My ‘Magic 8 Ball’ predictions for the Iowa Legislature

When my kids were younger, we had a “Magic 8 Ball.” If you asked a yes or no question and shook it, up popped an answer like, “Without a doubt,” “Outlook not so good,” or “Concentrate and ask again.”

The Iowa legislative session has begun. With that in mind. I thought I’d introduce my 8 -ball version.

• Should public education be a partisan issue?

Answer: “Decidedly no.”

But it is.

Public education has become a wedge issue used to score cheap political points. It worked once in a Virginia election, so let’s keep doing it. I predict they’ll take another partisan run at banning books they don’t like but haven’t read.

• Will there be a comprehensive study revamping Area Education Agencies?

Answer: “No, and yes definitely”

No, it won’t be comprehensive and yes, there will be a study. Unless educators, parents, and community leaders insist it is comprehensive and based on facts, it will be neither honest nor comprehensive.

Gov. Kim Reynolds promised a “Comprehensive review of AEA’s aiming at aligning them with the Department of Education.” She has a desire to choke the government, but there may be another reason.

Part of her vision is to turn AEA’s into Department of Education police regionally enforcing her vision of what public school should be.

Remember last year Reynolds and her minions tried to persuade parents public schools were teeming with teachers and librarians grooming students and pushing pornography? So wouldn’t they want to morph AEA personnel into public school enforcers?

AEA’s now have some regulatory responsibilities around special education. With a few added paragraphs, those regulatory functions could expand to police local school district policies.

AEA’s already have their hands full providing high quality, essential services for public and private schools. But many of the functions are behind the scenes and are visible only to educators and parents. These essential but Invisible services are easy for politicians to slash.

It’s almost impossible to catalog all the services now provided by AEA’s. Legislators will need to talk to educators and parents before they wielded any cutting ax.

• Will Reynolds keep her promise to increase teacher salaries?

Answer: “Outlook not so good.”

Iowa has more than $2.4 billion in budget reserves, but I predict we’ll hear “That’s one time money. We can’t spend it on ongoing expenses.” If salaries are increased it will be for first year teachers as a kind of “bait and switch plan.” Once they’re here they’ll stay. They won’t.

There’s a lust to cut state income tax to zero. That means Iowa loses almost half its budget revenue.

• Can We make sure these predictions don’t come true?

Answer: “Decidedly, yes.”

Special education parents are a powerful group. It’s time to use that power to save AEA’s and increase teacher pay across the board.

The first step is to email your legislators, especially if your legislator is part of the majority party. You can find addresses at https://www.legis.iowa.gov.

Bruce Lear of Sioux City taught in public schools for 11 years and represented educators as an Iowa State Education Association Regional Director for 27 years until retiring. BruceLear2419@gmail.com