'Really damaging': Iowa superintendents, parents speak on House Republicans' AEA bill

Iowa superintendents, education workers and parents spoke to House lawmakers about their plan to restructure Area Education Agencies, flocking to the Capitol for a public hearing Wednesday evening on one of the legislative session's most contentious issues.

The Republican-led House File 2612 would allow schools to contract with private providers for media services and general education services, while retaining the AEAs as the sole provider of special education services. Currently, the state's nine AEAs are the sole provider of all of those services through contracts with schools.

The House's proposal is a significant rewrite of Gov. Kim Reynolds' initial bill, while Senate Republicans advance their own version.

More: What are AEAs and why is Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds trying to overhaul the special ed agencies?

Iowans filled the committee room where the hearing took place, while a few others spilled into the hallway. Next door, several dozen people wearing shirts emblazoned with messages in support of AEAs watched the hearing on a television set up in an overflow room. Every so often the crowd burst into cheers in support of one of the pro-AEA speakers.

In the hallway, a few children colored signs reading “We ❤ Iowa AEAs" and “Support AEAs! Because they treat people RIGHT!” while others watched the hearing on their phones.

Parents whose children use special education services testify on AEA plan

Among those who gave feedback on the plan Wednesday were several parents whose children require special education services and have interacted with Iowa's AEAs.

Geneva Dillon, whose five children have received services from the AEAs, told lawmakers that the plan would "exacerbate gaps" in services and between students and districts. And she lamented that early conversations on the issue had lacked proper input from parents and educators.

"I feel like that aspect of this conversation was completely bowled over by an out-of-state agency writing up something about a system they don’t even understand, and then Gov. Reynolds just taking that and running with it,” Dillon said.

A parent from Urbandale, Pam Gronau, said while she "appreciates the services" her son receives, she was alarmed by her son's "educational outcomes" in math and other subjects.

"I'm concerned with how much emphasis is put on my son being put in the least restrictive environment," said Gronau, adding she believed changes were often made to the "system, rather than based on the individual needs of the students."

District superintendents praise AEAs, but split on plan to restructure them

Iowa's AEAs received near-universal praise among the district superintendents who spoke Wednesday evening, as they acknowledged the work of the agencies' thousands of staffers and key services they provide.

But they were divided on the plan to restructure the agencies. While those who support the bill argued the dollars were best spent on districts to find their own services, others who opposed it expressed concerns that smaller districts would suffer, while key services could be disrupted.

Mark Lane, the superintendent for the Woodward-Granger Community School District, said any restructuring plan that involves "rapid change" without proper input is "doomed to failure."

"When we rush change from the top in an effort to get rid of something we perceive we don't want, the likelihood of getting something worse increases," Lane said.

More: Which Iowa bills are alive? AEA overhaul, defining 'man' and 'woman' survive 'funnel' week

He said he was worried whether services now provided by the AEA to students in his 1,000-enrollment district would remain intact and stable if the bill were to proceed.

The head of College Community School District in Cedar Rapids, Doug Wheeler, called his district's partnership with its AEA "gold standard" and urged lawmakers not to blame student achievement metrics on the agencies.

But he said his district was not currently able to "access all of the services available based on our needs."

"I have a responsibility to our students and our families to engage fully in any conversation that might provide additional resources for students in an ever-changing educational landscape," Wheeler said.

AEA staffer, on site in Perry after school shooting, urges against bill

Several employees of Area Education Agencies spoke against the bill Wednesday, including Stacey Warren, a Heartland AEA social worker who was on site in Perry shortly after a school shooting last month.

She pointed to the AEA's capability to roll out emergency response teams and substitute teachers — infrastructure that she was doubtful districts would be able to replicate locally.

"Districts are not prepared and do not have the resources to handle these things alone," said Warren, who teared up as she addressed lawmakers.

AEA staff, Warren said, were trained to address seemingly minor issues that impact families after traumatic events.

"Who's going to go to the school and say, 'Did you remember to turn off attendance?' so that the students who died (don't) get their parents emailed to see if they're going to be there today?" Warren said.

Other staffers who work at AEAs attended the hearing Wednesday, frustrated by the process advancing the bill and worrying of its impact if it becomes law.

"I think the legislation is going to be really, really damaging to Iowa’s public education system for decades to come," said Teran Buettell, a school psychologist who works at Great Prairie AEA. "I think it’s going to create damage that will not easily be repaired even if they see the error of their ways and try to go back and rebuild it."

More: Iowa special ed advocates say new House plan for AEAs is better, but more changes needed

How would the House bill to change AEAs work?

Under the House bill, AEAs would remain the sole provider of special education services for K-12 schools. But schools could choose whether to continue contracting with AEAs for media services and general education services under a "fee for service" structure, or get those services from a private provider.

The House proposal would continue sending all federal special education dollars directly to the AEAs, rather than to individual school districts, as Reynolds proposes.

State aid and property tax dollars that currently go to the AEAs would go to school districts under the House bill, but districts would be required to continue using AEAs for special education services.

The bill also creates a task force to make recommendations on AEA properties, services, oversight and staffing by the end of 2024.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

Galen Bacharier covers politics for the Register. Reach him at gbacharier@registermedia.com or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Area Education Agency supporters speak to Iowa Legislature on changes