May 18, 2013

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Atlantic Middle School students injured by falling light fixture

May 16, 2013 By

Three students attending the Atlantic Middle School were injured Wednesday, when a light fixture in a recently renovated classroom fell on them. Atlantic Superintendent Michael Amstine said he received word about the incident happening in the third floor classroom, at around 9 A.M.

He says two students suffered from scratches, while another had a bump on the head. The trio were treated by the school nurse. One student was subsequently transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, for additional examination and treatment.

All three students were back in school today. Amstine says an investigation found the problem. “The electrical contractor for the project came up yesterday and checked all the lights and took a look at the one that actually failed,” Amstine says.

“It appears that there were two sets of lights that weren’t installed to the specs, and that appears to be what cause the failure of the one yesterday morning.” The fixture that fell, was in four sections, and fell in a type of “domino effect,” according to Amstine.

He said it’s not the type of thing one expects to happen after an expensive renovation project has taken place. “Oh good lord no, and my experience in renovation and construction projects, that’s kind of a first for me. The good news is that no one was seriously injured, because it certainly had some potential to have ended that way,” Amstine says.

He says the contractor’s insurance is expected to handle any medical or property damages.

By Rich Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic

Filed Under: Education, Fires/Accidents/Disasters, News

Expert says your resume matters in getting a job

May 15, 2013 By

Iowa is about to send a new crop of job-hunting high school and college graduates into the marketplace, and some will find success much faster than others. Susan McBroom, a vocational rehabilitation counselor in Urbandale, says the quality of your resume will quickly determine your odds of going from a job-seeker to someone’s newest employee.

McBroom discusses the most common resume error. “People are not matching the resume to the job that they’re applying for,” McBroom says. “It’s really important that they match their skill sets to the position they’re applying to. If they don’t know their skill set, there’s a resource called O’Net Online that they can find each job broken down to the specific skill set.”

The address for that website is: www.onetonline.org. While a one-page resume was once the rule, McBroom says a two-page resume is now standard, but she says don’t go beyond two pages.

“It takes a recruiter about 15 seconds to look through a resume,” McBroom says. “What I tell new grads is to be sure that if you don’t have a long work history, put things in there that would be internships, big projects, things like that.”

About 90-percent of employers now hire electronically, so having an e-resume that can be attached to an email cover letter is a must. Resumes need to be kept simple, using plain lettering and nothing fancy. Despite the economic downturn of the past few years, McBroom is optimistic about the job market, adding, it’s excellent if you’re looking for positions in the medical field.

“Anything in nursing, certified medical assistant, medication aid, psych aid, and the last two don’t require a four-year degree,” McBroom says. “The job market is getting better. The unemployment rate for ages 19 to 24 is about 12% but that does include new graduates so, it’s really important to have a perfect resume out there.”

Iowa’s jobless rate is about 5%, well below the national jobless rate of about seven-and-a-half percent. Being aggressive is key. Many ads say “no calls” but she says to call anyway, a week after you send your resume, just to see if they got it or have any questions.

While social media sites are popular, McBroom doesn’t recommend being on one unless it’s private and visible by only a limited number of people. If you’re on Facebook or Twitter, she says: “Be careful what you put out there. Employers do research social media. If possible, set your Facebook to private. Keep in mind, others may access information from it.”

Filed Under: Education, Human Interest, News

Education Department director won’t say if he went after job in Colorado (audio)

May 9, 2013 By
Education Department director Jason Glass.

Education Department director Jason Glass.

Iowa Department of Education director Jason Glass today confirmed he is a finalist for a job in a Colorado school district, but declined to say if it’s a job he sought.

“I can confirm that I am a finalist for a superintendency in Eagle County, Colorado. I am honored to be considered and given that the search is still ongoing, it is not appropriate for me to comment any further,” Glass said.

Glass was asked about the job during a break in today’s Board of Education’s meeting. He responded this way when asked if he sought the job or if Colorado officials sought him: “My wife and I have a longstanding history, tradition with the district, so we have connections there. So we are just honored to be considered.”

