Newton
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Daily News
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014
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Newton, Iowa
Half of Iowa’s schools in need of assistance, including some in Newton By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer The Iowa Department of Education released the statewide Annual Yearly Progress report Tuesday, and more than 50 percent of the state’s 1,356 public schools made the School in Need of Assistance or SINA list, including several in the Newton Community
School District. Although these results represent the 2014-2015 school year, they are based on testing from the 2013-2014 school year. The IDE uses its annual report to measure school and school districts ability to meet the standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act, which last year required all students to be 100 percent proficient in math and reading.
A number of education officials have spoken out against NCLB and have labeled the 100 percent mark a “statistical improbability.” “(NCLB) has outlived its usefulness as a lever for improving student achievement in our country. We need some SINA See Page 5A
Ty Rushing/Daily News Although Annual Yearly Progress results were mixed in the Newton school district, Berg Middle School made it off of the School in Need of Assistance list in math. Last year, BMS started using a new online math curriculum, which a student is pictured using.
County’s transition to mental health region on track By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News The repainting of the railroad bridge over First Avenue West is a project currently in progress from the comprehensive plan.
City comprehensive plan updated By Jamee A. Pierson Daily News Staff Writer For the last several months, Newton’s Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in October 2012, has been under review. The city committed to revisit the plan every two years to ensure that the plan remains relevant to the community, update projects that have been completed and add any additional projects. At the Monday City Council meeting, the updated plan was approved. Several methods were used to get citizen feedback on the plan including the National Citizen Survey the city participated in earlier this year as well as two citizen input sessions and a community survey. Nearly 200 citizens took part to give feedback on the plan. Four projects and initiatives that were planned have been completed to date. The city created a community logo with the “Get to Know Newton” campaign as a part of the community marketing initiative. The goal was for the logo to be simple, powerful and appealing as well as capture the essence of Newton. To be more than “just another town along Interstate 80,” the city wanted to establish a strong, positive image to invite interstate travelers into the community. In order to complete that initiative, the city is working to establish Newton’s downtown district as a historic district on the National Register of Historic places. The proj-
ect is pending final approval. Through the Red Pride Initiative, the city reviewed the nuisance regulations and set enforcement of those laws as a priority. As a part of that, Newton Fire Marshal Mike Knoll worked to update the Minimum Housing Code that was adopted in 1978 to the current Minimum Rental Housing Code, which meets today’s needs in the way of health, safety and well-being of residents as well as property owners. The city also adopted its annual Community Investment Plan, which is a planning document for projects. “The city does (this) every year. It is basically the plan for investments both equipment and project investments. It’s done with various time frames in mind, could be one year, could be five years,” said Erin Chambers, director of Planning and Zoning. There are 38 “things to do” that are currently in process. A priority for the city was the way-finding signage project, which is currently underway. “The city council approved a bid package responded to by Sign Pro of Newton, which is actively working on the development of those signs and instillation is expected to happen yet this fall,” Chambers said. Also currently in the works, is the repainting of the railroad bridge over First Avenue West. Chambers said that there is progress being made but because of lead paint found on the bridge and the city not actually
owning the bridge, it takes additional steps to complete the project. Another project that will get a fresh look next year is the First Avenue Art and Sculpture Program. The current art pieces will be taken down toward the end of fall and different sculptures will be put in their place come spring. Other notable works in progress are: • Addressing dilapidated structures. • Focusing on removal of unlivable housing units. • Enhancing western housing options, currently in progress with the addition of the Fountain Hills Housing Development. • Eliminating uncontrolled intersections. • Working with the Iowa Department of Transportation for a park and ride lot in Newton. A noted addition is the First Avenue West Corridor Concept Narrative. As one of the major entry ways to Newton, the city would like it to look inviting and encompass and advertise Newton’s future development plans. “We charged our summer intern with the task of imagining a blank slate,” Chambers said. The intern, who is a landscape architect working on her masters in planning, was given free reign to image anything for the area in the west corridor. PLAN See Page 5A
Jasper County’s transition into folding its mental health services into the Central Iowa Community Services Region is going smoothly, according to Jody Eaton, who informed the Jasper County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. Eaton serves as the Jasper County Community Services Director/ Central Point Coordinator, and has been in the thick of things for the formation of CICSR. The region was formed after the state mandated all mental health services be conducted through a regional format to ensure all Iowans receive adequate coverage and was operational by the 2013-2014 fiscal year. In her update, Eaton said the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services approved CICSR’s transition plan, annual service place and budget plan. Eaton also said the CICSR governing board approved and submitted the region’s policies and procedures manual to IDHS. “Once those are approved, they will be functional,” Eaton said. CICSR has also attained liability insurance and signed a letter of engagement to hire legal representation. Eaton’s update also indicated the county could be reimbursed by as much as 80 percent of costs for providing certain mental health services by IDHS, due to a Medicaid offset. In addition, the region is expected to fully begin pooling its funds, minus administrative and service coordination costs, by FY 15. For now, the CICSR governing board will approve all budgets for member
County board appointments During Tuesday’s Jasper County Board of Supervisors meeting several people were reappointed to various county boards. • Bill Ward was reappointed to the aging resources board. • Karl Peters and Dave Larson were both reappointed to the animal control and welfare board. • Brian Sims was reappointed to the civil service commission. • Jeff DeReus was reappointed to the Walnut Creek Benefited Fire District. • Troy Wesselink was reappointed to the West Malaka Benefited Fire District. • John Billingsley was reappointed to the veterans affairs commission. counties — with a target date of November 2014 — and then submit those approved budgets back to individual counties for approval. Other members of the 10-county region include, Boone, Franklin, Hamilton, Hardin, Madison, Marshall, Poweshiek, Story and Warren counties. Eaton also indicated that CICSR was in compliance with the state’s legislation on providing core and core plus services, but was falling short in the supported employment category. SUPERVISORS See Page 5A
Thrivent food pantry fundraiser is Sunday
Thomas, Bradley, Coy, Horn earn medals
Area food pantries will get a boost following Sunday’s Annual Jasper County Food Pantries Fall Concert Fundraiser held by the Jasper County Chapter of Thrivent Financial.| 8A
OSKALOOSA — Four Newton High runners earned medals at the 2014 Oskaloosa Invitational cross country meet Tuesday. The Cardinal teams each finished sixth in their respective divisions. | 1B
INDEX Local News • 2A 7
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Calendar • 3A Obituaries • 3A
Today
High 73 Low 52
Police Blotter • 3A Opinion • 4A
Comics & Puzzles • 6A Dear Abby • 6A
Classifieds • 4B Astrograph • 5B
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Volume No. 113 No. 85 2 sections, 14 pages