Close Up: Arming school staff, overhauling Iowa’s AEAs and more education bills from the Statehouse
Updated: 12:01 PM CST Mar 3, 2024
NEWS. CLOSE UP. CHANGING HOW AREA EDUCATION AGENCIES WORK WITH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE. THE HOUSE PROPOSAL THAT PASSED THIS WEEK, AND THE FIERY FIGHT OVER FUNDING. I’M SO PROUD OF YOU. YOU CAN’T A LITTLE BIT THE FAMILIES WHO SAY THEIR FUTURE IS IN THE HANDS OF LAWMAKERS. WHY? THEY SAY A BATTLE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE COULD CHANGE THEIR CHILDREN’S LIVES, AND A PLAN TO ARM SCHOOL STAFF. THE HEATED DEBATE OVER WHAT ACTION WOULD KEEP STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SAFE AND THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS RESULTS COMING. THIS WEEK. THE CALL FOR PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE CARDS AHEAD OF SUPER TUESDAY. THIS IS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER THIS IS KCCI EIGHT NEWS CLOSE UP. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO CLOSE UP. I’M KCCI CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA ROOKER. THE IOWA HOUSE PASSED ITS VERSION OF A BILL TO CHANGE THE STATE’S AREA EDUCATION AGENCIES, KNOWN AS EA’S, AFTER WEEKS OF PROTEST, HOURS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MEETINGS BETWEEN LAWMAKERS AND EDUCATION EXPERTS, AND SOME HEATED HOUSE DEBATE, THE BILL PASSED. 53 TO 41. THIS HOUSE BILL DOES NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, BUT IT DOES ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO CONTRACT WITH AN ALTERNATIVE PROVIDER FOR GENERAL EDUCATION AND MEDIA SERVICES. THOSE SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY EA’S INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, CURRICULUM ASSISTANCE, AND TECHNOLOGY DELIVERY. SCHOOL DISTRICTS WOULD ALSO NEED TO MAKE THOSE CHOICES BY THE START OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR, INSTEAD OF TAKING EFFECT NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. AS THE GOVERNOR HAD ORIGINALLY. PROPOSED. THE HOUSE BILL PHASES. IN OVER THREE YEARS, STARTING IN THE FALL OF 2025. IT ALSO CREATES A TASK FORCE TO REVIEW EA’S THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THEIR SERVICES. AS ANY TIME YOU DEAL WITH SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT HEAVILY AND IT HAS. AND WE’RE NOT CHANGING ANY OF THAT. THIS BILL SIMPLY EMPOWERS YOUR SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED IN THEIR PARTICULAR SCHOOLS. GEORGE LITTLE ROCK, WHAT I HAVE SMALL SCHOOL, THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS THAN SIOUX CITY IS GOING TO HAVE, PERIOD. THEY MEET, THEY MAY UTILIZE A A LESS EXPANSIVE LIST OF SERVICES, BUT MAY BE UTILIZE ONE SPECIFIC SERVICE, A LITTLE BIT MORE, GIVING THEM THE MONEY AND LETTING THEM HAVE THE MONEY. AND DISPERSE IT AS THEY NEED. THROUGHOUT THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL IMPROVE, I BELIEVE WILL IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS. LET’S JUST STOP RIGHT HERE AND SAY, WHY ARE WE EVEN DOING THIS? WHERE DID THIS COME FROM? WHO’S ASKING FOR THIS? I THINK BASED ON THE EMAILS I’VE GOTTEN AND WHAT I’VE HEARD FROM OTHERS IN THIS CHAMBER, IS THAT THE ANSWER IS. NO ONE, NO ONE IS REALLY ASKING FOR THIS. THE IDEA OF A REFORM INITIALLY CAME FROM GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS, THE IOWA SENATE SIGNIFICANTLY AMENDED REYNOLDS INITIAL PLAN BEFORE PASSING IT THROUGH COMMITTEE. UNDER THEIR BILL, SCHOOL DISTRICTS WOULD RECEIVE 90% OF SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING, 10% OF FUNDING WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO THEIR LOCAL AEA. THE SENATE BILL WOULD ALSO LET SCHOOL DISTRICTS DECIDE HOW TO SPEND 60% OF STATE FUNDING FOR MEDIA AND EDUCATION SERVICES. THERE WOULD BE GUARANTEED AT