Glass was director of human resources for the Eagle County School District in Colorado where he would return as superintendent if he is selected for the job. When asked again if he sought out the job, Glass replied that the job search is still ongoing, so he could not comment any further.

The governor introduced a series of education reforms, but the legislature has still not taken action on any of the major issues. Glass was asked if his departure would hurt the reform effort.

“Well, the education reform agenda in Iowa was built to be independent of any one person, so it was an agenda that was built to be a right fit for the state. It is still a right fit for the state,” Glass said.

“We’re optimistic and hopeful the legislature will be able to reach a reasonable compromise and find a pathway forward where education reform can be successful for the state.”

Glass was asked if he is frustrated with the lack of action on education reform.

“I think the whole state is frustrated at the pace that this has happened, but I still hold out hope that we will be able to find a way through it,” Glass told reporters.

Glass said the Colorado district will conduct interviews next week and then move ahead with the selection process.

Glass was asked if he would seek other jobs if he did not get the position in Colorado.

“We’re happy in Iowa. My two children were born here in Des Moines. My wife is a teacher at the Des Moines Public School District,” Glass said. “We are happy here. This is just an opportunity that we felt we had to look into and, again, we are honored to be considered.”

Governor Branstad asked Glass to become Iowa’s education director in December of 2010. The Vail Colorado Daily newspaper reports Glass’s pay would rise to $175,000 a year if he gets the Colorado job. His salary as a state department director is currently $147,000.

Audio:  Jason Glass talks with reporters. 2:50

Filed Under: Education, News, Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

Iowa Department of Education director finalist for Colorado job

May 9, 2013 By
Jason Glass

Jason Glass

The director of the Iowa Department of Education is a finalist for a job in a Colorado school district.

Iowa Department of Education director Jason Glass was director of human resources for the Eagle County School District in Colorado for three years and that’s where he hopes to return, as superintendent.

This was Glass two and a half years ago, when Branstad announced he’d hired Glass: “There are some who would label me as an education reformer and they mean that in a derogatory way. To this I would say that if that means that I believe our schools can and must improve, then I accept that title…I believe our schools are a foundational part of keeping our nation great.”

Read more and listen to that December, 2010 news conference here.

Glass worked at the Eagle County District in Colorado from 2007 to 2010 and briefly worked for a private, non-profit group before Governor Branstad asked him to become Iowa’s education director in December of 2010. 

“This is a great opportunity for me,” Glass said the day his hiring was announced. “…We’re really excited to come here and do great things.”

Branstad asked Glass to organize an “education summit” in the summer of 2011. Legislators this year as struggling to find compromise on a reform plan Glass helped draft that’s aimed at improving the teaching profession in Iowa. Branstad cited Glass’s work in developing a performance-based pay plan for the Eagle County district when he hired Glass.

The Vail Daily newspaper in Colorado reports Glass is one of three finalists to be Eagle County’s new superintendent. Glass’s pay would rise to $175,000 a year if he gets the Colorado job. His salary as a state department director is currently $147,000.

Filed Under: Education, News, Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

U-I research says health research faces biggest hit from sequestration

May 9, 2013 By

The University of Iowa’s top research administrator predicts the automatic federal budget cuts known as “sequestration” will affect health research projects most severely. U-I Vice President for Research, Daniel Reed, says the anticipation of those cuts is producing some immediate effects.

“We’ve certainly seen it in stress among both the faculty and staff in terms of the implications. Most of the effects, however, are more likely to be felt not with existing research projects, but with resubmission of new proposals whose decisions will be made in the coming months and over the next year,” Reed explains.

Reed says the impact on federally-funded health research projects would hit hard in the Iowa City campus, because they dominate the research dollars. But he says it will impact other areas on campus and other state schools will also feel the impact on research projects.

“Remember that sequestration was a roughly five-percent, across-the-board cut in research,” Reed says. “So, that affects researchers in engineering, the basic sciences, it touches on the arts and humanities as well. So, everyone is feeling the effects. But, in terms of dollar effects, it will be most definitely felt in health affairs.”

Reed says the anticipated sequestration cuts are intensifying an already competitive environment for winning federal research dollars.

