On Saturday, five Siouxland lawmakers debated the most important issues that have been raised so far in the 2024 Iowa legislative session at a Sioux City League of Women Voters forum. It was held at the Sioux City Public Museum.
One of the most controversial was a bill from Governor Kim Reynolds. The meauasre would change how public schools in Iowa connect students with Area Education Agency services.
Under Governor Kim Reynolds’ plan for the state AEAs, money would go to K-12 public school districts instead of to the nine regional agencies. The schools could then decide how to use the money to pay for services from their regional AEA or other service providers.
Sioux City 2nd District Republican representative and former teacher Bob Henderson said the goal of the bill, to give more and better assistance to students in special education programs, is a good one.
“So one of the important things to know is that the intent of this bill is to provide better and better measurable support for our special needs students.”
14th District Sioux City Republican Jacob Bossman said he was encouraged by the speed with which the governor offered an amendment to the bill. Bossman say the Governor made some significant changes after hearing from constituents.
“So I think there is an intent to provide a little more oversight to the funds, to give some more flexibility to school districts to direct where those funds are going.”
Sioux City 1st district Democratic representative J.D. Sholten says he has received more than 800 emails from constituents who are opposed to the bill. Sholten has also heard from Dan Cox, who leads the Northwest Area Education Agency.
“The governor in her condition of the state speech said we should have an overall review. I think everyone is up to it. I talked with Dr. Cox on this and he is in favor of this. I think the governor should talk to AEA’s and what we should do to approve the situation.”
Since its release, Gov. Kim Reynolds has amended her plan saying it would allow AEAs to continue providing general education services so long as the state approves.
Scholten said the amendment is a slight improvement, but the bill would still hurt Iowans.
“We are still talking about up to a thousand people getting fired. We are talking about students being impacted. We are talking about parents being impacted on this. And just to rush a bill, I’m not in favor of this bill and I am eager to see
The five lawmakers at the forum also talked at length about the problems involved with using eminent domain to create a carbon capture pipeline across Iowa.
State Sen. Kevin Alons, R-Salix, and State Reps. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, Bob Henderson, R-Sioux City, Ken Carlson, R-Onawa, and Jacob Bossman, R-Sioux City, attended the event
