A Closer Look at Concerns with Diversity Policy: Iowa City Daily LInks, Jan. 15

Ready for Winter Thaw, part deux?

On to the Links!

Adam Sullivan of the Iowa City Press-Citizen takes a closer look at the diversity policies that people have been sparring over, and likely will spar over again at the school board meeting tonight.

In a story that sounds a little like a European art house film, Tara Bannow of the Press-Citizen has a fun story of the journey of a red accordion that was lost and returned to its proper owner.

Bannow also writes that Iowa City ranks high in football attendance in a survey of the nation's cities.

At least the school district can come together in song, with all of the secondary schoosl in the Iowa City School District coming together for a joint choir performance tonight at 7:00 p.m. (Press-Citizen)

As expected, one of Gov. Terry Branstad's priorities for this session will be achieving a commercial property tax cut. (Press-Citizen)

Another of his main priorities will be a wide-ranging education reform package, which, among other things, focuses on improving teacher pay and putting them on career paths. (Press-Citizen)

The Republican-controlled Iowa House open things up with promises for more tax relief in this upcoming legislative session but is light on the details at the moment. (Des Moines Register)

Rep. Bruce Braley and the state's Cancer Society spoke in favor of removing Radon Gas from schools. (Des Moines Register)

The Iowa Farm Bureau came out in support of gas tax, property tax reform, and conservation and water quality improvement. I believe the first two, we'll see about the third. (Des Moines Register)

Looks like the farm bureau could be part of a coalition of interested parties trying yet again to push for an increase to the gas tax, in this case, a dime increase. (Des Moines Register)

Daily Links Excerpt of the Day:

Administrators, meanwhile, say it’s premature to talk specifics because the plan to achieve diversity goals would hinge on two unknowns: The results of next month’s special school election, approval of which would allow for the construction of four new schools; and reports from outside consultants about enrollment projections and facilities conditions.

Critics, though, say there should be more talk about implementing the policy before it’s made official.

“I think the criticism is more that we haven’t had an adequate discussion of those means publicly — a dialogue between the administration and the board as far as what we want and what they would like to see,” School Board member Jeff McGinness said.

Daily Links Featured Directory Listing of the Day: Wood Elementary