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Thursday, August 6, 2020, ENTERPRISE-PAGE 6 LOCAL WEST MARSHALL The West Marshall Board of Education met in special session on Monday, July 20, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. in Room #134 in the high school building. President Rodney Honeck called the meeting to order. Mem- bers present for roll call included April Coul- ter, Sue Goodman, Rod Honeck, Shawn Meyer, Bob Ranson, Jason Walker and Hunter Wilkening. Agenda: Motion by Walker, seconded by Ranson, to approve the agenda. Ayes, 7; Nays, 0. Motion carried. Welcome and Recognition of Visitors Consent Agenda Recommendation by Mr. Large to ap- prove the following consent agenda items: Personnel report: -Resignation of Brandon Weisert as HS Business teacher, Yearbook sponsor, TLC, HS Asst Varsity Football Coach, HS Asst Varsity Girls Basketball Coach, HS Asst Softball Coach, Head HS Golf Coach Motion by Goodman, seconded by Meyer, to approve the consent agenda items. Ayes, 7; Nays, 0. Motion carried. New Business Waive second reading and approve final reading of Policy 907 District Opera- tion During Public Emergencies: Motion by Wilkening, seconded by Coulter, to waive the second reading and approve the final reading of policy 907. Ayes, 7; Nays, 0. Motion carried. Approve District Return to Learn Plan. Mr. Large shared highlights from his meet- ing with the state and superintendents today. He is still waiting on more informa- tion and guidance from the state. Mr. Large shared with the board our two options: 50% return or full-time return. Mr. Large also shared the staff training requirements to teach online. The state is going to use CARES Act money to cover costs of the Canvas basic package for districts for next year. Mr. Large discussed the pros/cons of both Canvas and Google classroom and answered questions about cost. He shared with the board a FAQ document just re- leased from the Dept. of Education. The Board discussed thoughts on the schedule options for returning to school in the fall. Motion by Ranson, seconded by Walker,to approve returning to school full time in the fall. Ayes, 7; Nays, 0. Motion carried. Motion by Ranson, seconded by Walker, to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8:27 p.m. Minutes were recorded by Mr. Tollefson. Respectfully submitted, Stephanie Edler DES MOINES – The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office is conducting a se- ries of workshops through next week to help counties prepare for the 2020 elec- tions. The Incident Re- sponse Plan seminars take county auditors and staff, IT administrators and emer- gency management coordi- nators through a variety of scenarios that could disrupt elections. The goal is to en- sure all 99 counties are pre- pared for November 3. Election administrators prepare for the worst but hope for the best. Scenarios could include natural disas- ters, power outages and cy- berattacks. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed election cybersecu- rity out of the daily news, it remains a concern for offi- cials across the country. “Working with federal, state and county agencies assures Iowans that they’re getting the best protection possible, the A-Team I call it,” Secretary Pate said. “When we work with the Iowa Department Home- land Security and Emer- gency Management and our other partners on the county level, we are giving them all the resources pos- sible to assure them that the elections are being done with the most efficient process and safeguarding their vote.” The virtual workshops are being conducted with the assistance of Iowa- based information security services firm Pratum. Six workshops are scheduled and will run through Au- gust 6. The Secretary of State’s Office, state agen- cies and county officials also participated in a na- tionwide preparedness ex- ercise on Tuesday that was organized by the U.S. De- partment of Homeland Se- curity. Cooperation between government agen- cies is crucial for protect- ing elections. “One of our key missions is to support local emer- gency managers as they prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters of all kinds that may impact their communities. We are proud to partner with the Iowa Secretary of State be- cause we want Iowans to be confident that whether they mail in a ballot or step in a voting booth, their vote is secure and counted in Iowa,” said Joyce Flinn, di- rector of the Iowa Depart- ment of Homeland Security and Emergency Manage- ment, whose staff facili- tated preparedness exercises in Iowa on Tues- day. Threats to elections are constantly evolving, so en- suring Iowa is prepared