“To put it in perspective from when I began as a researcher — more years ago than I’d like to admit — the probability of writing a successful research proposal in many disciplines was about one-in-two. It’s now down to, at best, one-in-ten. And so, it’s much more competitive than it was in the past. That’s true across the board, though, not just in health affairs, but in every discipline,” Reed says.

Faculty and staff whose salaries are paid by research grants –or so-called “soft money”– could find their jobs cut if funding isn’t renewed. Reed says that’s causing considerable stress among those researchers. In contrast, Creighton University economist, Ernie Goss says his survey of business managers in the midwest shows little impact from the sequestration cuts.

Filed Under: Education, Health & Medicine, News Tagged With:

Two Iowa libraries recognized at the White House

May 8, 2013 By
Veronica Guervera and Marshalltown Library director Sarah Rosenblum with the First Lady. (L-R)

Veronica Guervera and Marshalltown Library director Sarah Rosenblum with the First Lady. (L-R)

Representatives from the Marshalltown Public Library and the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library were at the White House today to receive the 2013 National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the event along with the director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The Marshalltown library was cited for it’s outreach that has helped the diverse population adapt to living in Iowa. The Czech & Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids was recognized for its role in helping the community recover from the 2008 flooding.

The two Iowa facilities were among 10 presented the honor by Mrs. Obama.

“I hope we all leave here inspired and rededicated, because as we can see from the stories that we have heard that your work is really powerful, and it is impactful and it can change lives,” Obama says.

“You do it quietly, you do it without a lot of fanfare, you don’t require a lot of attention.” Obama encouraged the library representatives to keep reaching out to their communities.

“Hopefully today gives you that little bit of light you need to just keep going, because this country needs you. We need the work that you do. It’s just our hope that every community in this country can have the resources that your are providing to our communities, that should be our goal,” Obama says.

Marshalltown Library director, Sarah Rosenblum, spoke with Radio Iowa via cellphone shortly after the ceremony. “It’s just been overwhelming, it’s such a great honor for our community and our library. The fact that we are sitting here in a reception room off the east wing is pretty unbelievable,” Rosenblum said with a laugh.

Rosenblum said they were shocked when they learned they would win the medal. “We’re just so excited about the recognition of the programs and the work that we do, so it’s really gratifying. You know, we are the smallest library that won this year. So, that’s exciting for us to get that recognition,” according to Rosenblum.

Each of the winning institutions was asked to bring someone along with them who had been impacted by their work. For Marshalltown that was Veronica Guevara, a Mexican-American who started going to the library in first grade to improve her English. Guevara is now preparing to graduate from the University of Iowa in December with a degree in political science.

She was awed by the surroundings of the White House. “I’m so speechless, I actually just had somebody come up to me and say ‘why are you just sitting here?.’ My response was I was just letting it sink in, it’s surreal, it’s such an honor, it’s just amazing. The library really deserves this award,” Guevara told Radio Iowa.

She said her story is one of many that can be told in Marshalltown. “I know I’m not the only person who has been very impacted by the library and their resources and the people and the staff,” Guevera said. “I’m just very happy for the library and I’m just so honored that they considered my story,”Guevera says.

Gail Naughton, the president of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library was at the White House representing the Cedar Rapids facility.

Filed Under: Education, Featured Story, Human Interest, News, Politics & Government

Johnston dad charged after his second grader takes gun to school

May 8, 2013 By

A central Iowa man is facing charges after his 8-year-old son took a handgun to school. It happened Monday in the Des Moines suburb of Johnston. Johnston Police Chief Bill Vaughn says no staff or students were injured.

“We worked with the county attorney’s office and the determination was made to arrest the dad for a child endangerment charge and a gun law violation tied to failure to properly store and secure the weapon away from his child,” Vaughn said. The boy is a second-grader at Lawson Elementary School.

His father is 31-year-old Louis Friestad. “We’re not talking about bad people here,” Vaughn said. “The Friestad family is a long-time Johnston family with a respected name. It’s just one of those things that could happen to anybody if they’re not storing their weapons properly and keeping them away from kids.”

Johnston Police took possession of other weapons found in the Friestad home that were not properly secured.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Education, Featured Story, News
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