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BEATING THE BOBCATS
Newton girls defeat visiting Marshalltown at home / 1B
DAILY NEWS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016 • WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW
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County to save $415,000 after refinancing By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News TK Concrete, of Pella, was approved to construct the $1.18 million overhaul of South Second Avenue including pavement scarification and asphalt resurfacing, storm sewer upgrades and lighting improvements.
$1.18 million bid awarded for South Second Avenue project The project includes pavement scarification and asphalt resurfacing, reconstructing the north and The city will spend about south curb/gutters, storm sewer $1.18 million on the South Sec- upgrades, lighting and pedestriond Avenue Street improvement an curb ramp improvements at project after approving a low bid intersections. Jasper Construcfrom TK Concrete of Pella. tion Services, Inc. of Newton also City council approved the bid submitted a bid of $1.28 million. on Monday along with the purThe project hit a road block chase of street light poles following the first presentation of and fixthe reconstruction to the countures from cil of Feb. 2. Terry Sallis, owner Lamplight of Integrated Treatment Services, Industries 303 S. Second Ave., voiced conof Lorain, cerns about parking near his Ohio for building. The original plan had $134,644. the angle parking in front of his building changing to parallel parking spaces. “I’m certainly a proponent of having the streets resurfaced. We’ve had considerable water problems and clients fall and those types of things,” Sallis said. “As it exists now, we have angle parking and the proposed parking would pose a severe inconvenience to my employees as well as to the client base that I serve.” TJ Dykstra, of HawkJamee A. Pierson/Daily News eye Mutual Insurance, City public works director Keith Laube speaks at Monday’s City Council meeting about the spoke to the council at the Feb. 18 meeting upcoming street project. By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News
about his concerns if the angle parking was retained. “Some of the concerns we have with the angle parking is when you are pulling out of the alley and there are vehicles parked in angle parking, you cannot see unless you go clear out into the intersection. We thought that parallel parking would eliminate that,” Dykstra said. “Also, snow removal with the way the parking is now is a problem. Not only snow removal, but when it rains, the water pools, and we’ll have water there for two or three days which causes a hazard for our customers.” Taking the local businesses concerns under consideration, the council amended the project to retain angle parking between West Third Street South and West Fourth Street South. In doing so, the block will no longer have the green space areas and lamp posts similar to the rest of the street. Newton Public Works Director Keith Laube said to combat the drainage issues on the block, a storm intake would be added at the east end of the block on the south side. STREET | 3A
Officials say the county is set to save more than $415,000 following Tuesday’s approval of the 2007 bond refinance. The Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved BOSC, Inc. of Dallas, Texas to refinance $3.66 million in taxable general obligation bond at a rate of 2.23 percent, down more than 3 percent from the previous rate of 5.37 percent. “About a year ago, we started watching your
2007 bonds. They are paying about a 5 to 5.5 percent interest rate, which is very high in today’s market,” financial advisor Jon Burmeister said. “We have been working with Dennis (Parrott) to keep an eye on this and low and behind interest rates have come down a little bit lower again. We thought this was an opportune time to lock in today’s rates, put the money in an investment that will then be used to pay off the 2007 bonds.” While working to COUNTY | 3A
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News Public Financial Management Financial Advisor Jon Burmeister presented the bids received by the county to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors at its Tuesday meeting. After refinancing a 2007 bond, Jasper County is projected to save more than $415,000 with a rate decrease of more than 3 percent.
NCSD instructional coaches named for 2016-17 Utilizes Teacher Leadership grant By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News A special school board was held recently in Newton to approve hiring of coaches. However, these coaches won’t be asked to teach young people how to run bases, read zone defenses or shoot for double-leg takedowns. The Newton Community School District Board of Education recently held a special school board meeting to approve the hire of eight educators as the NCSD’s instructional coaches
Jason W. Brooks/Daily News The Newton Community School District has announced its instructional coaches for 2016-17, who will serve on various campuses. In front, from the left, are Amy Weaver, Jen Elbert, Amy Rau and Rachel Tomas. In back row are Trisca Mick, Tara Zehr, Mark Burnett and Chris Forsyth.
for 2016-17. All eight are already employed by the district, so the hires are categorized as voluntary re-assignments. The district’s coaches
for next year are Jen Elbert, Amy Weaver, Amy Rau, Rachel Tomas, Trisca Mick, Tara Zehr, Mark Burnett and Chris Forsyth.
Collaboration and co-teaching will have to be addressed by NCSD administration in terms of staffing and team constructs, Woodrow Wil-
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for the committee, said an instructional coach is more focused on technique and delivery rather than curriculum or policy. “An instructional coach’s most important role is to support and collaborate with teachers to help them improve their instructional practices, which, in turn, improves student learning,” Rose said. Each instructional coach receives a stipend between $5,000 and $7,000 annually, in addition to their regular district salaries. One goal of the statewide web of coaches, according to state code, is to have one coach at each attendance center or one for every 500 students enrolled, whichever is greater. TEACHERS | 3A
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WHERE IT’S AT Astrograph......................5B Calendar..........................5A Classifieds......................4B
son Elementary Principal Todd Schuster said at a recent board meeting. “The way our TLC grant is set up, there will still be an instructional coach at each building,” Wilson said. “Co-teaching could present itself; it will just have to look different. We won’t have one special-ed teacher at each grade level, in each building.” According to the Teacher Leadership and Compensation System Grant proposal, submitted by a Newton committee and approved by the Iowa Department of Education last fall, instructional coaches are part of an elaborate framework of leadership. Deb Rose, a Berg Middle School teacher who was the lead presenter and spokesperson
Comics & Puzzles...........6A Dear Abby........................6A Local News......................2A
Obituaries.......................5A Opinion............................4A State News......................7A
‘Be Love’ event in Newton
Sacred Heart Catholic church to host / 2A
Volume No. 114 No. 228 2 sections 14 pages
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