ahead of time protects the integrity of the vote. “Voters can be assured that we’re working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, all the time, because their vote is that important to us. Col- lectively all of us together can make sure Iowans know their vote will be counted,” Secretary Pate added. Election Day in Iowa is Tuesday, November 3. Ab- sentee ballots will be avail- able beginning October 5, but Iowans can request an absentee ballot now. Visit VoterReady.Iowa.gov for more information. Secretary Pate partners with security experts to prepare counties for 2020 elections Lincoln, Neb. – Spruce up your land- scape by joining the Arbor Day Foundation in August. Everyone who joins the Arbor Day Founda- tion with a $10 donation will receive10 free Nor- way spruce trees or 10 white flowering dog- wood trees through the Foundation’s Trees for America campaign. The trees will be shipped postpaid be- tween October 15 and December 10, depending on the right time for planting in each mem- ber’s area. The 6- to 12- inch trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge. “Norway spruce trees truly provide year-round beauty for any land- scape,” said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “White flowering dog- wood trees will add color and beauty to your yard throughout the year, with their showy spring flowers, scarlet autumn foliage, and red berries that attract songbirds in the winter.” New members of the Arbor Day Foundation will also receive The Tree Book, which in- cludes information about tree planting and care, and a subscription to Arbor Day, the Founda- tion’s bimonthly publi- cation. To receive the free Norway spruce trees, join online at arborday.org/august or send a $10 membership contribution by August 31 to: Ten Free Norway Spruces OR Ten Free White Dog- wood Arbor Day Foundation 211 N 12th St Lincoln, NE 68508 Receive 10 Free Trees by Joining the Arbor Day Foundation in August CEDAR RAPIDS- The following student, Haley Nichols of Melbourne, graduated during Mount Mercy University's Sum- mer 2020 session on June 7, 2020. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mount Mercy's 1,800+ students come from around the globe, creating a vibrant, diverse and open-minded campus community. Pop- ular undergraduate ma- jors include business, nursing, criminal justice, education and social work. Master's programs are offered in criminal justice, strategic leader- ship, business adminis- tration (MBA), education, nursing, and marriage and family therapy. Doctoral pro- grams offered are Doctor of Nursing Practice and Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy. For more information on Mount Mercy Univer- sity, visit www.mt- mercy.edu. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mount Mercy University is the regional Catholic, Mercy University that promises students of diverse back- grounds, ages and faiths a challenging, practical education that inspires them to discover knowl- edge, build community and lead courageous lives. Mount Mercy of- fers baccalaureate and graduate education to 1,800+ enrolled students and uniquely blends an outstanding liberal arts education with equally outstanding professional preparation. Mount Mercy University congratulates 2020 Summer graduates Welcome to our new subscriber: LaVonne Collier *If you are interested in subscribing to the Mid Iowa Enterprise as a subscriber the cost is $40/year if you live in Marshall or Story County or $45.00 all other locations. Add $10 if you also want the on- line edition in addtion to your print copy. $25.00 for on- line only. Go to www.midiaenterprise.com Nothing about 2020 seems normal. We are all learning to adjust to a new way of life at home, in public, or at work. The same can be said for children when they begin preschool in the fall. Preparing your child for a new normal when returning to school, will be es- sential to a successful year. Mask Up The Center for Dis- ease Control & Pre- vention (CDC) recommends face cov- erings for anyone over the age of two. Should your preschool require masks or face cover- ings, help your child become comfortable with face coverings. Give kids time to prac- tice wearing their masks daily. Teach them how to put them on and take them off. Encourage kids to se- lect a mask that fits their personality or characters they follow. Children should have more than one mask available to them. Re- member to wash the masks after they have come home. Combine Math With Social Distanc- ing For younger chil- dren, teaching social distance can be diffi- cult. To teach your child how far six feet is, first measure it out and mark it with masking