CS Board of Education, (read at Board of Ed meeting March 14)

The March 3 edition of the Cedar Post reported that Autumn Mattson had requested an exit interview with the Board of Education and that it had been denied. If this is true, at what public board meeting was this discussed and voted on? It is not recorded in any board minutes at this time. Please clarify if this is a true statement.

Also according to the Post article, there has been an appeal to the board on their decision to deny the interview. Since an answer to the appeal is required by the board and the topic is not on tonight’s board agenda, when does the board plan to address it?

The Open Meeting Act is very clear that all board decisions must be made in public. Total compliance with all Open Meeting Act laws is critical in maintaining the integrity of our district.  Our own Board of Education’s Policies & Goals States in Goal #2 Community Relations 2.1” Promoting honest, trustworthy, relationships with transparent dialogue and communication (Internal) organizations that support win-win situations for both parties that increase student achievement.” As board members, You took an oath to follow the law which includes the Open Meetings Act.

This was a request directed to the board and not a staff member. The board has every right to grant this request. You may choose to do this at any regular meeting or hold a special meeting. There is absolutely no reason not to do this. Why wouldn’t the board want to gather all the possible information from an administrator who has served our students and community for 14 years?  Mrs. Mattson is willing to openly discuss her experience in our school district. She is willing to share the facts. You could clarify and ask any questions you or the public may have. This interview would be an excellent opportunity for you to gather accurate information.

So why wouldn’t the board be interested in hearing the facts first hand? You have the opportunity to decipher between fact and fiction on our local education for yourselves and the community. This is what I am asking for.

1.  The board connects with the community

2.  The board monitors performance

3.  The board takes responsibility for itself

I would like to request that this letter be recorded in the minutes.  I would like your response to be answered publically and to also be recorded in the board minutes please.

Sincerely, 

Lee Mora

Cedar Springs School District Resident

(This letter has been edited for length. A full original copy is available from Mr. Mora.)

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(Family Features) Thirty years ago, a diagnosis of breast cancer was thought of as a virtual death sentence for many women, but since that time significant progress has been made in the fight against breast cancer. Reduced mortality, less invasive treatments, an increased number of survivors and other advancements have their roots in breast cancer research—more than $790 million of it funded by Susan G. Komen, the world’s largest breast cancer organization.

However, the reality is that breast cancer is still a serious disease. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, held each October, brings awareness to the disease and empowers women to take charge of their own breast health.

This year, about 200,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the U.S. and nearly 40,000 women will die from it. Globally, 1.6 million people will be diagnosed, and 400,000 will die. Despite the increased awareness of breast cancer, major myths still abound. Women must remain vigilant against this disease by learning the facts and understanding how they may be able to reduce their risk.

The Myths and Facts on Breast Cancer

Myth: I’m only 35. Breast cancer happens only in older women.

Fact: While the risk increases with age, all women are at risk for getting breast cancer.

Myth: Only women with a family history of breast cancer get the disease.

Fact: Most women who get breast cancer have no family history of the disease. However, a woman whose mother, sister or daughter had breast cancer has an increased risk.

Myth: If I don’t have a mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, I won’t get breast cancer.

Fact: You can still get breast cancer, even without a gene mutation. About 90 to 95 percent of women who get breast cancer do not have this mutation.

Myth: Women with more than one known risk factor get breast cancer.

Fact: Most women with breast cancer have no known risk factors except being a woman and getting older. All women are at risk.

Myth: You can prevent breast cancer.

Fact: Because the causes of breast cancer are not yet fully known, there is no way to prevent it.

Actions to Reduce Your Risk

Breast cancer can’t be prevented; however, research has shown that there are actions women can take to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.

*Maintain a Healthy Weight – Postmenopausal women who are overweight have a 30 to 60 percent higher breast cancer risk than those who are lean.

*Add Exercise into Your Routine – Women who get regular physical activity may have a lower risk of breast cancer by about 10 to 20 percent, particularly in postmenopausal women.

*Limit Alcohol Intake – Research has found that women who had two to three alcoholic drinks per day had a 20 percent higher risk of breast cancer.

*Breastfeed, if you can – Research has shown that mothers who breastfed for a lifetime total of one year (combined duration of breastfeeding for all children) were slightly less likely to get breast cancer than those who never breastfed.

For more information on the facts about breast cancer and what you need to reduce your risk, or to find resources in your community, visit Komen.org or call 1-877-GO-KOMEN.

The IRS has a new form taxpayers must use to report most capital gains and losses from transactions relating to investment property. In previous years, these transactions would have been reported on your IRS Schedule D or D-1, but for tax year 2011, use Form 8949, Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets.

Here are eight important points about the new Form 8949 and IRS Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses:

1. Short-term capital gains or losses (assets held for one year or less) are now reported on Part I of Form 8949.

2. Long-term capital gains or losses (assets held for more than one year) are now reported on Part II of Form 8949.

3. Fill out Form 8949 before you fill out line 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 or 10 of Schedule D.

4. Most property you own and use for personal purposes, pleasure or investment is a capital asset. Use Form 8949 to report the sale or exchange of a capital asset you are not reporting on another form or schedule (such as Form 6252 or 8824).

5. At the top of each Form 8949 you file, you’ll need to check box A, B or C, based on what is indicated in box 3 of the Form 1099-B or substitute statement.

Check box A if your broker reported the transaction to you and the basis of the securities sold also was reported to the IRS

Check box B if the transaction was reported to you but box 3 of the Form 1099-B is blank or your statement says the basis was not reported to the IRS.

Check box C for all other transactions.

6. If you have a lot of transactions, use as many Forms 8949 as necessary to report all of them, but make sure that each Form 8949 includes only the type of transactions described in the text for the box you checked (A, B or C).

7. The reporting of certain transactions has changed. If you have to adjust your gain or loss, you may have to enter a code in column (b) and an adjustment in column (g). For details, see the 2011 Instructions for Schedule D (and Form 8949).

8. For 2011 transactions, Schedule D-1 is no longer in use. Form 8949 replaces it.