The new riverfront trail section connecting Bettendorf with the Davenport Mississippi Riverfront path has become a popular route for many cyclists and walkers even before its official dedication scheduled during the Father's Day "Ride the River" Sunday, June 19. The new trail between Bettendorf's Leach Park and Davenport's Credit Island Park creates a scenic 3-4 mile route for walkers and cyclists.

Unofficial Minutes of the May 29, 2005, Special Meeting (Pending Board Approval)

The Board of Directors of the Bettendorf Community School District, in the County of Scott, state of Iowa, met in open session according to Iowa law for a special Board meeting at the Bettendorf High School, 3333 18th Street, Bettendorf, Iowa, on May 29, 2005. Vice President Weigle called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Dr. John Perdue, Superintendent, verified that the meeting notice has been posted and mailed to the media as required by law. Members present: Directors Castro, Ehrmann, Luton, Mayer, Weigle. Members absent: Directors Anderson and Crockett. Other officials present: Dr. John Perdue, Superintendent; Dr. Carol Webb, Assistant Superintendent; Maxine McEnany, Director of Finance.

A packed Channel Cat Water Taxi makes its way between Moline and Davenport on Memorial Day (5/30). The perfect spring weather brought hundreds out to ride the taxi, while others enjoyed a bike ride along the riverfront recreation trails and boating on the Mississippi River.

A long line of shopping carts await the May 24 grand opening of Schnucks Fresh Foods in Bettendorf's Duck Creek Plaza. The supermarket is the St. Louis-based company's first store in Iowa and the first in the Quad Cities. Residents in eastern Davenport and the west side of Bettendorf have long anticipated a new grocery store since JoeVan Foods (across Middle Road) closed nearly five years ago. The biggest question for the new store is not whether it will be busy, but if parking will be sufficient at the plaza.

After hours of negotiations, lawmakers and the governor this week reached an agreement over a $5 billion budget for the 2006 fiscal year that begins July 1. The final agreement is a compromise between the different spending plans approved earlier this year by the Senate and the House.

In order to work out the differences, lawmakers from both chambers met with the governor this week to find common ground on these issues. The result is a budget that funds Iowansí priorities without increasing taxes. I am disappointed that the cigarette user fee will not be increased as I truly believe that would have gone a long way in discouraging people from smoking. Although, the budget increases spending by $340 million, or 7.5 percent, over the current year, lawmakers will not raise taxes. Instead, an up tick in state revenues will help cover the additional funding.

Education I have always been very committed to keeping the high quality of Iowa schools in tact and I feel the budget that we have passed this year does just that. We owe so much to the men and women who invest their time and talents with our children and I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you who work in our wonderful schools!

Much of the money we have allocated will go towards improving student achievement, increasing teacher salaries and holding the line on college tuition costs. The budget includes nearly $2 billion for K-12 schools during the 2005-2006 school year; a $100 million increase over the current year. In addition, lawmakers provided $29.3 million for an initiative to improve class sizes and reading scores; $20 million for early childhood education programs; and $69 million for teacher salaries, an increase of $24 million over the current year.

MINUTES
BETTENDORF PARK BOARD
April 13, 2005

The Bettendorf Park Board held a regular meeting on April 13, 2005 at City Hall in the Council Chambers at 7:00 pm.

Present: Kamp, Makoben, Beckman, Gackle, Glenn
Absent: None

MINUTES
BETTENDORF PARK BOARD
SPECIAL MEETING
April 12, 2005

The Bettendorf Park Board held a special meeting on April 12, 2005 at 4:00 pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Present: Kamp, Makoben, Beckman, Gackle, Glenn
Absent: None

Unofficial Minutes of the May 16, 2005, Regular Meeting Of the Board of Education (Pending Board Approval)

The Board of Directors of the Bettendorf Community School District, in the County of Scott, state of Iowa, met in open session according to Iowa law for their regular Board meeting at Ray Stensvad Administration Center, 3311 Central Avenue, Bettendorf, Iowa, on May 16, 2005. President Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and the Board recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Nancy Herrin, Board Secretary, verified that the meeting notice had been posted and mailed to the media as required by law. Members present: Directors Anderson, Castro, Crockett, Ehrmann, Luton, Mayer, Weigle. Members absent: None. Other officials present: John Perdue, Superintendent; Carol Webb, Assistant Superintendent; Maxine McEnany, Director of Business & Financial Services; Bonnie Fisher, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School Principal; Kevin Hatfield, Neil Armstrong Elementary School Principal; Caroline Olson, Mark Twain Elementary School Principal; Julie Duffin, Paul Norton Elementary School Principal; Jimmy Casas, Bettendorf High School Principal; Linda Goff, Bettendorf Middle School Principal; Marcia Hartman, Director of Technology; Celeste Reuter, Director of Communications; Laura Kauffman, Teacher Representative; Erin Cavanaugh, Student Representative; Nancy Herrin, Board Secretary.

If anyone would have told me back in January that we would still be here on May 17, I would not have believed them! However, here we are and I thought I would bring you up to speed on what we have been doing.

Early Childhood Initiative Passes

House File 761, which establishes a Quality Rating System for childcare and creates tax incentives for both pre-school and childcare passed this week. The bill also establishes the statewide use of a Kindergarten readiness test. The bill outlines the DIBELS test as the recommended method; however there is some flexibility built in for districts who want to use an alternative test, as long as it is approved by the Iowa Department of Education.

Despite unseasonably cool weather, Bettendorf-Pleasant Valley youth baseball is in full swing. Below, Pony League teams square off at one of the Crow Creek Park diamonds.

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