Students at Jefferson Elementary School, Bettendorf, enjoy a jog or walk around Meier Park prior to class. The morning fitness walk/run encourages students (and their parents) to get in extra exercise prior to hitting the books each day.

The second benchmark of the 2005 legislative session has arrived and lawmakers have been busy attending committee meetings and debating legislation in an effort to keep bills alive beyond the second ìfunnelî deadline.

In order for a bill to be eligible for debate after the second funnel, it must be approved by the chamber where it originated as well as a committee in the opposite chamber. That means Senate files are required to have passed the Senate and a House committee by now in order to stay alive for the rest of the session. The funnel deadline does not apply to tax, leadership or appropriations bills.

Senate committees have taken up fewer bills this year due to the 25-25 split where control is shared equally between Republicans and Democrats.

Yet despite the slow pace, progress still has been made on a number of measures. Legislation approved by the Senate this year includes bills to crack down on Iowaís meth labs, improve the college readiness of high school students, establish a quality child care rating system, shrink the size of the stateís deer population and deregulate Iowaís large telephone companies. Lawmakers are also developing legislation to toughen Iowaís sex offender laws and spur new job and business growth across the state.

In the coming weeks, budget negotiations will continue as we try to find agreement on appropriations bills for the 2006 fiscal year. The Senate has approved only one of the nine budget bills that lawmakers must pass before the 2005 session adjourns.

While lawmakers generally agree on many areas of the budget, there are significant differences over funding levels for state employee salaries, education and health and human services. Right now, Democrats and Republicans are about $200 million apart in their spending proposals. Senator Hatch and I are millions of dollars apart in Health and Human Services.

A critical element in the budget negotiations is whether lawmakers will approve an increase in the cigarette tax, or ìuser feeî as I refer to it. Any potential hike would bring more revenue into the state treasury and lawmakers who are supportive of the measure, as I am, have a number of ideas on how they would like to spend the money. I am still advocating the dollars to go into the Senior Living Trust Fund to be used only for Medicaid or long term care. Others do not want to raise taxes on Iowans to increase spending. Lawmakers will have to make some decisions on the issue before our budget work is complete- the sooner, the better.

As we enter the last few weeks of the 2005 legislative session, senators will consider legislation that has made it past the second funnel in addition to budget bills and economic growth measures. As we work towards these goals, senators are committed to developing good public policy that focuses on the priorities of Iowans. I do believe that we will be able to agree on helping our seniors, children, families and the disabled with the budget.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Debbie Dayman. Members present: Barsness, Dayman, Kaminski, Messman, OíHara and Schurr. Absent: Hoffmann. Also present: Jim Spelhaug, Cyndy Behrer, Mike Clingingsmith, Chris Harvey, Tim Bradley, Nicky Overstake, Colleen Powers, Ladonna Czachowski, Patty Herzberg, and others.

This week the state senate issued its spending targets for the 2006 budget year that begins July 1. The $4.8 billion budget is a responsible proposal that funds important priorities without raising taxes.

Our proposal includes $129 million to fully fund Medicaid and allows a rate increase for providers. In total, spending for health and human services under our plan would near $1 billion, an increase of $141.9 million over fiscal year 2005.

In addition, our plan would increase education funding by $115.8 million. I think that it is particularly important to maintain funding for class size and reading at $29.3 million, the same as fiscal year 2005. Increasing education funding is important to our schools, but it is not the only answer. Future success in education also needs to be tied to accountability measures that will help improve student achievement. How to do this has not been decided yet.

While the Senate Republican plan does not include a cigarette tax increase, the Senate Democratic budget does raise taxes on cigarettes. With these two budget plans still millions of dollars apart, it will take some negotiation to reach an agreement on the budget.

The Bettendorf Bulldogs played tenacious defense to defeat Pleasant Valley, 50-35, Tuesday night (3/8) and advance to the state 4A tournament next week in Des Moines. Below, the Spartans get to the foul line in the third period, but were unable to come back from a big halftime deficit. The Bulldogs built a commanding 29-12 lead at the half, and used key baskets by Brett Wessels and Pat Conrad to stifle a Pleasant Valley rally in the third period. Bettendorf, 21-1 on the season and ranked second in the state poll, will play Cedar Falls in the first round of the state tournament Wednesday (3/16). For additional photos of the game, click on "Read more" link below.

A woman enjoys a morning walk with her dog along the trail through Devils Glen Park, Bettendorf. Warmer weather as spring approaches draws more runners and walkers to the scenic Duck Creek pathway.

