachers: Ramona Johnson, Kristy DeJong, Robin Nolin Amy Cooper Jesse DeGeest District Instructional Coaches: Shaun Hudnut, Aliyah Creger General Education Teachers: Jen Kline, Morgan Jorgenson Motion made by: Rod DeHaai Motion seconded by: Lori Jungling Voting: Unanimously Approved 2. Girls Tennis Sharing Agreement
A motion was made to approve a co-op sharing agreement with Knoxville for the 2025 Girls Tennis Season. Knoxville will charge PCM $300 per student that participates Motion made by: Jeremy St Peter Motion seconded by: Lori Jungling Voting: Unanimously Approved 3. Inclement Weather Days A motion was made for students to add three make-up days and excuse the fourth day and an extra nine hours. As per the approved calendar the additional days will be April 21, May 22 and May 23, moving the early out from May 21 to May 23. Seniors' last day and graduation will not be impacted. Teachers will have an additional district improvement day on May 30 Motion made by: Greg Ingle Motion seconded by: Lori Jungling Voting: Unanimously Approved
by: Jeremy St Peter Motion seconded by: Greg Ingle
Voting: Lori Jungling - Yes Greg Ingle - Yes Kelsey Fiorentin - Yes Rod DeHaai Abstain Jeremy St Peter - Yes Ryan VanDerKamp Yes Steve Nearmyer - Yes 7. Approve Admin/Director Sala ries for 25 /26 A motion was made to approve of the attached list of proposed salaries for all district administration and directors Motion made by: Greg Ingle Motion seconded by: Lori Jungling
Voting: Unanimously Approved
8. OpenSciEd Grant PCM applied for a Science Curriculum grant to adopt the state-recommended OpenSciEd curriculum. OpenSciEd is an inqu iry-based science program that focuses on engaging students in hands-on activities to help them better understand scientific concepts. The curriculum encourages students to explore real-world phenomena, think critically and apply scientific practices to solve problems This approach is designed to make science more interactive and meaningful helping students develop a deeper understanding of the subject. The grant PCM applied for includes both lab supplies like experiment kits and professional development for teachers, ensuring that everyone involved is well-prepared to teach the new curriculum. Around 4550 schools applied for the grant, and only 14 schools were selected to receive funding. PCM was one of the lucky 14 recipients, and they received the full amount they requested of about $46,000. This grant and it's funding is a reimbursement grant where all money must be spent by the end of June submitted, and then will be reimbursed by the state. This funding will be used to cover the cost of teacher training substitute teachers, and to ensure that all the materials, including the lab ki ts are ready for teachers to use. With this support, PCM will be able to successfully implement the OpenSciEd curriculum giving students an opportunity for more engaging and hands-on science education.
9. Fundraisers A motion was made to approve the listed fundraisers Motion made by: Steve Nearmyer Motion seconded by: Rod DeHaai Voting: Unanimously Approved 10. WoodRiver Energy Agreement A motion was made to approve the continuation of the WoodRiver Energy Agreement Motion made by: Steve Nearmyer Motion seconded by: Lori Jungling Voting: Unanimously Approved 11. MS Gym Floor A motion was maned to approve Phillips Floors resurface the Middle School Gym floor this summer 2025 adding the staining of the three-point area and/or middle lane area to be able to distinguish between the areas when playing basketball. All lines will remain as they are, except the competition volleyball lines will now be in the middle of the gym floor Motion made by: Rod DeHaai
Motion seconded by: Kelsey Fiorentin
Voting: Unanimously Approved 12. ME Outside Wa ter Ma in A motion was made to move forward with the first phase of the Monroe Elementary water main project using Crossroads Pipe and Grading Inc. to complete Motion made by: Rod DeHaai Motion seconded by: Jeremy St Peter
Voting: Unanimously Approved 13. 3rd-5th Chromebook A motion was made to approve the purchase of 235 new Chromebooks for the 3rd-5th classrooms at PCE. Motion made by: Steve Nearmyer Motion seconded
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Pella Regional Health Center welcomes board-certified gynecologists Trupti Mehta, MD & Joseph Coleman, MD to the Pella Regional Medical Clinic in Prairie City.
They will provide care to women including, but not limited to annual well-woman exams, menstrual issues, STDs, birth control counseling and prescribing, treatment of premenstrual syndrome, menopause, and treatment of disease in the reproductive tract.
Dr. Mehta & Dr. Coleman see patients once a month in Prairie City in addition to their existing Pella clinic practices.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Mehta or Dr. Coleman, call 641-620-2144
or go to PellaHealth.org
Trupti Mehta, MD Joseph Coleman, MD