LEAST 40% OF THAT STATE FUNDING FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE ARE GETTING READY TO NAVIGATE WHICHEVER VERSION OF THE BILL ENDS UP PASSING. I SAT DOWN WITH TWO FAMILIES TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THEM. WHEN IOWA MOM CARRIE NORRIS ADOPTED HER DAUGHTER LILY, SHE DIDN’T KNOW THAT LILY WAS HARD OF HEARING. IT TOOK LILY YEARS TO LEARN TO TALK AND READ DEWAR ELEMENTARY. I FEEL LIKE I STRUGGLE A LOT TO THAT BECAUSE I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH ME, AND I DIDN’T HAVE THE MINDSET OF IT IN ANYTHING. IN THE FOURTH GRADE, THE AEA BROUGHT LILY A MICROPHONE SYSTEM TO HELP HER COMMUNICATE. AT SCHOOL, LILY AND HER MOM SAY THE RESULT WAS LIFE CHANGING. IT WAS A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS. USING MY MY MICROPHONE SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, I’M LIKE EVERY OTHER KID THAT NO, THEY SAY, OH, THIS IS TOO EMBARRASSING. BUT AT THE SAME TIME I NEED IT. YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY I NEED IT. AND SOMETIMES IT GETS ANNOYING AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN’T, BUT IT HELPS ME GET GOOD GRADES. IT HELPS ME UNDERSTAND THE TEACHERS AND IT HELPS ME WHAT I LEARN. SO, YEAH, SO PROUD OF YOU. YOU’VE COME SO FAR. YOU ALWAYS HAVE. HAVEN’T BEEN SUCH AN ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF. BUT NOW YOU ARE. THAT’S SO IMPORTANT. I’M SO PROUD OF YOU. OKAY, A LITTLE BIT. THAT EMOTION IS WHAT’S MADE THE LAST TWO MONTHS DIFFICULT. AFTER LILY HEARD THE SYSTEM, THAT’S HELPED HER SO MUCH MAY FACE MAJOR CHANGES. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST THOUGHT, LILY, WHEN YOU HEARD THAT THE STATE MIGHT MAKE SOME BIG CHANGES TO THE AEAS? YOU KNOW, I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? YOU. I KNOW IT’S GOING TO STAY THE SAME THIS YEAR, BUT IT’S GOING TO CHANGE A LOT NEXT YEAR. AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IF THEY DO TAKE IT AWAY. HOW IT’S GOING TO AFFECT THE FUTURE OF FUTURE CHILDREN WHO NEVER GOT THE OPPORTUNITY OF ANY. CARRIE REMEMBERS HEARING ABOUT GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS INITIAL PLANS. REYNOLDS BILL WOULD HAVE GIVEN SCHOOLS FULL CONTROL OVER SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING AND THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT TO WORK WITH AEAS OR HIRE SOMEONE ELSE FOR THOSE SERVICES. WHAT DEVICES, WHAT WHAT TOOLS DO WE HAVE FOR HER? IF ALL THIS GOES AWAY AND IT’S IT’S FRUSTRATING. IT’S REALLY FRUSTRATING. IT’S SCARY, ISN’T IT? WE WERE TALKING LAST NIGHT HOW SCARY IT IS. I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE LIKE THE ONLY STUFF OUT HERE WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT HOW IT’S GOING TO AFFECT THE PEOPLE AND LIKE THEY THINK THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT, BUT IT’S NOT REALLY HELPING US IN ANY WAY. REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE SKYLER WHEELER WANTS TO QUIET THOSE CONCERNS, MAKING CLEAR THAT THE BILL THE IOWA HOUSE PASSED IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE GOVERNOR FIRST PROPOSED. THIS BILL DOES NOT CHANGE ANYTHING WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION. IT DOES NOT DISMANTLE ALL THE AEA SYSTEM, AND IT DOES NOT HAVE. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROVIDES SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, BUT THE HOUSE BILL WOULD STILL SHIFT OVERSIGHT TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND WOULD GIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS CONTROL OVER GENERAL EDUCATION FUNDING, WHICH CURRENTLY GOES TO THE AEAS. ALTOONA MOM, HEATHER SIEVERS, SAYS THOSE REVISIONS AREN’T ENOUGH. THE HOUSE BILL THEY DID BREAK DOWN A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT, AND IT’S STILL BREAKING DOWN THE SYSTEM, A SYSTEM THAT’S BEEN A LIFELINE FOR HER SIX YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, ROWAN. ROWAN WASN’T TALKING. SHE WAS NONVERBAL FOR A REALLY LONG TIME. SHE WAS HAVING TROUBLE SWALLOWING. UM, SHE WAS REALLY DELETED WALKING. SO I DON’T THINK SHE STARTED WALKING UNTIL SHE WAS ABOUT TWO. AND IT REALLY WAS AFTER THE AEA GOT INVOLVED TO HELP US FROM THE CRIB TO THE CLASSROOM, HEATHER SAYS THE AEA HAS BEEN THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. WHAT’S BEAUTIFUL ABOUT THE AEA IS THEY ALREADY KNEW MY DAUGHTER. THEY KNEW WHAT WAS WORKING FOR HER, FOR THE PROGRESS, AND THEY THEY MOVE HER INTO THE SCHOOLS AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HER IN THAT SAME SCHOOL SETTING. SO ROWAN’S ACTUALLY NOW SHE’S PROGRESSED, SHE HAS CONTINUED INTO FIRST GRADE. SHE IS DANCING NOW. SHE IS TALKING AND TALKING. BUT HEATHER SAYS SHE’S WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT TO E’S. IF THE HOUSE BILL IS SIGNED INTO LAW, IF WE BREAK DOWN A SYSTEM REALLY QUICKLY LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT REALLY STUDYING, WITHOUT KNOWING THE IMPACT OF THIS, OUR MOST VULNERABLE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED. OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS ARE GOING TO BE PUT UNDER MORE STRESS TRYING TO NAVIGATE ALL OF THESE CHANGES. AND IT’S REALLY OUR KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED. AND SHE SAYS LAWMAKERS SHOULD SLOW DOWN AND STUDY THE SYSTEM BEFORE MAKING FURTHER CHANGES. WE ARE OPEN TO DOING A STUDY. THE HOUSE BILL HAS A TASK FORCE BUILT IN, BUT THE BILL IS ACTUALLY MAKING CHANGES BEFORE THE STUDY CAN EVEN OCCUR. SO A TASK FORCE BECOMES KIND OF MOOT IF WE ALREADY PUT CHANGES INTO LAW BEFORE WE KNOW THAT WHAT THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE, PART OF THE REASON THAT THE AEA CAN PROVIDE SUCH AFFORDABLE SERVICES IS BECAUSE WE SHARE ACROSS DISTRICTS. SO SMALLER SCHOOLS BENEFIT FROM OUR LARGER DISTRICTS TO KEEP THAT EQUITY AND DELIVERY OF CARE. ONCE WE START SPLITTING THIS SYSTEM UP, NO MATTER WHAT ANYBODY SAYS, THIS WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE SERVICES THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE AND THE TIMELINESS, EFFECTIVENESS AND EQUITY OF THOSE SERVICES. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN SPECIFICALLY FOR YOU? YEAH. SO ROWAN HAS CHANGING NEEDS, RIGHT. SO SO YOU KNOW, SHE’S BEEN GRADUATED FROM SOME SERVICES. SHE DOESN’T NEED PHYSICAL THERAPY ANYMORE. BUT YOU CANNOT PREDICT WHAT’S NEXT WHAT SERVICES ARE GOING TO BE NEXT. SO SO MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS IF WE WE BREAK UP THIS SYSTEM THAT MAYBE A SCHOOL HASN’T PLANNED FOR FOR A PROVIDER. AND SHE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET ONE EASILY. SO ONE OF THE CONCERNS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE, AND ONE THAT I’M CONCERNED ABOUT, IS IF A SCHOOL CAN’T GET ACCESS TO AN AEA PROVIDER FOR THAT SPECIALTY, THEN WE MIGHT HAVE TO DEFAULT TO LESS QUALITY SERVICES. HEATHER HAS MADE FREQUENT TRIPS TO THE IOWA STATE HOUSE SINCE THE BILL WAS FIRST INTRODUCED, AND SHE SAYS SHE’LL CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR HER DAUGHTER AND THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER KIDS ALL ACROSS THE STATE. PLEASE LISTEN TO US. THERE IS A REASON THAT WE ARE FIGHTING SO HARD, HARDER THAN ANY OTHER BILL THAT’S MOVED FORWARD BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS. THIS FEELS LIKE AN ATTACK TO OUR CHILDREN, WHICH IS WHY SO MANY PARENTS HAVE RISEN UP AND WE’RE GOING TO KEEP GOING AFTER THE HOUSE PASSED THE LEGISLATION, GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING SHE BELIEVES THE ACA SYSTEM IS, QUOTE, FAILING OUR STUDENTS AND THAT THE SYSTEM MUST PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. END