tape. Find toys or sports equip- ment such as hula hoops and basketballs to determine how many of each you would need to stretch six feet. Sanitize Often Make it a daily habit to wash hands regu- larly. Children and adults need to wash their hands before eat- ing, touching their mouth, eyes, or nose, touching a cut or scrape. Hands should also be washed after going to the bathroom, being on playground equipment, or touch- ing the garbage. If your family uses a hand sanitizer, be sure to use one that has a 60% or greater alcohol content. Return to Learn Plans Like snowflakes, no two school districts or community-based preschools will have the same “return to learn” plan. We need to trust in the plan ad- ministrators have writ- ten, knowing that it was not easy to do. Have faith in their work and research to provide your child with the best learning environment possible. Practice patience when wanting questions an- swered...remember that our educational leaders are charting new territories. Be kind, always. Respect Other’s Opinions Parents are about to make some crucial de- cisions about their child’s education. We have more options for learning than we ever have had before. School - homeschool - virtual school - hybrid school. Education has evolved. In all cases, remember these three words - You do you. You know what is best for your child, and only you can decide what learning environ- ment they succeed best in. Keep your opinion to yourself, and avoid judgment over others. As an Early Child- hood Board, we want to wish early learning programs in the Hardin and Marshall County health and suc- cess in the coming year. Carrie Kube, Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Direc- tor iarivervalleyeca@g mail.com Disclosure: Carrie Kube is a Director for the Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board. All thoughts and opinions ex- pressed are that of the author and not the Board and/or its com- munity partners. Preparing for Preschool During a Pandemic Written by Carrie Kube, IRVECA Director REMEMBER THE MID IOWA ENTERPRISE DEADLINE FOR ALL NEWS ITEMS, STORIES, ADVERTISESMENTS, AND PHOTOS IS FRIDAY AT 4:00 PM! AMES, Iowa – Toma- toes are the most popu- lar vegetable grown in the home garden. While tomatoes come in a vari- ety of shapes, sizes and colors, they have two types of tomato growth habits — determinate and indeterminate. In this week’s edition of the Sow, Grow, Eat and Keep video by Iowa State University Exten- sion and Outreach, hor- ticulture specialists offer some tips on tomatoes. Determinate tomatoes are small, compact plants that grow to a certain height, then flower and set all their fruit within a short time. The harvest period for determinate tomatoes is generally four to six weeks, making them good choices for can- ning and fresh consump- tion. Indeterminate tomatoes continue to grow, flower and set fruit until killed by the first fall frost, producing yields that are slightly higher than determinate types. The fruit on inde- terminate cultivars usu- ally mature a week or two later than determi- nate tomatoes, but the harvest period often ex- tends over two months. View the latest video to learn more tips on grow- ing tomatoes. The annual production total for tomatoes is 60 million tons. At this point in the growing season, gardeners may feel as though their gar- den alone is producing this quantity! A great way to enjoy tomatoes year round is with salsa. If you are canning salsa, it is very important that you follow a research- based, tested recipe. If you don’t, the acid- ity level may not be high enough to kill harmful bacteria. If you have a family favorite salsa recipe that is not tested for canning safety, enjoy it fresh! Watch this educational salsa video to learn more about making salsa. Review the ISU Ex- tension and Outreach publication Preserve the Taste of Summer – Can- ning: Salsa for more canning information. Also, join the nutrition and wellness team dur- ing the complementary Food Preservation 101 online class. For those interested in learning more about gar- dening, contact your ISU Extension and Out- reach county office for information about the Master Gardener pro- gram. Training begins across the state this fall. The Sow, Grow, Eat and Keep quickinars are 5-15 minute online les- sons of seasonally ap- propriate topics for the garden, food preparation and food preservation. Some of the upcoming topics include: zucchini apples applesauce For additional re- sources and publica- tions, visit the Sow, Grow, East and Keep webpage. Send your food or garden questions to sowgroweatkeep@ias- tate.edu. Tomato Time Is Here for Iowa Gardeners
