(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments this (Thursday) afternoon over the Iowa law that would ban abortions after fetal activity can be detected, around the sixth week of a pregnancy. The policy has been on hold due to the legal challenge filed soon after Governor Kim Reynolds signed the law last July.

“We’re optimistic and hopeful. We’ve passed the ‘heartbeat’ law twice in the state of Iowa,” Reynolds said. “It passed by a larger majority this last go-round in the special session.” Reynolds signed a Fetal Heartbeat Act in 2018, but it was ruled unconstitutional in state court. Last year, after the U-S Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, Reynolds asked Iowa’s Supreme Court to let the law take effect, but the request failed on a tie vote among the justices.

In July, Reynolds convened a special legislative session to pass the law again. Planned Parenthood quickly sued to block the law, arguing it violates Iowans’ constitutional right to an abortion. The Iowa Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling by the end of June.

(Radio Iowa)- The Iowa Senate has passed a bill giving schools some legal protection if staff with a professional gun permit volunteer to respond to a shooting on school grounds. Senator Dave Rowley, a Republican from Spirit Lake, says 20 Iowa school districts have expressed interest in having policies that allow armed staff on school grounds. “In 2001 there were 30 school shootings compared to 327 school shootings in 2023. It is a trend, my colleagues, that is not going away,” Rowley says. “This bill provides an option for school districts.”

Republican Senator Lynn Evans of Aurelia, a retired superintendent, says parents want school officials to explore every option — including this one — to keep students safe. “We live a pretty comfortable, safe life in Iowa. It only takes seconds for that comfortable life to be taken away,” Evans said. “I get a pit in my stomach just thinking about, talking about this issue.”

The bill passed with the support of 30 Republican senators and opposition from 14 Democrats. If the bill becomes law, school staff who volunteer to seek a professional permit to undergo training, including how to respond to an active shooter. Senator Sarah Trone-Garriott, a Democrat from Waukee, says the required training is not rigorous enough. “This bill asks me to put my child’s life into someone else’s hands, but says that person doesn’t have to put in the work to ensure they are up to the task,” Trone-Garriott said. “This is terrifying.”

Senator Molly Donahue, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids who’s a teacher, says the legislature should be taking other kinds of steps to protect students. “We could be investing far more funding in mental health resources…to identify the supports for students who may pose a risk to themselves or others,” Donahue says. “We could be funding enhanced training for staff on emergency procedures, crisis intervention and threat recognition.”

The bill won approval in the Iowa House weeks ago, but Senate Republicans removed a section of the bill that would have established state grants for schools that hire private security or police to patrol school buildings. The bill, which goes back to the House for review, still requires Iowa’s largest school districts to have a police officer or private security guard inside each high school building.

(Atlantic, Iowa [updated]) – The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education met Wednesday evening. During their regularly scheduled session, Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen spoke about proposals for Summer School programs. Dr. Johnsen said the Atlantic Public Library is open to holding a “Trojan Boost” program that would begin two-weeks before school starts in August. The focus would be on Elementary School students who are most at-risk, those who are losing their math and reading skills.

At the Middle School, Dr. Johnsen said they’re trying something different this Summer.

The Atlantic High School still has the Credit Recovery program, so students can obtain credit for classes they didn’t already pass, and Vocational Rehab for high school grade students. Para educators would provide transportation for Voc-Rehab students.

In other business, the Atlantic School District Director of Finance, Lisa Jones, said she had some revised numbers with regard to the property tax levy (rate) of $12.51/$1,000 valuation, down from 12.91524 announced during the March 27^th meeting. Last year, it was $13.00/$1,000. That latest rate was arrived at following discussion on whether or not the District should make an additional payment on the bonds through property taxes, and pay the bonds off sooner, and based on the Iowa Legislature’s action on per pupil student supplemental aid.

She had suggested making a full payment of $740,000, but the Board chose to make an additional $500,000 payment on the bonds, which accounts for the new rate.

A decision on the final rate will be acted upon following a public hearing at 5:30-p.m., prior to the Board’s Work Session, on April 24^th.