QUOTE, IMPROVE SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IS UP NEXT. A FLURRY OF EDUCATION BILLS PASSED AT THE STATE HOUSE. THE PROPOSALS ON WHAT STUDENTS NEED TO BE LEARNING, AND THE DEBATE OVER HOW TO KEEP THEM SAFE, AND A BILL TO EXPAND LIFE SAVING COVERAGE FOR THOSE WHO SAVE LIVES EVERY DAY. I IOWA HOUSE LAWMAKERS DISCUSSED A FLURRY OF EDUCATION BILLS AT THE STATE HOUSE THIS WEEK. BILLS GUIDING PREGNANCY, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL STUDIES IN IOWA SCHOOLS PASSED THE HOUSE. THE HOUSE ALSO PASSED A BILL ALLOWING SCHOOL STAFF TO CARRY GUNS IN THE CLASSROOM. THE PREGNANCY EDUCATION BILL WOULD REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO WATCH A VIDEO SHOWING DEVELOPMENT IN THE WOMB. IT RECOMMENDS THAT THE VIDEO IS SIMILAR TO THE BABY OLIVIA VIDEO CREATED BY THE ANTI-ABORTION RIGHTS GROUP LIVE ACTION. THIS IS OLIVIA, THOUGH SHE HAS YET TO GREET THE OUTSIDE WORLD, SHE HAS ALREADY COMPLETED AN AMAZING JOURNEY. THE THREE MINUTE VIDEO FEATURES AN ANIMATED FETUS AND SHOWS AN EGG BEING FERTILIZED AND IMPLANTED. IT THEN WALKS THROUGH THE STAGES OF FETAL DEVELOPMENT OVER THE COURSE OF A PREGNANCY. LIVE ACTION’S WEBSITE SAYS IT, QUOTE EXISTS TO SHIFT PUBLIC OPINION ON ABORTION. THE GROUP CALLS ITSELF THE LARGEST AND MOST ENGAGED COMMUNITY IN THE PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT. THE WEBSITE FOR THE BABY OLIVIA VIDEO SAYS LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION AND LISTS SIX DOCTORS WHO REVIEWED AND APPROVED THE VIDEO. THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS REPRESENTS THOUSANDS OF DOCTORS. THEY CALL THE VIDEO MISINFORMATION, DESIGNED TO, QUOTE, MANIPULATE THE EMOTIONS OF VIEWERS. A SIMILAR DEBATE PLAYED OUT ON THE IOWA HOUSE FLOOR. REPUBLICANS SAY THE BILL PROMOTES SCIENCE BASED LEARNING ABOUT WHERE CHILDREN COME FROM, BUT DEMOCRATS CALLED IT MEDICALLY INACCURATE PROPAGANDA. THE QUESTION OF WHEN LIFE BEGINS IS DEEPLY PERSONAL. IT VARIES AMONG INDIVIDUALS, IT VARIES AMONG FAMILIES AND HONESTLY, IT VARIES AMONG FAITHS. UM, IT IS NOT THE ROLE OF OUR CHAMBER TO PRESCRIBE WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVE, HAVE OR REQUIRE TEACHERS TO INFLUENCE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH PROPER GANDA, OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE ON NURTURING AND EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT THAT VALUES INDEPENDENT THINKING. IN A TEACHING ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS EDUCATOR AND ENVIRONMENT THAT PREPARES STUDENTS TO ENGAGE THOUGHTFULLY WITH COMPLEX ISSUES. IOWA CORE STANDARDS ALREADY PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK THAT RESPECTS LOCAL AUTONOMY IN CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT. IT IS NOT THE ROLE OF A STATE LEGISLATOR TO MAP OUT WHICH CURRICULUM SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS, PEOPLE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE OLIVIA VIDEO. UM, FOR ONE, UM, IT IS OFFERED UNBRANDED. UM, ALSO, IT IS NOT REQUIRED BAIRD IT IS SIMPLY A SUGGESTION. UM, THERE YOU TALK ABOUT IT BEING INACCURATE. UM, IT HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND ENDORSED BY SEVERAL MEDICAL EXPERTS. UM, SCIENCE EDUCATORS ACROSS THE NATION HAVE ENDORSED THAT. THIS VIDEO, UM, THE BILL ENSURES THE TEACHING TO OUR CHILDREN OF BASIC FACTS ABOUT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN A VERY APPROACHABLE WAY. THIS IS SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION. THIS IS TEACHING BASIC BIOLOGY TO OUR CHILDREN, AND IT HELPS TO ANSWER ONE OF LIFE’S BIGGEST QUESTIONS. WHERE DID I COME FROM? STATE LAWMAKERS ALSO PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW SCHOOL EMPLOYEES TO CARRY WEAPONS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS TO GET ONE OF THE NEW PERMITS, SCHOOL STAFF WOULD NEED TO PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK AND FINISH IN PERSON LEGAL TRAINING. THEY WOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND ANNUAL MEDICAL COMMUNICATION AND LIVE SCENARIO TRAINING AND QUARTERLY IN-PERSON FIREARM TRAINING. SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PERMITTED EMPLOYEES WOULD HAVE QUALIFIED IMMUNITY. THAT MEANS THEY WOULD NOT FACE ANY CIVIL OR CRIMINAL CHARGES IF THEY USED, QUOTE, REASONABLE FORCE AT SCHOOL. REPUBLICANS SAY THAT WOULD HELP SCHOOLS THAT WANT TO ARM THEIR STAFF KEEP THEIR INSURANCE COVERAGE, AND THAT WOULD MAKE SCHOOLS MORE SAFE. BUT DEMOCRATS SAY THE BILL WOULD PUT IOWA STUDENTS IN DANGER AND LACKS OVERSIGHT OVER SITE TO GUARD AGAINST UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE CHANGES. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MENTAL TRAUMA THAT THESE BABIES AND PARENTS AND TEACHERS ARE GOING THROUGH, DON’T WE DESERVE TO GIVE THEM A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? AS LAWMAKERS DON’T WE DESERVE TO GIVE THEM THE BEST WE CAN GIVE THEM FROM OUR HEARTS? THE INSTRUCTION THAT WE’VE GOT IN THAT BILL IS A GOOD PLAN, AND IT WILL DO GOOD THINGS. AND IT WILL SAVE LIVES. WHEN COWARDS ATTACK OUR KIDS. THE BILL WOULD ALSO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF AT LEAST 8000 STUDENTS TO HIRE AT LEAST ONE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, UNLESS THEIR SCHOOL BOARD VOTES TO OPT OUT OF THAT REQUIREMENT. ANOTHER BILL PASSED IN THE HOUSE THIS WEEK WOULD CHANGE WHAT TEACHERS CAN AND CAN’T TEACH IN HISTORY CLASS. THE BILL LISTS SPECIFIC TOPICS, PEOPLE AND DOCUMENTS FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL TO LEARN ABOUT STUDENTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO LEARN THE UNITED STATES AND WESTERN CIVILIZATIONS. QUOTE EXCEPTIONAL AND PRAISEWORTHY HISTORY. THE MEANING OF THE U.S. FLAG AND THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, AND ABOUT, QUOTE, CERTAIN ADMIRABLE AMERICANS LIKE GEORGE WASHINGTON, FREDERICK DOUGLASS, AND ELIZABETH CADY STANTON. DEMOCRATS SAY THE BILL IS TOO SPECIFIC AND WOULD CREATE PROBLEMS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TEACHERS. BUT REPUBLICANS SAY THE BILL WOULD FOSTER PATRIOTIC ISM AND IMPROVE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR ALL IOWA STUDENTS. STUDENTS. WHEN WE LOOK AT WHEN WE LOOK THROUGH THE LIST HERE, IF THEY ARE NOT CHALLENGED TO HAVE CRITICAL THINKING AFTER GOING THROUGH THESE SUBJECT MATTERS. THEN WE CERTAINLY HAVE FAILED CRITICAL THINKING WILL COME FROM TEACHING ALL OF THESE ITEMS IN THIS BILL. I DO THINK THAT IT A PRESCRIPTIVE LIST OF ITEMS TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. NUMBER ONE, THE BREADTH OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE IN THE BILL WE ARE DISCUSSING. I DON’T SEE HOW YOU COULD EVER GET DEEPLY INTO ANY TOPIC. MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT AND SAY, SELECT ONE OF THESE ITEMS TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE DIFFERENT THINGS BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND COMMUNISM. AND FINALLY, MAJOR CHANGES TO IOWA’S THREE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES. THAT BILL WOULD REQUIRE THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, IOWA STATE, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA TO RESTRUCTURE THEIR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION OFFICES TO ELIMINATE OR ADJUST ANY QUOTE, UNNECESSARY FUNCTIONS OR POSITIONS. THE BILL ALSO SAYS SCHOOLS CANNOT REQUIRE STAFF OR STUDENTS TO DISCLOSE PRONOUNS OR SUBMIT A DII STATEMENT. THE BILL ALSO BANS IOWA’S THREE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES FROM CONSIDERING RACE AS A FACTOR IN ADMISSIONS AND HIRING