A new group called Iowans for Public Education has formed and organizers say they intend to “fight back” against an “assault” on Iowa’s public schools. Karen Nichols of Iowa City founded the group on Facebook on December 30th and she says more than five-thousand people have now joined. “Our public education system used to be the envy of the country,” Nichols says. “…We must recommit to funding our education system and giving students and teachers the tools they need to succeed.”

Nichols, who is married to a teacher, says she’s concerned about efforts to curb collective bargaining rights for teachers who belong to a union. “Teachers are under a lot of pressure now with increasing class sizes,” Nichols says. “…Adding one more stress of insecurity to their benefit package is just one more reason to go looking for something else.”

Reyma McCoy McDeid, another member of this new group, lives in an unincorporated area north of Des Moines that’s in the Saydel School District. “We’re defending public schools on many levels this year, but perhaps the biggest threat is yet to come,” McCoy McDeid says. “There are special interest groups that would like to siphon money out of our school funding budget and funnel is directly into private religious schools and completely unregulated home schools.”

Another group called Iowa Advocates for Choice in Education is asking legislators to create new state accounts for parents, to be filled with state tax dollars that could be used on tuition at a public or private school. McCoy McDeid says that kind of a “voucher” system would leave some kids out. “Kids with disabilities, for instance; kids in rural areas, kids who can’t afford the high transportation costs to get to another school,” she says.

Perla Alarcon Flory has been a member of the Sioux City School Board for the past four years and she’s joined Iowans for Public Education.  “We want to attract capable teachers,” Alarcon Flory said. “We want to offer the brightest possible future to our kids in Iowa — to all of the kids in Iowa.”

The group held a news conference at the statehouse Monday and is urging its members to attend the forums most legislators hold on the weekends back in their districts.

(Radio Iowa)

Legislators hoping to change state law so Iowa no longer participates in Daylight Saving Time have run into a roadblock. Governor Terry Branstad is against the idea. (Click on the left side of the audio player below to listen to his comment)

Because of daylight saving time, clocks had to “fall back” an hour this past November 3rd — and clocks will “spring ahead” Sunday, March 12th. Daylight saving time was created during World War ONE, to conserve the fuel used to provide light and heat to homes and businesses at the end of the day. Critics say daylight saving time isn’t saving much energy in modern day America and they point to studies which show productivity dips in the fall and spring as workers adjust to different sleeping patterns.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature is pushing ahead with its plans to vote on a K-12 education spending bill that school officials say will result in larger classroom sizes and other district-level shortfalls.

A group that included school board members, parents and students gathered at the Capitol Monday in opposition to the legislation, which adds about $40 million to a roughly $3 billion education budget. The Republican-led House was scheduled to vote on the bill late Monday, and party leaders support it. The GOP-majority Senate voted for the legislation Thursday.

Gov. Terry Branstad proposed spending about $78 million more on K-12 education, a point that Democrats have highlighted amid their opposition to the GOP plan.

Administrators for the Atlantic Community School District, Tuesday, are expected to present their proposal to the Teachers’ Certified Collective Bargaining Unit (CBU), in response to the Teachers’ proposal to the District late last month. During the previous meeting, the Teacher’s Association essentially asked for a 5.9 percent total package increase. They also asked for a $1,900 increase in base pay. The Administration will make its proposal during an open meeting that takes place 4-p.m. Tuesday, in the Atlantic Middle School Library.

And, this Thursday afternoon, the Non-Certified Staff’s Bargaining Unit will also receive the District’s proposal during a meeting that takes place at the same time and location.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Entertainment venues in Sioux City are planning to add walk-through metal detectors to enhance security, saying such measures are becoming standard across the country. The Sioux City Journal reports that the city’s proposed fiscal 2018 capital improvements budget includes $100,000 for walk-through metal detectors at the Tyson Events Center as part of the venue’s maintenance improvements. The expense is expected to cover 10 to 12 detectors to place at the venue’s entrance.

Events facilities director Erika Newton says staff currently use wands to check for security. The department may need to hire more security staff since the metal detectors would likely slow the rate of entry.

The Orpheum Theatre board of directors is also considering walk-through detectors for events and plans to purchase them at the same time in order to save money on a bulk purchase.