Atlantic School Board meeting, 4-10-24

The Board, Wednesday, approved a quote from Apple Computers for Teacher computers for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year, a list of Senior Graduates, and the 2024-25 School Calendar. School starts on August 23, 2024, with new teacher in-service days on August 15 and additional in-service days on August 16, 19, 20, 21, and 22. Students will be dismissed early on November 27 for Thanksgiving break. The Christmas break is from December 23 to January 2, Spring break is from March 24 to March 28, and classes will dismiss for the summer on May 23 with a two-hour early dismissal.

The School Board approved the purchase of a Dump Trailer from Olson’s Outdoor Power, and a Vodec Contract. High School Principal Heather McKay explained Vodec provides services to children with special needs.

The Board approved the following resignations:

• Chelsey Christensen, Kitchen, effective immediately
• Terry Hinzmann, 8th Grade Girls Basketball Coach for 24-25 season
• Terry Hinzmann, 7th Grade Boys Basketball Coach for 24-25 season
• Holly Esbeck, NHS Sponsor for 24-25 school year
• Alyssa Boltz, Assistant Volleyball Coach, Fall 2024 Season

The Board approved Contract Recommendations and/or Letters of Assignment:

• Brett Johnson, Full-time Grounds Supervisor, starting April 11, 2024
• Kerry Jepsen, High School Office Secretary starting July 1, 2024
• Laura Horn, K-12 Librarian for 24-25 school year
• Julie Coffey, ELL Teacher for 24-25 school year
• Nicole Corpela, 2nd Grade Teacher for 24-25 school year
• Cory Bartz, High School Math Teacher for 24-25 school year
• Title I teacher, Schuler Elementary
• Stacey Schmidt, Director of Student Services
• Nick Bennett, Special Education Para thru TPRA Grant
• Cambry Miller, Girls Swim Coach
• Alyssa Boltz and Jesse McCann, Soccer coach stipends.

DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Bicycle Coalition announced today (Wednesday) that HF 2568 passed the Iowa Senate unanimously without debate today and will be sent to the Governor for signature. The measure previously passed the house in February with a large majority.

HF 2568 establishes critical protections that benefit everyone who uses crosswalks including pedestrians, cyclists, and other people on any other mobility device or personal conveyance. The legislation was led in the Senate by Iowa Senator Mark Lofgren and in the Iowa House by Representative Thomas Gerhold.

Luke Hoffman, Executive Director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition,  said in a statement on the bill’s passage, “Inevitably everyone will use a crosswalk as a pedestrian, so passing this bill is a clear and convincing victory for the individual rights of all Iowans. This bill closes a loophole in state code that brings us in line with surrounding states including Nebraska which already affords the same protections to all pedestrians regardless of your form of transportation.

“Whether you are out on the trails as a cyclist, a person with disabilities in a wheelchair, a senior citizen on an electric scooter, a kid on a skateboard, or a parent with a baby in a stroller, it’s a win for all Iowans. No matter if you are traveling in a car, by foot or by bike, your safety matters, and you deserve the peace of mind to know you are afforded the same individual rights as everyone else by the State of Iowa.”

Hoffman said also, “The Iowa Bicycle Coalition commends the legislators who worked hard to pass this bill and our friends in our coalition including AARP who supported this bill with us and the University of Iowa Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Safety Lab researchers who helped develop the brief on the impact of this policy on Iowans.”

(Radio Iowa) Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that lets Iowa law enforcement arrest and deport people who are in the country illegally. Reynolds says the law will give Iowa the power to enforce U-S immigration law, something Reynolds says President Biden is unwilling to do.

The law, which will go into effect July 1st, would let Iowa judges issue deportation orders. It’s similar to a Texas law that’s on hold due to a court challenge and a lawsuit may block Iowa’s new law as well. Last month, after the bill cleared the legislature the executive director of the A-C-L-U of Iowa said the policy would consume already strapped law enforcement resources and lead to racial profiling.

Governor Kim Reynolds held a news conference in her Iowa Capitol office on April 3, 2024. (RI file photo)

Federal courts have previously ruled that the federal government has sole authority to enforce immigration laws. Reynolds says the Biden Administration is failing at that task and putting the protection and safety of Iowans at risk.