PROCESSES. THE UNIVERSITIES ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO ISSUE GUIDANCE TO STAFF TO SEPARATE PERSONAL FROM POLITICAL VIEWS AT WORK. WHEN IT COMES TO DEI, THEY NOW ARE IDEOLOGICAL ENFORCEMENT CENTERS THAT SUPPRESS THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, MERIT. I DON’T THINK DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE AFRAID OF. WE SHOULD BE ELIMINATING, OR WE SHOULD BE VILLAINIZING. THE BILL WOULD ALSO CAP TUITION INCREASES AT 3% IF FREEZES. TUITION FOR IN-STATE COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. ALL OF THESE BILLS STILL NEED TO MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE IOWA SENATE BEFORE THEY COULD HEAD TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK FOR A SIGNATURE. STILL TO COME ON CLOSE-UP COVERING MORE TYPES OF CANCERS FOR FIREFIGHTERS. THE UNANIMOUS STATE HOUSE VOTE AND THE FAMILY HELPING LEAD THE CHARGE. DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS. MEDICAL. CLEMONS ALL OF THOSE THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED. BUT BECAUSE BRIAN’S CANCER WAS NOT PRESUMED, ONE OF THE PRESUMED CANCERS THAT WENT, WE HAD TO. THAT WAS ON OUR INSURANCE. BUT NOW A BILL MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE STATE HOUSE WOULD MAKE SURE ALL CANCERS ARE COVERED FOR FIREFIGHTERS. RIGHT NOW, ONLY 14 CANCERS ARE COVERED, AND THE CANCER THAT KILLED KELLY STOKES HUSBAND WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. KCCI FIRST TOLD YOU ABOUT THE STOKES FAMILY LAST MONTH. BRIAN STOKES DIED OF PANCREATIC CANCER LAST YEAR. SINCE THEN, THE STOKES FAMILY HAS PUSHED FOR BETTER DISABILITY COVERAGE FOR FIREFIGHTERS. THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A BILL AIMED AT DOING JUST THAT. THEY LOST THEIR DAD AND THEIR HUSBAND TO A SITUATION THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN THE CODE. HE’S NO LONGER WITH US BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT LAW. THIS IS FOR HIM. THIS IS FOR ALL OF YOU. YOU’VE HAD ALL OF OUR BACKS ALL OF THESE YEARS. THIS IS OUR WAY OF HAVING YOURS. FAMILY AND FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS WATCHED THE VOTE FROM THE GALLERY, SOME WIPING TEARS FROM THEIR EYES. STILL TO COME ON. CLOSE-UP DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE RESULTS ROLL IN NEXT WEEK. THE LAST MINUTE CALL FOR PREFERENCE CARDS. NEXT. IOWA DEMOCRATS WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS OF THEIR PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUS THIS TUESDAY. THE PARTY CHANGED THEIR STRUCTURE TO A NEW CAUCUS BY MAIL PROCESS. THIS YEAR, IOWA DEMOCRATS WILL PICK WHO THEY WANT FOR PRESIDENT ON A CARD THEY RECEIVED IN THE MAIL, AND THEY HAVE UNTIL MARCH 5TH TO RETURN IT. I SAT DOWN WITH STATE PARTY CHAIR RITA HART TO TALK ABOUT THIS NEW SYSTEM AND WHETHER IT COULD HELP WIN THEM BACK, THEIR FIRST IN THE NATION SPOT IN 2028, WHEN IOWA DEMOCRATS SET OUT TO CHANGE THIS PROCESS, THERE WAS A LOT OF FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY. UM, NOW GETTING TOWARDS THE END OF IT, HOW DO YOU FEEL LIKE THIS WENT IS GOING? AND WHAT DID YOU MAYBE LEARN FROM DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY? YEAH, WE’RE VERY PLEASED WITH THE PROCESS. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, IT’S BEEN REALLY GONE SMOOTHLY. I THINK IT’S IT’S BEEN AN INTERESTING PROCESS. YOU KNOW, WHENEVER YOU DO SOMETHING NEW, YOU’VE GOT TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF QUESTIONS, A LOT OF SCRUTINY AND AND I’M VERY PROUD OF OUR STAFF, WHO HAS DONE AN AWESOME JOB OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS, OF GETTING INFORMATION OUT, OF MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO DO THIS. UM, THE LAST TIME WE HAD AN INCUMBENT PRESIDENT WAS BACK IN 2012, AND WE KNOW THAT A LITTLE