Page 8 The Advocate News (Wilton-Durant, Iowa) Thursday, February 21, 2013

OpiniOn
Durant poetry students showcase raw emotions
n last weeks issue, we had the chance to showcase some Durant High School students who have quite a talent for writing. English teacher Karri Heath taught a poetry and self expression course for the first time at DHS and the results should have shocked our readers! They wowed me! Heath was kind enough to share a photo of some of her poetry students, along with three poems. Naturally, the authors consented for us to use them and, I believe, knew that printing them in our pages meant that they would be seen by thousands of readers. Students were also required to submit at least two poems to two different poetry contests by the end of the semester. They did and they are receiving results/ accolades, as more and more students have been telling Heath that theyve been notified about work being published! This is wonderful! Poetry has never been a strong suit of mine. I must admit I didnt have a class that allowed or challenged me to be that expressive at that age either. But even so, I dont think I would have been good at it. I do appreciate it however. And if the works turned into us by DHS from authors Drew George, Taylor Hanus and Shelby Czarnetzki are indicative of the kind of work being produced, count me very impressed!

I was amazed though at the raw emotions garnering several responses while helping to that I felt coming out of these authors. So bring around 1,500 visits to our page. Nearly much so that I actually found myself worried 500 people saw the post on Phil. Of course we post other things but it was a bit about some of these students. Freedom of expression is a great thing. information about Phil that gained the most traction! What follows are These students clearly some of the responses: wrote with that in mind. Oh man, too bad I didnt High school can be a tricky order something that hed place. With technology have to deliver this week! literally at our fingertips, Congrats to you Phil. Your I'm sure it's more difficult gain is truly our loss! to navigate through school Carla Whitlock years today than it was By Derek Sawvell you are always PHIL when I was walking the around here!!! Thanks for halls. always doing a great job! Amber Pulliam *** Congrats Phil!!!! I have enjoyed receiving Goodbye PhilWhen the United Parcel Service iconic brown truck pulled up to our your waves as we pass each other on the road office Feb. 18, for a brief moment I was Jen Hardyman Nobody will be as quick as you coach naturally expecting Phil Bladel to bring in (Editors note: Phil used to help coach DHS our packages. Sadly, reality quickly set in and while the softball) but you will need your speed for those truck had a name plate that still said Phil grandbabies Brittney Franzen We too at the Advocate News will miss Bladel, a different driver walked through our Phils smiling face but hope he continues that doors. Bladel was showcased in our Feb. 7 issue, humble smile in retirement. *** as Barb Rochholz wrote a wonderful piece about a life on the road that spanned 1.1 mil- Me the emceeAs a graduate of Muscatine lion miles and 25 years in the Durant/Wilton Community College (MCC), I was humbled a few years ago when the MCC Alumni Board area. He retired Feb. 8. A quick post of our photo of Phil, along expressed interest in having me join. I quickly with some information about his retirement, obliged and have served proudly since. MCC holds a near and dear place in my quickly went viral on our Facebook site,

Case in Point

heart. It's where my collegiate career began and through all my travels in the world of academia, choosing MCC is still the best decision I've ever made. Several of our area high school students also choose MCC. One of the main objectives of our board is to provide funding to several student organizations that take trips, go to conferences, etc. things that help advance opportunities for MCC students and their activity groups. Naturally, the alumni board hosts fund raising activities throughout the year and last year, our group hosted a trivia night in Muscatine. We're going to do that again this year with a catch the emcee will be me! I'm not a trivia "buff" however I have played in a few trivia nights and had a lot of fun. It can also be pretty serious, as I get the feeling there are families and "teams" in the area that travel around and play the "circuit." I'm toying with creating some (or all) of the questions myself but lack of time, coupled with finding good questions has proved difficult. Nevertheless, it should be a very fun evening and I would urge our readers to consider coming out for a fun evening. Hopefully I see some familiar faces. Our event will be Friday, March 8, at Whispering Pines in Muscatine. Doors will open at 6 p.m., with trivia to begin at 6:30. You can contact me for more information or to reserve a table: dsawvell@netwtc.net.

