Parents for Great Iowa Schools
A group of parents concerned about the future of public schools in Iowa have launched a new organization to connect parents across the state.
The group, Parents for Great Iowa Schools, was formed to make sure every child in Iowa gets a world-class public education that will prepare them for 21st-century challenges and generate the skilled workforce Iowa needs.
Iowans are encouraged to visit the group’s website at www.
The group said they are concerned about the effects of underfunding Iowa’s public schools. Last month, school leaders told lawmakers that another round of stagnant state funding would force them to raise class sizes, delay textbook purchases, cut back literacy efforts, and use old technology for another year.
Criminal Justice Reform Needed in Iowa
A variety of bipartisan groups have met and found there is a strong need for criminal justice reform. While each group is not necessarily advocating for the same type of change, they are hopeful the Legislature will address the problem this year.
Today, there are more than 8,000 offenders in Iowa’s prisons – over capacity by 11%. Another 31,000 offenders are in a community-based correctional facilities (CBC), with supervision as they transition back to being a productive member of society.
According to a Prison Forecast by the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning Division of the Iowa Department of Human Rights, if changes are not made to Iowa law, the population of our prisons will increase to approximately 10,000 by June of 2025.
Changes to Iowa law that can have lasting and positive impacts could come from many different areas.
A possible area of change might be in the sentences of low-risk offenders – making sure they receive an appropriate punishment that gives them the opportunity to change, but doesn’t punish them for so long that they stop caring about rehabilitation. Having rehabilitation tools like job training, housing once released and other community supports are vital to offenders seeking to successfully reenter society.
Community Colleges Build Skilled Iowa Workforce
As Iowa continues to rebound from the national recession, our local businesses need more workers with the qualifications to fill skilled job openings.
Iowa faces both challenges and opportunities in building a strong, well-trained workforce. That’s what we heard this week in a presentation to the Education Appropriations subcommittee.
The demand for skilled workers continues to grow – jobs that require additional education and training beyond high school, which may include an associate’s degree or vocational certificate. That’s where community colleges, with business and community partnerships come into play.
Iowa community colleges are uniquely positioned to train workers in the skills that lead to meaningful, well-paying jobs. Our community colleges offer a variety of programs—short-term and long-term, credit and noncredit— programs that meet the needs of employers in their communities. Last year, more than 86,000 Iowans sought job training through Iowa’s community college programs.
Community college training programs help build a talented workforce, set Iowans on a path to rewarding careers and grow Iowa’s economy.
Iowa Leads in Wind Energy
Iowa has overtaken California in becoming the #2 ranked state nationally with more than 6,000 megawatts of installed wind energy capacity, reports the American Wind Energy Association. Wind accounts for more than 28 percent of Iowa’s electric production, generating enough energy to power 1.5 million homes.
The growth in wind energy has brought new businesses and jobs to the state. There are more than 215 Iowa businesses connected to the wind industry, employing more than 6,000 Iowans.
Iowa is also home to 12 active manufacturing facilities. These manufacturers represent just a portion of the businesses in Iowa that are here because of the wind industry. Iowa is also home to companies that maintain, repair and provide supplies for wind energy systems. Iowa’s wind energy resources have encouraged Facebook and Google to locate in the state because they chose to power their facilities with clean renewable energy.
Iowa is well positioned to continue as a leader in the wind industry because:
• Our state offers incentives to create and expand wind energy facilities and related jobs.
• Our community colleges provide the skills training that Iowans need for work in the wind energy industry.
• We are centrally located in the middle of the nation’s largest wind energy resources.
• Winds in parts of Iowa are stronger than average, making them well suited for producing energy.
Iowa’s booming wind energy industry is not an accident. Coupled with federal wind energy tax credits, the state of Iowa has been aggressive in promoting the industry and should continue to do so.
Attention, men: Big Brothers Big Sisters is in need of male volunteers! I learned that 2/3 of their volunteers are women – which is great – but there is a long waiting list of boys needing a male mentor. If you have even a few hours a year you could dedicate to this awesome program, you can make a huge difference in the life of a young person.
BBBS of CR President, Linda Henecke and Board Member, Kristen Shaffer, met with legislators today (shown here with Rep. Mary Gaskill) to share the good news of their services. After one year of mentoring, 90% of the kids demonstrated educational success and 97% avoided or reduced risky behaviors. If you would like to get involved, more info here: http://www.bbbsia.org/site/c.
After receiving numerous emails over the last several months from engaged Xavier students, I was invited to meet and discuss the issues in-person last Friday.
Some of the email questions involved: Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), refugees, homelessness, gun control, radon in schools, and mandatory school attendance.