OVER 15,000 DEMOCRATS PARTICIPATED IN THAT. AND WE HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN 19,000 PRESIDENT PREFERENCE CARDS REQUESTS. AND SO WE KNOW WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A BETTER TURNOUT THAN THE LAST TIME WE HAD AN INCUMBENT PRESIDENT. SO BO AND WE ARE ALSO THRILLED THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN AN IN-PERSON CAUCUS HAVE NOW HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD. WE’RE HAPPY FOR THIS PROCESS. SO THAT THAT WE DID THIS IN A YEAR WHEN IT WASN’T SUCH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS. WE KNOW THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL WIN THIS, UH, THIS PROCESS, BUT IN 2028, IT WILL BE MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE. AND SO WE WE’RE CERTAINLY HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR COUNTY CHAIRS AND, AND WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR PARTY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING TO GET READY FOR THAT COMPETITIVE PROCESS. SO SO WE MAY BE LOOKING AT, AT MAILING OUT A PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE CARDS TO EVERY REGISTERED DEMOCRAT OUT IN THE FUTURE. WE MAY BE PUTTING IN MAIL DROP BOXES. WE MAY BE EXTENDING THE WINDOW. UM, THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE ALREADY TAKING PLACE AND WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT 2028 IS GOING TO BE A VERY COMPETITIVE YEAR. AND WE’RE GETTING READY FOR IT. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR KCCI EIGHT NEWS CLOSE-UP. WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT SUNDAY. HAVE A GRE
Close Up: Arming school staff, overhauling Iowa’s AEAs and more education bills from the Statehouse
Updated: 12:01 PM CST Mar 3, 2024
On this week’s episode of Close Up, we take a further look at changes that may be made to how Area Education Agencies work with schools across the state. KCCI chief political reporter Amanda Rooker sits down with two Iowa families to talk about what those changes mean to them. State lawmakers also passed a bill that would allow school employees to carry weapons on school grounds. To get a special permit, school staff would be required to pass a background check and complete in-person legal training, among other restrictions.We explain the latest on a number of other education bills, including guidance on pregnancy education and social studies in Iowa schools, which passed the House.And, of course, the Democratic caucus results are coming this week. Rooker sits down with state party chair Rita Hart to talk about the new system and whether it could help them win back their first-in-the-nation spot in 2028.Click for more political headlines from tKCCI» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
On this week’s episode of Close Up, we take a further look at changes that may be made to how Area Education Agencies work with schools across the state. KCCI chief political reporter Amanda Rooker sits down with two Iowa families to talk about what those changes mean to them.
State lawmakers also passed a bill that would allow school employees to carry weapons on school grounds. To get a special permit, school staff would be required to pass a background check and complete in-person legal training, among other restrictions.
We explain the latest on a number of other education bills, including guidance on pregnancy education and social studies in Iowa schools, which passed the House.
And, of course, the Democratic caucus results are coming this week. Rooker sits down with state party chair Rita Hart to talk about the new system and whether it could help them win back their first-in-the-nation spot in 2028.
Click for more political headlines from tKCCI
» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
