(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has approved a bill designed to give liability protection to schools that choose to let teachers or other staff volunteer to undergo training and carry a weapon to respond to a shooting. Representative Phil Thompson, a Republican from Boone, says the bill requires not just active shooter drills and medical training and learning how to communicate with law enforcement during a shooting, but a yearly background check for the professional permit to carry a gun on school grounds.

“We recognize that this responsibility must be taken very seriously,” Thompson says. “The strict training regimen outlined in this bill ensures that the employees who acquire this permit are equipped with the skills and the proficiency to act appropriately in the event of an emergency.” Republican Representative John Wills is from Spirit Lake, where trained school staff briefly carried concealed weapons, but quit after the district’s insurance carrier threatened to drop coverage. Wills says Spirit Lake, Cherokee and other districts are hoping the bill becomes law soon.

“And it will save lives when cowards attack our kids,” Wills said. House Republican Leader Matt Windschitl, of Missouri Valley, says seconds count when there’s a shooting. “People with bad intentions are going to do bad things,” Windshitl said. “People with good intentions are there to stop them.” Windshitl says he’s heard from companies that insure schools in states that have similar laws that they’ll offer policies to Iowa districts that let staff be armed on school grounds and at school activities.

Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, a Democrat from Ames, says the bill will reduce the liability risk for insurers, but would allow a frightening number of guns in Iowa schools. “If a student is hurt or killed in crossfire, no one will be held accountable,” she said. Representative Sami Scheetz, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the bill isn’t the answer to gun violence. “Let’s enact extreme risk laws, responsible firearm storage laws, raise the age to purchase semi-automatic firearms to 21 and require background checks on all gun sales,” Scheetz said.

Representative Lindsay James, a Democrat from Dubuque, says Iowans want common sense gun safety laws. “And the Republican solution to combat gun violence is more guns,” James said.

A few other education-related bills passed the House last night solely with Republican support. One would create a new set of standards for social studies and civics classes, requiring instruction about specific people, events and documents. Another would require that all schools to teach about fetal development starting in seventh grade and include an animated video called “Meet Baby Olivia” that was developed by a group that opposes abortion.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education held a Work Session Wednesday evening (Feb. 28th), and approved the resignations of:

• James Brauer, HS English Teacher
• Tori Wood, Makyala Lucero and Kaitlyn Geib, SpEd Paraprofessionals

They also approved contract recommendations and/or Letters of Assignment for:

• Trinity Christensen, SpEd Paraprofessional
• Hannah Misner, HS Science Teacher
• Stephanie Kelley, HS Social Studies Teacher.

In other business, the Board agreed to move forward and advertise & hire, a Director of Student Services. Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen reminded the Board they conducted a survey of District teachers. Among the 57 teachers that were surveyed, there were 57 written responses. Over 67%  said they would support the DSS position. 31% said they would use that person as a resource.

School Board President Kristy Pellet said the position is something the Board has been exploring over the past couple of years.

Dr. Johnson said the position would be multi-faceted.

She said a good portion of the position could be paid for through the Special Education part of the District’s budget.

The salary would not equal that of a building principal, but it would be twice that of a beginning teacher. The person selected must have an administrative certification, Johnson said, with a background in special education. In other business, the Atlantic School Board received presentations from Iowa Construction Advocate Team (iCat) representative Chad Alley, with regard to potential school construction projects, and how iCat can help to reducing waste and maximizing efficiency through all phases of design, construction and beyond.

And, they received a report from Sara Bradshaw, Broker, Vice President,  Employee Benefits at Holmes Murphy & Associates from West Des Moines. She spoke with regard to ASCD employees United Healthcare benefits, claims and sustainability.

The next, regular, Atlantic School Board meeting is Wednesday, March 13, 2024 in the High School Media Center.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate has voted to require that every Iowa business use the federal government’s E-Verify system to check whether employees and job applicants are U-S citizens or legal residents of the United States. Senator Julian Garrett, a Republican from Indianola, has tried to get this kind of a requirement passed for more than a decade.

“People are concerned about what’s going on around here at the border. That’s probably the number one issue. We hear about that all the time,” Garrett says. “…There’s not a lot we can do here in Iowa at the state level, but this is something we can do and I think it’ll make a difference.”

Business groups oppose the bill. They say the E-Verify system is flawed and sometimes isn’t even accessible. Senator Tony Bisignano, a Democrat from Des Moines, is among the 16 senators who voted against the bill. “It’s not your day today business…This is the day that we make our strong, anti-immigrant statement,” Bisignano said. “…We’re looking for you and we’re going to penalize you and Caseys, we may run you out of the state of Iowa.”

Iowa employers could lose their business licenses and be shut down if they’re found to have knowingly employed someone who’s not eligible to work in the United States. The bill now goes to the House, where similar legislation has stalled in the past.

Nebraska and Missouri require businesses as well as government agencies to do an E-Verify system check for prospective employees. Minnesota requires it for some government contractors.