Allowable growth: 'I will not support any number below 2 percent'
Education policy and funding now take complex bill. If anyone would like a detailed center stage in the Capitol. The House will outline of the bill, please let me know. Ill be start the process for passing the reform bill, happy to forward to you. $157 million is a significant investment focusing on student achievement, teacher quality and compensation, and accountability. equal to more than 2 percent Allowable Growth The Senate has already started the process for in total dollars. The Allowable Growth passed by the Senate was 4 percent (each 1 percent Allowable Growth funding. It is important for you to know that there equals about $35 million). We will be working are several steps in the process and a minimum on this bill immediately after the reform debate. of eight opportunities to amend and change If we take too long, then I believe we need to anything in any bill including both of these. For give school districts more time to certify their instance, when the House passes an education budgets. I will not support any number below 2 percent. If the $157 reform bill, the Senate million investment in will likely change it sigthe reform bill does nificantly and then the not materialize then House and Senate will I will likely support have another chance a higher percentage. as well. And in each It looks very positive of the two chambers that a one-quarter bil(controlled by different lion dollar investment political parties), there By Rep. Bobby Kaufmann in new money in our is a subcommittee and schools will happen three committees that have opportunities to offer suggestions and this session. I believe this figure is sustainable changes. The bottom line is that at this point thanks to recent budgeting practices. One final thought, though. This Allowable no one knows what the final product will look Growth system is not working for many of my like. Last week I personally called all seven schools. Even 4 percent Allowable Growth superintendents in my district (two were not may not mean new money in schools with available to talk) and discussed the reform bill. declining enrollment. We need to look at this I value that feedback and I will vote Yes in the near future and consider some base as long as key components, important to my funding for a districts costs in maintenance, district, are preserved in the debate. The key transportation and other built-in costs. I also to my support, as I told the House Education believe we need to look at our state open Chair this weekend, is the opportunity for enrollment policy as well. In the end, any policy or funding decisions waivers and adaptation to the individual school will be bipartisan. The process to get there district. I realize there is much work to be done may look cumbersome, combative and long, yet in the process, but I support this $157 but in the end, I predict a substantial increase million investment. I support higher starting in the resources devoted to Iowa children. Capitol Visitors: Al Kroeger, Wilton; Krik teaching salaries and the opportunities for the best teachers to gain more responsibilities and Trede, Durant; Deb Lang, Davenport; Mark compensation through some form of career Henning, Wilton; Mary Maurer, Wilton. Listening Post: Feb. 23, 8 a.m., Iowa City pathway. A caution here is there are many Chamber, Coralville; 10 a.m., Lake Macbride, details to be worked out yet. In addition to the above, this first draft of David and Kathy Hogendorn residence, 1778 the reform bill also includes recruitment ef- Newberry Ave. NE, Solon. forts for high quality candidates to enter the Contact me: profession, more pragmatic assessment and Email: bobby.kaufmann@legis.iowa.gov continued emphasis on the competency-based Phone: 563-260-3355 task force. There is so much more in this rather Mail: 1527 330th St, Wilton IA 52778

Your Capitol Voice

Ready to expand in WiltonFinancing for a 56-acre expansion to the Wilton Industrial Park was completed last month thanks to the efforts of Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative (Eastern Iowa REC) and Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO). Pictured with a large check for the amount of $658,000 is Mike Shuger, vice president, Eastern Iowa REC; Eva Belitz, executive vice president of the Wilton Chamber of Commerce; Jackie Barten, executive director of the Wilton Development Corporation; Cheri Popp, business development manager of CIPCO; and Dave Mohr, division manager of business development and member service at Eastern Iowa REC. The park is served by Eastern Iowa REC as well as the expansion which includes land immediately north of the existing park. The $658,000 was secured through CIPCOs revolving loan fund and the USDA rural economic development load and grant program. Contributed photo

More Than $1.1 Million to Assist Low Income Iowans Find Employment
Washington, D.C. Congressman Dave Loebsack announced that housing authorities across Iowa will receive a total of $1,149,586 to provide funding for communities that create partnerships to help low income families obtain employment that will lead to economic independence. Housing authorities receiving funding to work in communities in the Second District include those in Iowa City, Muscatine and Cedar Rapids. Helping communities supply low income families with the tools needed to find employment is a win-win situation, said Loebsack. It is important that everyone is provided an opportunity to be able to support and care for their families. Details of the grant funding follow: Second District * Iowa City Housing Authority $121,721 * Muscatine Municipal Housing Agency -

$55,309 * City of Cedar Rapids - $138,000 Total - $315,030 Statewide * Central Iowa Regional Housing Authority - $57,529 * City of Des Moines Municipal Housing Authority - $132,973 * City of Dubuque - $63,478 * City of Sioux City Housing Authority $138,000 * Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority - $138,000 * Mid Iowa Regional Housing Authority $23,528 * Municipal Housing Authority of Council Bluffs - $48,676 * Municipal Housing Agency of Fort Dodge - $102,766 * Northeast Nebraska Joint Housing Authority - $40,756 * Region XII Regional Housing Authority - $45,000 * Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority - $43,850 Total - $834,556