President Anderson stated the purpose of the meeting was to continue development of the superintendent search process.

Dr. Tom Jacobson and Dick Vande Kieft of McPherson and Jacobson, LLC, led discussion of the following topics. Directors also received a copy of the brochure which will be sent to candidates, or which candidates can download from the McPherson and Jacobson website.

Mr. Vande Kieft and Dr. Jacobson reviewed a summary of input for the search process, gathered from designated stakeholder groups on February 23, 2005.

Dr. Jacobson took the Board through an interview process for the candidates. A draft of interview questions was developed. Dr. Jacobson will forward the preliminary draft to Celeste Reuter next week, for review by the Board and Judy Miller.

A proposed interview schedule, including designated stakeholder groups as well as the Board, was distributed. Discussion was held regarding details of the interview day.

Director Luton asked a question about living in the district. Dr. Jacobson stated that the Board can make this a directive, but most candidates understand this is important.

A question was asked if interviews would be held in executive or open session. President Anderson will get a recommendation from Lane & Waterman.

Judy Miller asked if there would be two rounds of interviews. Dr. Jacobson stated that there would usually be one round of interviews.

Dr. Jacobson distributed a list of community members attending the focus group meetings, and asked Directors to identify three chairs for the community group to handle the logistics of the interviews. Directors will also each recommend three people for the community interview group to Celeste Reuter by March 7, to create a group of 12-15 interviewers.

Senators Take Action to Combat Meth Labs

This week in the Senate we moved forward with a bipartisan bill to help curb methamphetamine production in Iowa.

The relative ease it takes to cook up meth using accessible and affordable supplies has led to an abundance of meth labs across the state. According to the Governorís Office of Drug Control Policy, Iowa law enforcement dismantled a record-high 1,425 labs in 2004 and Iowa ranks second behind only Missouri in per-capita meth lab making.

The bill aims to crack down on Iowaís meth labs by making it harder for meth makers to get their hands on pseudoephedrine, a popular cold decongestant and key ingredient in meth manufacturing.

Under the legislation, consumers would be required to buy most products containing pseudoephedrine from pharmacists. However, products containing less than 360 mg of pseudoephedrine ñ an amount equal to 12 tablets or that found in a small bottle of childrenís cold medicine ñ could still be sold at stores as long as the product is kept in a locked cabinet or behind the sales counter. Consumers who purchase the product from stores would be limited to two packages per customer in a 24-hour period.

In addition, buyers would be required to show photo identification and sign a log book with consumer information that could be made available to law enforcement officials. Retailers would have to keep records of the amounts of pseudoephedrine purchased from a wholesaler, the amount of products sold by the store and the number of products stolen or damaged.

Members of the Iowa House are also working on legislation to restrict pseudoephedrine sales in Iowa. Under the House proposal, a pharmacist must sell products containing more than 240 mg of pseudoephedrine, and consumers would be limited to one package per 24-hour period.

I think that the real issue faced by lawmakers is how to balance restrictions on pseudoephedrine sales with consumer access to this common cold remedy. I agree that the Senate bill strikes an important compromise. It aims to limit the sales of pseudoephedrine while still allowing parents, especially those in rural areas, to buy the product from local stores when their child suddenly comes down with a cold.

While the legislation will not completely eliminate Iowaís meth scourge, I believe that it will dramatically decrease the amount of meth manufactured within our state borders. Cracking down on the number of meth labs in Iowa will help free up important law enforcement resources to go after those who import meth into the state.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Vice-President Tana Barsness. Members present: Barsness, Messman, OíHara, Schurr. Absent: Dayman, Hoffmann, and Kaminski. Also present: Jim Spelhaug, Cyndy Behrer, Mike Clingingsmith, Chris Harvey, Deb Menke, Danielle Spaete, Eric Larew, Jeff Meyers, Kate Stangler, Erik Belby, and others.

AGENDA APPROVED: Motion by Messman, second by Schurr that the Agenda be approved as presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Unofficial Minutes of the February 7, 2005, Regular Meeting
Of the Board of Education
(Pending Board Approval)

1. Call to Order.

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 the Ray Stensvad Administration Center, 3311 Central Avenue, Bettendorf, Iowa, on February 7, 2005.

President Anderson called the meeting to order at 8:02 p.m. and the Board
recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Lynne Lindstrom, 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; Celeste Reuter, Director of Communications; Judy Miller, Director of Human Resources, Laura Kauffman, BEA Representative; Erin Cavanaugh, Student Council Representatives; Lynne Lindstrom, Board Secretary; Nancy Herrin, Administrative Assistant.