I had a fantastic time, listening and sharing information with these bright young people. Thank-you to the faculty and students for their warm welcome and the opportunity to discuss social issues and Iowa education.
The discussion were reminiscent of those I enjoyed while attending Catholic schools, and later teaching in the Kansas City- St. Joseph Catholic Schools.
Go Saints!
So good to visit with IBEW reps, Blaine Luck, Mike Knox , and constituent Tad Gusta at the Building and Construction Trades Council legislative reception. The Council represents thousands of hard-working Iowans across the state, and it was good to hear that building construction and manufacturing are both strengthening in Iowa.
Early Childhood Iowa gave a presentation before the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee today and explained their request for funds, changes to the board makeup, increases in the flexibility of grant funds uses in programs and a change in the allowance for administration costs.
The founding legislation for ECI established five results to be achieved at both the state and local level:
* Healthy Children
* Children Ready to Succeed in School
* Safe and Supportive Communities
* Secure and Nurturing Families
* Secure and Nurturing Early Learning Environments
Chris Kivett-Berry, Community Project Director at Linn County, was one of five presenters.
Garret Munch, Intern Landscape Architect with ShiveHattery, showed me proposed landscaping plans for the Cedar Rapids green belt along the Cedar River. This aesthetically pleasing public area will be used for both recreation and entertainment. Cedar Rapids continues to advance post-flood!
Kathie Lyman, Polk County Medical Society’s Exec Dir, spoke with me about the Volunteer Physician Network (VPN). Last fiscal year, the VPN provided over $5 million in donated specialty care and hospitalizations from a network of 466 volunteer physicians. The economic cost of a system without VPN are untold; the personal trauma and costs these patients would incur are more than any individual should bear.
The Polk County Medical Society’s legislative priorities for 2016 include:
*Maintain VPN funding
*Enhance mental health services
*Monitor MCOs
*Oppose legalization of fireworks
Much of the work here at the Capitol is bi-partisan. If a bill makes it to a House sub-committee, two Republicans and one Democrat sits on that committee meeting. I was the Dem to work on HF 2034: “A bill for an act relating to permissible uses of supplemental aid for professional development paid to school districts and area education agencies under the state school foundation program.”
Several stake-holders also participated: teachers assoc, school administrators, Dept of Ed, and school boards assoc. After much discussion and a tweaking of the bill – adding language to ensure that educators don’t lose their professional development dollars – we may have a bill we can all agree on. I’m looking forward to the changes in the amended bill that will be brought before the full House Education Committee.
Grant Wood AEA Superintendents met with legislators to advocate for their students. (Shown here with Supes: Brad Buck of Cedar Rapids School District, Chris Dyer of Marion SD, and John Speer of College Community SD.)
Over 90% of Iowa’s superintendents have requested 4% allowable growth to stave off further cuts to school staff and programs. I am hopeful that the Joint Education Conference Committee can reach a compromise that contains sufficient funding for our students.
The legislature has an obligation to provide quality education for Iowa’s students – the future of our state.
Thursday was Autism Advocacy & Acceptance Day at the Capitol, and dozens of advocates have been talking to legislators about bill HF2112.
Currently over 1 million Iowans with state-regulated private health insurance don’t have meaningful autism insurance coverage included in their plans. Yet, the majority of children with autism who receive medically necessary treatment, experience marked improvement. HF2112 requires coverage for the diagnosis and evidence-based treatment for autism spectrum disorder for individuals less than 22yrs.
Autism insurance reform is fiscally conservative – and good for Iowans.
(Pictured below is Dr. Todd Kopelman, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry for University of Iowa; and my wife, Susan Staed.)
Stephanie Shepard, Altoona Campus Kids Club Director, brought her three children to the Capitol to speak with legislators about after-school programming. Stephanie explained that their high quality wrap-around programs make learning meaningful, and enhance what they learn in school while providing a safe environment. This also allows parents to continue working.
Altoona Campus Kids is part of the Iowa Afterschool Alliance, a statewide network of expanded learning providers and advocates, operating with additional support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The IAA’s vision is that all Iowa children, youth, and families have access to quality out-of-school-time opportunities in their community. Find out more at www.iowaafterschoolalliance.
(Steph’s daughter is showing me a note she’d written to legislators telling us why the afterschool program was important to her. I can tell you, she likes Science and Arts activities, as well as Gym time to “use up some of my energy!” She also loves baking, and is one smart cookie.)
GED Test Changes will Not Affect Iowa
Iowa Could Soon Only Need One License Plate
Iowa’s Ag Secretary Calls for Water Quality Funding
Arts Education Initiative Proves Successful
Iowa River and Stream Restoration
Summer Food Program Sponsors Sought
To read the rest of my Statehouse News go to:http://iowahouse.org/
