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Southwestern Community House OKs College approves budget bill banning research on aborted fetal tissue By KELSEY HAUGEN CNA staff reporter khaugen@crestonnews.com
Southwestern Community College (SWCC) approved its budget for fiscal year (FY) 2017 – July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017 – during a public hearing held Tuesday evening at the college. The FY2017 tax levy is 87.44 cents, nearly eight cents higher than last year’s 79.92-cent levy. The tax asking, including both general and plant funds, in FY2017 is $2.56 million. This is an increase of $340,000 from the FY2016 re-estimated budget of $2.22 million. The college expects its total property asking will continue to represent about 2.5 percent of the property owner’s total property tax, according to Tia Samo, SWCC chief financial officer. Tax dollars will be distributed into general funds, which are unrestricted, and plant funds. Plant funds are designated for any capital improvements by the college, including construction, utility bills and maintaining, remodeling or improving the college. “There is also a (levy) for unemployment, insurance, early retirement and cash reserve, and that’s a one-time levy,” Samo said.
Room and board For FY2017, the SWCC board approved increases in room and board rates. “There’s a schedule we have to make sure we have enough coming in to cover our cash flows we have to pay for the bonds we took out for the new buildings,” Samo said. “Then, there’s also the regular operating costs of the dorms. So, that was one part of the increase. The other portion (was) it went up an extra amount because we in-
DES MOINES (AP) — Most research in Iowa involving tissue from an aborted fetus would be banned under a bill the Republican-controlled House passed Wednesday, despite criticism from the Iowa Board of Regents that the practice at some of the state’s public universities has led to cures for deadly diseases. The measure was unlikely to be taken up by the Democratic-majority Senate and is not expected to advance before a Friday legislative deadline. The chamber voted 5643 along mostly party lines for the bill, which would prohibit a woman who has an abortion from donating the fetal tissue for research. Fetal tissue donated following a miscarriage or stillbirth would be allowed. “This d o e s not end Fry medical research,” said Rep. Joel Fry, R-Osceola, who spoke ahead of the vote. “What it does is it brings dignity to the conversation for all human life.” The Iowa Board of Regents, which oversees the state’s three public universities, opposes the bill. Spokesman Josh Lehman said the University of Iowa and Iowa State University use such cells and tissues
CNA graphic by KELSEY HAUGEN
creased the food plan dollar amounts.” In Spartan Suites, Spartan Hall and Spartan Court, the cost per semester, with the basic meal plan included, will be $3,480, an increase f r o m $3,225 in FY2016. In West and Wilson halls, the cost per se- Samo mester will be $3,105, an increase from $2,850 in FY2016. “This includes a $100 increase in their food plan per student requests,” Samo said. These estimated costs per semester per student include the basic meal plan, which will be $900 in Spartan Café cash, an increase from $800 per student in FY2016. This plan is meant for students who don’t eat at the café every day. “The amount of the food service is something that we have had ongoing dialogue with students about as (we try) to figure out the right levels for them so that they have enough money to eat through the
whole semester but don’t have excess on their accounts,” said Barb Crittenden, SWCC president. “We met with the student senate, and they were all very much in agreement with these issues regarding food service.” The next-highest meal plan, meant for students who eat in the café once per day, will be increased to $1,100. The highest meal plan, for students who generally eat three meals a day in the café will be increased to $1,300. “One reason we’re proposing that increase for the $900, as compared to $800, is that students use their financial aid to pay for that,” said Beth Kulow, SWCC dean of student services. “If they paid that higher cost up front, and then t h e y don’t use it all, we Kulow can refund it at the end. But it’s very hard for those students who never had to budget anything before to try at the end to come up
with (extra) money.” With Hy-Vee now as SWCC’s food service partner, students can also use their café cash to purchase Hy-Vee grocery items in the café, at Creston HyVee or by campus delivery service. In other SWCC news: • The SWCC board approved the purchase of a new, $1 million-plus computer software system, Jenzabar EX. Tom Lesan, vice president of economic development, said the college will begin implementing the system in July, and it is estimated to take 18 to 24 months to complete the change. • The board approved the resignation of Charlie Mundy as carpentry instructor and sports shooting coach, effective at the end of the contract year. SWCC has not yet hired a new carpentry instructor, but Marc Roberg of Afton has been hired to replace Mundy as sports shooting coach. • The board approved an early retirement request from Carole Maske, business and online instructor. • Tia Samo, SWCC chief SWCC | 2A
for “a broad array” of research that is part of developing therapies and cures for deadly and debilitating diseases. Lehman said the regents’ position stands despite an amendment that would allow facilities including universities to continue using fetal tissue already in their possession for research. “We appreciate the efforts to improve the bill, but do not support it. The way the bill is currently drafted would prevent our universities from developing potentially life-saving research in the future involving new forms of treatment,” he said in a statement. Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, who introduced that amendment, said he did so to respond to concerns from the medical community that research could be limited. He said additional legislation can be considered in the future if that ends up being the case, but “this is about making sure our children and the children in the state of Iowa are not being used as guinea pigs in medical research.” The bill would also prohibit any profit from fetal tissue use, which federal law already bans. Lawmakers in at least a half dozen states have proposed similar legislation this year following the release of secret videos by anti-abortion activists that show Planned Parenthood BILL | 2A
VNS Home Care to open near Wal-Mart Visiting Nurse Services (VNS) Home Care and ExtraCare Services have announced plans to open an office at 808 Laurel St., Suite B near WalMart in Creston later this spring. The community-based health care programs will provide in-home rehabilitation following illness or injury, medication management, skilled nursing services, occupational and physical therapy and will address concerns about home safety. Private home care and concierge services will also be available to community members living in Adair, Adams, Clarke, Deca-
tur, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor and Union Counties. “This is a great opportunity for us to make a positive difference in the overall health of individuals and their families living in southern Iowa through promoting safety and independence for those who have had limited access to home care services,” said Stephanie Bishop, ExtraCare Services director. “Our quality care and a full range of services will be available wherever individuals call home and will be a great complement to VNS Home Care.” Tammy Stapp, vice president of clinical services for
HCI Care Services and VNS of Iowa, says the organization expects to offer Medicareand Medicaid-certified home health care services to the area once clearance is achieved from Center for Medicare Services, which could be as early as late spring. Contracts are currently in place with each of the Medicaid managed care organizations as well as with the Veterans Administration for serving qualifying veterans at home. Stapp anticipates the program will create nearly a dozen career opportunities for local health care workers. VNS | 2A
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Visiting Nurse Services (VNS) Home Care and ExtraCare Services plan to move into this office at 808 Laurel St., Suite B near Wal-Mart in Creston later this spring.
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