(Radio Iowa) – Changes in tax structures mandated by the legislature are forcing smaller Iowa communities to make difficult cuts to recreational programs, like in the northeast Iowa town of Waverly which is having to close its community swimming pool. Anne Duncan is coach of the Waverly swim club, which serves about 80 kids during the summer. Duncan says those children say they feel as though they’ve lost a home.

“They’ve found a place and they have found a community in swimming,” she says, “and they felt like that was threatened when the pool wasn’t going to open.” The summer swimming team has been a staple in Waverly for nearly 50 years, but the city was forced to cut one-point-eight million dollars from its budget, and pool services were a part of that. Duncan says she’s concerned about the future safety of the kids who won’t have access to the pool, swim team or not.

“When those kids become teenagers and young adults, are we going to see an uptick in aquatic-related accidents?” Duncan says. “Especially for families that might have a financial barrier to private lessons or group lessons and they never get that formal education, going to the pool is the only way they learn.”

Duncan says her team members have petitioned the city council with their concerns. The team involves youth from five additional communities outside Waverly. The town is considering building a new pool, which would displace the swim club and residents for at least two more years.

(Coon Rapids, Iowa) – No injuries were reported when a semi hauling grain flipped over and on landed on its side this (Wednesday) morning, about two-miles east of Coon Rapids. The accident happened at around 11:45-a.m. on Highway 141, between County Roads N36 and N33 and County Road N70. Additional details were not immediately available.

DES MOINES — Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education today announced $900,000 in competitive grants to help more Iowa children and teens access nutritious meals and snacks during the summer months. The grants will support school districts and other qualified organizations to serve additional communities through expanding participation in two existing federally funded summer child nutrition programs.

The Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option, administered by the Iowa Department of Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, help ensure Iowa children ages 18 and under have access to healthy meals and snacks during the summer. Through the new state-directed Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant, additional summer meal sites will be launched through these two existing federal programs to serve more children in currently underserved areas across the state.

“Providing young Iowans with access to free, nutritious meals in their communities during the summer months has always been a priority,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds. “With the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant, we will expand these well-established programs across our state to ensure Iowa’s youth have meals that are healthy and use local community farms and vendors when possible.” 

Qualifying Iowa schools participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program may apply as either a Summer Food Service Program or Seamless Summer Option sponsor. Private nonprofit organizations, community and faith-based organizations, higher education institutions and local government agencies are eligible to participate as a sponsor for the Summer Food Service Program.

“Through partnerships with community-based providers and schools, the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant will build upon family-focused solutions to support child nutrition and well-being in the summer,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “The Iowa Department of Education remains committed to supporting students with healthy meals and food options, as it supports communities in growing the impact of existing child nutrition programs.”

Summer meals can be served at a variety of sites within the community, such as schools, churches, community centers, parks, libraries and camps. Prospective new meal sites must be located in an area where at least 50 percent or more of the children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Priority consideration will be given to applicants that establish a new open meal site, where all children ages 18 and younger are served. Summer Food Service Program or Seamless Summer Option sponsors that did not operate in 2023 or are in a county with two or fewer current meal sites will also be given stronger consideration.

“Many children rely heavily on these meals during the school year to provide them with the fuel and nutrition to grow healthy and become successful–the summertime is no different,” said Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia. “Together, we are leveraging public-private partnerships to care for our children most in need.”

Eligible current and new sponsors that plan to add open meal sites may apply for reimbursement funding for up to $10,000 for the first new site and $5,000 for each additional site. Current sponsors may apply for a total of $20,000, and new sponsors can apply for up to $30,000. Sponsors who did not participate in 2023 and intend to provide meals to targeted groups may also apply for up to $2,500 per site. Allowable reimbursement costs will include items such as local food purchases, program outreach and other operational expenses not currently covered through program reimbursement.

Applications for the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant are now being accepted at IowaGrants.gov. The application deadline is May 7, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. The number of eligible applicants and corresponding budget proposals will determine the number and amounts of grants awarded.

Additional information on the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant can be found on the Department’s website.

Funds for the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant are provided through State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.